BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1584

                                                                                                                                          By: Casteel

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, a vehicle storage facility in some counties has the ability to set the payment options it will accept for payment of storage fees.  Often times, these facilities will only accept a cash payment. The  cash policy creates problems for many people. 

C.S.H.B. 1584 requires a vehicle storage facility or governmental vehicle storage facility to take payment by electronic check, debit card, or credit card.

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

SECTION 1.   Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 2303 of the Occupations Code by adding Section 2303.158, which requires the operator of a vehicle storage facility to accept payment by an electronic check, debit card, or credit card for charges incurred.  It also specifies that vehicle storage facility includes a governmental vehicle storage facility.

SECTION 2.   Effective Date

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2005

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

The substitute removes the population bracket that was included in the original bill.  The substitute also adds to the forms of payment to be accepted, an electronic check and a credit card.