S.B. 1063 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1063
By: Shapiro
Transportation
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

S.B. 1063 78(R)    Currently, an insurance company notifies the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT), which 
then informs the Department of Public Safety (DPS), when an insurance
policy on a commercial motor carrier is going to be cancelled. DPS does
not verify that the company is not operating; consequently, some
commercial vehicles are operating in this state without liability
coverage. As proposed, S.B. 1063 requires confirmation that all commercial
motor carriers whose insurance has been cancelled are not operating, and
provides for impounding a carrier's vehicles if the carrier is still
operating. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

Amends Section 643.104, Transportation Code, by amending Subsection (b)
and  adding Subsections (c) and (d), as follows: 
(b) Includes other law enforcement agencies with the Department of Public
Safety (DPS) that 
the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) must notify of each motor
carrier whose 
certificate of registration has been revoked for failing to maintain
liability insurance coverage. 
Deletes text referring to a notice filed under Subsection (a).
(c) Requires DPS or a local law enforcement agency to confirm that a motor
carrier is not 
operating if notice of revocation of that carrier's registration
certificate has been received under 
Subsection (b).
(d) Requires a law enforcement officer to detain or impound any commercial
vehicle operating 
without liability insurance until such coverage is properly filed with
TxDOT. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

Committee Amendment No. 1 strikes the word "shall" on line 18 and adds the
word "may."