BILL ANALYSIS
By: Uresti
Defense Affairs & State-Federal Relations
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently, many car rental agencies will not rent to persons under a certain age.
SB 1390 requires all rental car companies to lease to military personnel regardless of age. The bill also establishes a civil penalty for violation of this provision.
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 Subchapter D, Chapter 35, Business & Commerce Code, by adding Section 35.64, as follows:
Sec. 35.64. RENTAL OF VEHICLE TO MEMBER OF ARMED FORCES. (a) Defines "vehicle rental company."
(b) Prohibits a vehicle rental company from refusing to rent a private passenger vehicle to a person because of the person's age if the person presents a valid military identification card indicating that the person is a member of the United States armed forces or a member of the Texas state military forces as defined by Section 431.001, Government Code.
(c) Provides that a vehicle rental company that violates this section is liable to the state for a civil penalty of not more than $1,000 for each violation. Authorizes the attorney general or the prosecuting attorney in the county in which a violation occurs to bring suit to recover the civil penalty imposed under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007