BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 46
By: Nelson
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
When a stolen vehicle is recovered by a law enforcement agency, it is usually taken directly to a governmental impound facility. Such facilities may charge the victim an assortment of notification, administrative, and daily storage fees, in addition to the initial fee for towing the vehicle. The cumulative cost of such fees can make recovery of stolen vehicles extremely expensive, especially for citizens living on a fixed income. If a victim cannot be contacted or cannot afford to pay impoundment fees, governmental storage facilities have the statutory authority to auction off the vehicle.
C.S.S.B. 46 indemnifies victims of auto theft against daily storage fees at vehicle storage facilities if the vehicle owner provides a copy of the police report or similar report prepared by any law enforcement agency showing that the vehicle was reported stolen.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to any state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 2303.155, Occupations Code, by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (h), as follows:
(b) Makes a conforming change.
(h) Prohibits an operator of a vehicle storage facility or a governmental vehicle storage facility from charging a fee to a vehicle owner whose car is parked at the facility as a result of recovery of the vehicle after being stolen if the vehicle owner provides the operator with a copy of the police report or similar report prepared by any law enforcement agency showing that the vehicle was reported stolen.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.