By Geren                                              H.B. No. 2787
         77R11647 JSA-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to requiring students of institutions of higher education
 1-3     to obtain a vehicle emissions inspection for certain vehicles and
 1-4     to notifying certain students of state vehicle registration and
 1-5     inspection requirements.
 1-6           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-7           SECTION 1. Section 51.207, Education Code, is amended to read
 1-8     as follows:
 1-9           Sec. 51.207.  VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION INSIGNIA; VEHICLE
1-10     PERMITS. (a)  Each public institution of higher education may
1-11     provide for the issuance and use of suitable vehicle identification
1-12     insignia.  The institution may bar or suspend the permit of any
1-13     vehicle from driving or parking on any institutional property for
1-14     the violation of any rule or regulation promulgated by the board as
1-15     well as for any violation of this subchapter.  Reinstatement of the
1-16     privileges may be permitted and a reasonable fee assessed.
1-17           (b)  This subsection applies only to a public institution of
1-18     higher education campus that is located in whole or part in an area
1-19     in which a motor vehicle registered in the area is required to
1-20     undergo a vehicle emissions inspection under Subchapter F, Chapter
1-21     548, Transportation Code.  The institution may not issue a permit
1-22     to a student of the institution for driving or parking a motor
1-23     vehicle that is not registered in this state on institutional
1-24     property unless the vehicle displays a current and appropriate
 2-1     inspection certificate issued under Subchapter F, Chapter 548,
 2-2     Transportation Code, indicating that the vehicle has passed the
 2-3     required vehicle emissions inspection.  An institution may provide
 2-4     a reasonable grace period for a new or returning student or a
 2-5     student who acquires a vehicle to comply with this subsection.
 2-6     This subsection does not apply to a motor vehicle of a type that is
 2-7     not covered by the vehicle emissions testing requirement applicable
 2-8     to the area in which the institution campus is located.
 2-9           (c)  The Public Safety Commission shall adopt rules providing
2-10     for the inspection under Subchapter F, Chapter 548, Transportation
2-11     Code, of motor vehicles not registered in this state for purposes
2-12     of Subsection (b).
2-13           (d)  This subsection applies only to a public institution of
2-14     higher education campus that is not covered by Subsection (b).  The
2-15     institution may not issue a permit to a student of the institution
2-16     for driving or parking a motor vehicle on institutional property
2-17     unless the institution provides written notice to the student that
2-18     failure to register the vehicle in this state or to display a
2-19     current and appropriate inspection certificate issued under Chapter
2-20     548, Transportation Code, may violate state law if the owner of the
2-21     vehicle resides in this state.
2-22           SECTION 2. (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
2-23     section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
2-24           (b)  Section 51.207(b), Education Code, as added by this Act,
2-25     takes effect January 1, 2002.
2-26           (c)  Sections 51.207(b) and (d), Education Code, as added by
2-27     this Act, do not affect the validity of a permit for driving or
 3-1     parking a vehicle on property of an institution of higher education
 3-2     issued by the institution before January 1, 2002.