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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the requirement that certain applicants for a vehicle |
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dealer general distinguishing number complete a dealer education |
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course. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 503.029, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) An applicant for an original dealer general |
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distinguishing number who proposes to be an independent motor |
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vehicle dealer and who does not hold another type of dealer general |
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distinguishing number must submit to the department evidence that |
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the applicant completed a dealer education course approved by the |
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department in the year preceding the date the application is filed. |
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The course must be at least eight hours and not more than 12 hours in |
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length. |
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(e) The department may approve a dealer education course |
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under Subsection (d) only if the provider of the course: |
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(1) is a business with its principal office in this |
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state; |
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(2) demonstrates to the satisfaction of the department |
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that the provider has experience providing high-level, |
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professional education to independent motor vehicle dealers; |
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(3) provides to each person who attends a course |
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sample copies of forms required under state and federal law to be |
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used in motor vehicle transactions; |
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(4) provides ongoing educational support by telephone |
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or the Internet for one year at no additional cost to persons who |
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have attended a course; |
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(5) provides at least eight dealer education courses |
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each calendar year, including at least one course each year at a |
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location not more than 300 miles from any location in this state, |
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and provides an Internet version of the course in English and in |
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Spanish; and |
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(6) has a curriculum review panel for the course that |
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consists of at least four independent motor vehicle dealers who |
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hold dealer general distinguishing numbers. |
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SECTION 2. Subsection (d), Section 503.029, Transportation |
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Code, as added by this Act, applies only to an application for an |
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original dealer general distinguishing number filed with the Texas |
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Department of Transportation on or after September 1, 2008. An |
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application filed before that date is governed by the law in effect |
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when the application was filed, and the former law is continued in |
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effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 3. Not later than January 1, 2008, the Texas |
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Department of Transportation shall begin to approve or reject |
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applications from providers of dealer education courses under |
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Subsections (d) and (e), Section 503.029, Transportation Code, as |
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added by this Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |