By Coleman                                             H.B. No. 996
         77R9582 JD-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the authority of a municipality to authorize the
 1-3     removal of certain motor vehicles from public roadways in the
 1-4     municipality to aid in the enforcement of parking ordinances of the
 1-5     municipality.
 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1.  Section 684.054, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-8     to read as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 684.054.  AUTHORITY FOR REMOVAL OF VEHICLE FROM PUBLIC
1-10     ROADWAY.  (a)  Under an ordinance of a municipality regulating the
1-11     parking of vehicles in the municipality, to aid in the enforcement
1-12     of the ordinance, an employee designated by the municipality may be
1-13     authorized to:
1-14                 (1)  immobilize a vehicle parked in the municipality;
1-15     and
1-16                 (2)  remove an immobilized vehicle from a public
1-17     roadway in the municipality.
1-18           (b)  A parking facility owner or towing company may not
1-19     remove a vehicle from a public roadway except under:
1-20                 (1)  this chapter or a municipal ordinance that
1-21     complies with Section 684.101; or
1-22                 (2)  the direction of a peace officer or the owner or
1-23     operator of the vehicle.
1-24           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
 2-1     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
 2-2     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
 2-3     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-4     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.