BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 1413

By: Bohac

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current statute concerning classifying a vehicle as a "junked vehicle" is ambiguous and often interpreted differently by various municipalities.

C.S.H.B. 1413 amends the Transportation Code to clarify the requirements for a vehicle to be classified as a "junked vehicle."

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

C.S.H.B. 1413 amends the Transportation Code to modify a criterion in the definition of "junked vehicle" under provisions for abandoned motor vehicles, to mean a self-propelled vehicle that displays an expired license plate or invalid motor vehicle inspection certificate or does not display a license plate or motor vehicle inspection certificate, rather than does not have lawfully attached to it an unexpired license plate and a valid motor vehicle inspection certificate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 1413 differs from the original by clarifying that a "junked vehicle," in addition to other existing criteria, is one that displays an expired license plate or invalid motor vehicle inspection certificate or does not display a license plate or motor vehicle inspection certificate, rather than is missing a lawfully attached unexpired license plate or valid motor vehicle inspection certificate, as in the original.