By Bosse                                              H.B. No. 2313
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the disposing of abandoned motor vehicles.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1. Section 683.001, Transportation Code, is amended
 1-5     by adding Subdivisions (9) and (10) to read as follows:
 1-6                 (9)  "Abandoned nuisance vehicle" means a motor vehicle
 1-7     that is at least 15 years old and is of a condition only to be
 1-8     demolished, wrecked, or dismantled.
 1-9                 (10)  "Vehicle storage facility" means a vehicle
1-10     storage facility, as defined by Section 2, Vehicle Storage Facility
1-11     Act (Article  6687-9a, Revised Statutes), that is currently
1-12     licensed to operate under that Act.
1-13           SECTION 2. Section 683.012, Transportation Code, is amended
1-14     by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
1-15           (e)  A law enforcement agency is not required to send a
1-16     notice, as otherwise required by Subsection (a), if the agency has
1-17     received notice from a vehicle storage facility that an application
1-18     has or will be submitted to the department or a law enforcement
1-19     agency for the disposal of an abandoned nuisance vehicle.
1-20           SECTION 3. Section 683.034(e), Transportation Code, is
1-21     amended to read as follows:
1-22           (e)  If the law enforcement agency does not take the vehicle
1-23     into custody before the 31st day after the date notice is sent
1-24     under Section 683.012:
 2-1                 (1)  the law enforcement agency may not take the
 2-2     vehicle into custody; and
 2-3                 (2)  the storage facility may dispose of the vehicle
 2-4     under:
 2-5                       (A)  Chapter 70, Property Code, except that
 2-6     notice under Section 683.012 satisfies the notice requirements of
 2-7     that chapter; or
 2-8                       (B)  the Vehicle Storage Facility Act (Article
 2-9     6687-9a, Revised Statutes) if:
2-10                             (i)  the storage facility is a vehicle
2-11     storage facility; and
2-12                             (ii)  the vehicle is an abandoned nuisance
2-13     vehicle.
2-14           SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.