79R5984 JD-D

By:  Farabee                                                      H.B. No. 1260



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to requiring the Texas Department of Transportation, for 
the purpose of determining the appropriate registration fee, to 
collect, use, and distribute information relating to the weights 
and carrying capacities of pickup trucks offered for sale in this 
state.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 502.055, Transportation Code, is amended 
by adding Subsections (c) and (d) to read as follows:
	(c)  For the purpose of determining the weights and carrying 
capacities of pickup trucks to be registered in this state, the 
department shall regularly request, collect, assemble, and use 
weight and carrying capacity information from the manufacturers and 
distributors of all pickup trucks that are sold or offered for sale 
in the United States.  The department shall review its 
determinations of the weights and carrying capacities of pickup 
trucks based on information collected and assembled under this 
subsection not later than January 1 of each even-numbered year.
	(d)  If the department distributes to county 
assessor-collectors a manual that contains the department's 
determinations under Subsection (a) of the weights of pickup 
trucks, the department shall update the manual after each new 
determination made under this section.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2005.