BILL ANALYSIS
By: Callegari
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Section 683.031(c), Transportation Code requires that garage keepers report abandoned motor vehicles to either a local law enforcement agency or the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Despite this requirement, DPS does not have a mechanism in place to adequately handle abandoned motor vehicles as required by law. Full implementation of the requirement of §683.031(c) would necessitate the Department's hiring of additional employees in each of its regional and district offices, adding extra costs to the agency. Local law enforcement agencies are better positioned to enforce the requirements of §683.031(c). H.B. 864 removes DPS from the requirements of §683.031(c), allowing garage keepers to report abandoned motor vehicles to their respective local law enforcement agency.
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 §683.031(c), Transportation Code to remove the requirement that a garage keeper of a commercial parking facility report abandoned motor vehicles to the Department of Public Safety and pay a $10 fee to the Department. Strikes requirement that fees paid to the Department be applied towards the enforcement of the abandoned motor vehicle chapter of the Transportation Code.
SECTION 2. 1 September 2007 effective date.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.