By: Flores H.B. No. 3437

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the authority of certain counties to impose vehicle registration fees to address county mobility needs.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 502.189 to read as follows:

Sec. 502.189. OPTIONAL COUNTY FEE TO ADDRESS MOBILITY NEEDS. (a) This section applies only to a county:

(1) that borders the United Mexican States;

(2) that has a population of more than 500,000; and

(3) whose largest municipality has a population of less than 300,000.

(b) A vehicle that may be registered under this chapter without payment of a registration fee may be registered in a county imposing a fee under this section without payment of the additional fee.

(c) The commissioners court of a county described by Subsection (a) may impose by order an additional fee of $10 for each vehicle registration in the county to address the mobility needs of the county within the metropolitan area boundaries of any metropolitan planning organizations in the county.

(d) A fee imposed under this section may take effect only on January 1 of a year. The county must adopt the order and notify the department not later than September 1 of the year preceding the year in which the fee takes effect.

(e) A fee imposed under this section may be removed. The removal may take effect only on January 1 of a year. A county may remove the fee only by:

(1) rescinding the order imposing the fee; and

(2) notifying the department of the removal not later than September 1 of the year preceding the year in which the removal is to take effect.

(f) The county assessor-collector of a county imposing a fee under this section shall collect the additional fee for a vehicle when other fees imposed under this chapter are collected.

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007.