By: Madla S.C.R. No. 45 1-1 SENATE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-2 WHEREAS, The Texas Legislature amended the Motor Vehicle 1-3 Safety Responsibility Act in 1981 to reduce the number of uninsured 1-4 drivers operating vehicles on Texas roads; and 1-5 WHEREAS, The law requires motorists, as a condition of 1-6 operating a motor vehicle, to have established a level of financial 1-7 responsibility in any one of several ways, the most common being 1-8 the purchase of a motor vehicle liability insurance policy that 1-9 meets coverage requirements established by law; the law also 1-10 requires motorists to provide evidence of financial responsibility 1-11 when requested by a law enforcement officer, when obtaining or 1-12 renewing a license or registration, and for vehicle inspections; 1-13 and 1-14 WHEREAS, Although the law resulted in a sharp decrease in the 1-15 percentage of uninsured motorists immediately after its passage, 1-16 the number increased shortly thereafter, returning close to 1-17 previous levels where it continues to hover today; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Texas Department of Insurance has estimated that 1-19 between 17 and 26 percent of Texas drivers do not carry the 1-20 necessary vehicle liability insurance as mandated by state law; 1-21 many uninsured drivers cannot afford the costs of liability 1-22 insurance; many are also high-risk drivers who are unable to 1-23 purchase insurance in the standard market; and 1-24 WHEREAS, Many of these motorists circumvent the law by 2-1 producing fraudulent documentation of coverage or canceling a 2-2 policy after using it to get a necessary license, inspection, or 2-3 registration; now, therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-5 hereby direct the Texas Department of Insurance to initiate an 2-6 interim study in cooperation with key agencies, such as the 2-7 Department of Public Safety of the State of Texas, to research and 2-8 develop an economically feasible insurance verification system that 2-9 will focus on the detection, investigation, and prosecution of 2-10 motorists who falsify a standard proof of motor vehicle liability 2-11 insurance form; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That this insurance verification system may: 2-13 1. randomly verify evidence of financial responsibility, 2-14 useful for prosecution under Section 37.01, Penal Code, and Section 2-15 601.080, Transportation Code; 2-16 2. be practically installed on a progressive basis in all 2-17 applicable counties, municipalities, and jurisdictions; 2-18 3. be developed under the confidentiality and disclosure 2-19 authorities found under Article 1.10D, Insurance Code, Insurance 2-20 Fraud Unit; and 2-21 4. develop a technology fund for implementation; and, be it 2-22 further 2-23 RESOLVED, That the Texas Department of Insurance and other 2-24 involved agencies present a complete report of facts and findings 2-25 to the house and senate committees having primary jurisdiction over 2-26 insurance not later than January 1, 2003; and, be it further 3-1 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official 3-2 copy of this resolution to the commissioner of insurance of the 3-3 Texas Department of Insurance.