By Davis of Dallas H.B. No. 1534
77R4409 DWS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to documentation of motor vehicle ownership.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 501.024(d), Transportation Code, is
1-5 amended to read as follows:
1-6 (d) A title receipt authorizes the operation of the motor
1-7 vehicle on a public highway in this state for 10 days or until the
1-8 certificate of title is issued, whichever period is shorter.
1-9 [After that period, the receipt is not effective for any purpose,
1-10 unless the receipt is renewed as provided by department rules.]
1-11 SECTION 2. Section 501.027(b), Transportation Code, is
1-12 amended to read as follows:
1-13 (b) Not later than the fifth day after the date the
1-14 department receives an application for a certificate of title and
1-15 the department determines the requirements of this chapter are met,
1-16 the department shall issue the certificate of title. If a lien is
1-17 not disclosed on the application, the department shall [mark the
1-18 certificate "original" and] send the certificate [it] by first
1-19 class mail to the applicant at the address provided on the
1-20 application. If a lien is disclosed on the application, the
1-21 department shall[:]
1-22 [(1) issue the certificate of title in duplicate;]
1-23 [(2) mark one certificate of title "original" and]
1-24 send the certificate [it] by first class mail to the first
2-1 lienholder as disclosed on the application[; and]
2-2 [(3) mark the second certificate of title "duplicate
2-3 original" and send it by first class mail to the applicant at the
2-4 address provided on the application].
2-5 SECTION 3. Section 501.029, Transportation Code, is amended
2-6 to read as follows:
2-7 Sec. 501.029. USE OF REGISTRATION RECEIPT OR [DUPLICATE]
2-8 TITLE RECEIPT TO EVIDENCE TITLE [OR CERTIFICATE]. (a) A person may
2-9 use a registration receipt issued under Chapter 502 or a title
2-10 receipt [or certificate of title marked "Duplicate Original" only]
2-11 to evidence title to a motor vehicle and not to transfer an
2-12 interest in or establish a lien on the vehicle.
2-13 (b) The department by rule may provide for the issuance of a
2-14 receipt that evidences title to a motor vehicle for registration
2-15 purposes only. The fee for application for the receipt is the fee
2-16 applicable to application for a certificate of title.
2-17 SECTION 4. Sections 501.134(a) and (e), Transportation Code,
2-18 are amended to read as follows:
2-19 (a) If a [an original or duplicate original] certificate of
2-20 title is lost or destroyed, the owner or lienholder disclosed on
2-21 the certificate may obtain, in the manner provided by this section
2-22 and department rule, a certified copy of the lost or destroyed
2-23 certificate of title directly from the department by applying on a
2-24 form prescribed by the department and paying a fee of $2. A fee
2-25 collected under this subsection shall be deposited to the credit of
2-26 the state highway fund and may be spent only as provided by Section
2-27 501.138.
3-1 (e) If the [original or duplicate original] certificate of
3-2 title is recovered, the owner of the vehicle shall promptly
3-3 surrender the [original or duplicate original] certificate of title
3-4 to the department for cancellation, and the department shall
3-5 eliminate the words "certified copy" from any certificate of title
3-6 issued for that vehicle after that date.
3-7 SECTION 5. The Texas Department of Transportation shall adopt
3-8 rules necessary to account for abolition by this Act of duplicate
3-9 original certificates of title.
3-10 SECTION 6. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.