80R10452 JRJ-D
 
  By: Goolsby H.B. No. 526
 
  Substitute the following for H.B. No. 526:
 
  By:  Macias C.S.H.B. No. 526
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the denial of vehicle registration for failure to pay
parking tickets.
       BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
       SECTION 1.  Subtitle I, Title 7, Transportation Code, is
amended by adding Chapter 707 to read as follows:
CHAPTER 707. DENIAL OF VEHICLE REGISTRATION FOR FAILURE TO PAY
MUNICIPAL PARKING FINES
       Sec. 707.001.  DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
             (1)  "Department" means the Texas Department of
Transportation.
             (2)  "Registration" of a motor vehicle includes a
renewal of the registration of that vehicle.
       Sec. 707.002.  CONTRACT WITH COUNTY OR DEPARTMENT. (a) A
municipality may contract with a county in which the municipality
is located or with the department to provide information necessary
for the county or department to deny registration of a motor vehicle
if the owner of the vehicle has an unpaid fine for a violation of an
ordinance of the municipality regulating the parking, standing, or
stopping of a vehicle.
       (b)  A contract under this section:
             (1)  must be made in accordance with Chapter 791,
Government Code; and
             (2)  is subject to the ability of the parties to provide
or pay for the services required under the contract.
       Sec. 707.003.  WARNING; CITATION. (a) If a municipality
makes a contract under this chapter, a citation for a violation of
an ordinance of the municipality regulating the parking, standing,
or stopping of a vehicle must include a written warning.
       (b)  The warning required by this section must state that if
the person fails to pay a fine associated with the violation, the
person may be denied registration of any motor vehicle owned by the
person.
       (c)  The warning required by this section may be printed on
the citation.
       Sec. 707.004.  REFUSAL TO REGISTER VEHICLE. (a) If a
municipality has contracted with a county or the department, a
county assessor-collector or the department may deny registration
of a motor vehicle if the assessor-collector or the department
receives information from a municipality that the owner of the
vehicle has an unpaid fine for a violation of an ordinance of the
municipality regulating the parking, standing, or stopping of a
vehicle.
       (b)  A municipality may report an unpaid fine for a violation
of an ordinance of the municipality under this section only if:
             (1)  the fine is past due;
             (2)  the person failed to make a timely challenge to the
imposition of the fine;
             (3)  the person owes the municipality more than $100 in
the aggregate in past due fines, including the fine for which a
report is made, for violations of ordinances of the municipality
regulating the parking, standing, or stopping of a vehicle; and
             (4)  the municipality has sent a notice to the person by
first-class mail indicating the person may be denied registration
of a motor vehicle owned by the person for past due fines.
       (c)  A municipality may not report an unpaid fine for a
violation of an ordinance of the municipality under this section if
a registered owner who is the rental owner or lessor of a vehicle,
not later than the 30th day after the date the notice required under
Subsection (b)(4) is mailed, provides to the authority a copy of the
rental, lease, or other contract document covering the vehicle on
the date of the violation of the municipal ordinance. The name and
address of the lessee must be clearly legible.
       (d)  If an unpaid fine is successfully challenged under
Subsection (c) by a lessor or rental owner, the lessee of the
vehicle on the date of the violation is considered to be the owner
of the vehicle for purposes of this section.
       (e)  This section does not apply to a vehicle transferred to,
or owned or transferred by, a dealer as defined by Section 503.001.
       Sec. 707.005. NOTICE TO COUNTY OR DEPARTMENT. A municipality
shall notify the county or the department that there is no cause to
continue to deny registration of a motor vehicle owned by a person
based on the person's failure to pay a fine for a violation of an
ordinance of the municipality regulating the parking, standing, or
stopping of a vehicle on:
             (1)  the person's payment of all unpaid fines to the
municipality and any late fees associated with those fines; or
             (2)  dismissal of the unpaid fines by the municipality.
       SECTION 2.  (a) The change in law made by this Act applies
only to the violation of a municipal ordinance regulating the
parking, standing, or stopping of a vehicle that occurs on or after
the effective date of this Act. A violation of a municipal
ordinance regulating the parking, standing, or stopping of a
vehicle that occurs before the effective date of this Act is
governed by the law in effect when the violation occurs, and the
current law is continued in effect for that purpose.
       (b)  For purposes of this section, a violation is committed
before the effective date of this Act if any element of the
violation occurs before that date.
        SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.