BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2412

By: Howard, Charlie

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

For many vehicle enthusiasts in Texas, building, maintaining, and enjoying antique classic vehicles is a favorite pastime.  These vehicles are the same crowd pleasers whose participation in exhibitions and parades is always anticipated and whose owners regularly contribute to charities and civic events.

C.S.H.B. 2412 sets forth requirements for the registration and titling of custom vehicles and street rods, requiring the owner of such a vehicle to provide proof that the vehicle passed a safety inspection upon initial registration of the vehicle. The bill exempts these vehicles from inspection under the law relating to compulsory inspection of vehicles.

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. 2412 amends the Transportation Code to provide that if the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issues a certificate of title for a custom vehicle or street rod, the model year of the vehicle must be listed on the certificate of title and must be the model year that the body of the vehicle resembles.  The bill requires the certificate of title to also include the word "replica."  The bill requires the owner of the custom vehicle or street rod to provide TxDOT with documentation identifying the model year that the body of the vehicle resembles. The bill defines "custom vehicle" to mean a vehicle that is at least 25 years old and of a model year after 1948 or manufactured to resemble such a vehicle, and that has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from materials not original to the vehicle.  The bill defines "street rod" to mean a vehicle that was manufactured before 1949 or after 1948 to resemble a vehicle manufactured before 1949 and that has been altered from the manufacturer's original design or has a body constructed from materials not original to the vehicle.

C.S.H.B. 2412 adds a vehicle that is a street rod or custom vehicle to the exhibition vehicles for which TxDOT is required to issue specialty license plates that must include the words "Street Rod" or "Custom Vehicle," as appropriate, and adds a vehicle moving under or bearing a custom vehicle license or street rod license to the list of vehicles not subject to compulsory inspection. The bill clarifies that a custom vehicle or street rod eligible to receive license plates is not required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment unless the specific piece of equipment was required by statute as a condition of sale during the year listed as the model year on the certificate of title.  The bill requires an owner, upon initial registration of a custom vehicle or street rod, to provide proof, acceptable to TxDOT, that the custom vehicle or street rod passed a safety inspection that as been approved by TxDOT.  The bill requires TxDOT to create a safety inspection process for inspecting replica custom vehicles or street rods. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2412 adds provisions not in the original to set forth requirements for a certificate of title issued for a custom vehicle or street rod, to require the owner of a custom vehicle or street rod to provide proof that the vehicle passed a safety inspection upon initial registration of the vehicle, and to require the Texas Department of Transportation to create a safety inspection process for inspecting replica custom vehicles or street rods.  The substitute adds a provision not in the original specifying when a custom vehicle or street rod eligible for specialty license plates is required to be equipped with a specific piece of equipment.