BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center                                                                                                        S.B. 526

80R5619 JRD-F                                                                                                                By: Seliger

Intergovernmental Relations

3/9/2007

As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Current law does not authorize governing bodies of a municipality to exempt city arson investigators and fire marshals from vehicle inscription requirements, despite the need by those officials to operate unmarked vehicles to better perform their official duties. 

As proposed, S.B. 526 adds municipal fire marshals and arson investigators to the list of employees a governing body of a municipality is authorized to exempt from certain vehicle inscription requirements. 

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 721.005(a), Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 66 and 140, Acts of the 77th Legislature, Regular Session, 2001, as follows:

(a)  Includes an automobile being used to perform an official duty by a municipal fire marshal or arson investigator under the list of automobiles that a governing body of a municipality is allowed to exempt from required inscription on the vehicle of certain information as required by Section 721.004 (Inscription Required on Municipal and County-Owned Motor Vehicles and Heavy Equipment), Transportation Code.  Makes conforming changes. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.