BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 988
By: Chisum (Lucio)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S/SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, vehicle owners must apply for vehicle registration and certificate of title in order to operate a vehicle on a public road. Section 502.002, Transportation Code, requires that an owner apply to register a vehicle through the county assessor-collector each year or if the vehicle is unregistered. Section 501.023, Transportation Code, requires that an owner apply for a certificate of title through the county assessor-collector in the county in which the owner resides, the county in which the vehicle is purchased, or the county in which the lending institution is located.
A vehicle dealer must apply, in the name of the purchaser of the vehicle, for the registration of the vehicle and a certificate of title for the vehicle. The dealer has to file each document necessary to transfer the title or to register the vehicle.
H.B. 988 requires a seller who applies in the name of a purchaser for vehicle registration or a certificate of title to apply in the county where the vehicle's purchaser resided, unless the purchaser requests in writing that the seller apply in a different county.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 501.0234, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (d) to require a seller who applies for the registration or a certificate for certain motor vehicles to apply in the county in which the purchaser is domiciled unless the purchaser in writing requests that the seller apply in another county.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2005.