BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center                                                                                                       H.B. 864

80R3329 DWS-D                                                                                         By: Callegari (Williams)

                                                                                                 Transportation & Homeland Security

                                                                                                                                            4/30/2007

                                                                                                                                           Engrossed

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law requires a garagekeeper to report abandoned motor vehicles to either a local law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).  However, DPS does not have a mechanism in place to adequately handle these vehicles.  Such a mechanism would require DPS to hire additional employees in each of its regional and district offices, adding unnecessary extra costs to DPS.  Local law enforcement agencies are better suited to handle these vehicles.

 

H.B. 864 removes DPS as an entity to which a garagekeeper is authorized to make a required report of an abandoned motor vehicle.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 683.031(c), Transportation Code, to delete existing text authorizing a garagekeeper to make a required report of an abandoned motor vehicle to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS).  Deletes existing text requiring the usage of a fee paid to DPS to administer this chapter (Abandoned Motor Vehicles).

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2007.