BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

H.B. 3088

By: Veasey

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law requires temporary tags used on motor vehicles prior to the issuance of permanent license plates to be made of cardboard.  There are now several different types of temporary tags on the market that are not made of cardboard. 

 

H.B. 3088 eliminates the requirement that temporary tags be made of cardboard, giving automobile dealers more options in the distribution of temporary tags. The bill also provides that a temporary tag is valid until the 60th day, rather than 21st day, following the date of purchase.   

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

 

H.B. 3088 amends the Transportation Code to remove references to cardboard in provisions relating to the issuance and use of temporary tags on vehicles in the Certificate of Title Act, dealer's and manufacturer's vehicle license plates law, and the Motor Vehicle Safety Responsibility Act. The bill establishes that a dealer's authority to issue a temporary tag for use on an unregistered vehicle only for certain purposes does not prohibit a dealer from permitting a customer to operate a vehicle temporarily while the customer's vehicle is being repaired.  The bill makes a buyer's temporary tag expire on the earlier of the date on which the vehicle is registered or the 60th, rather than 21st, day after the date of purchase. The bill removes provisions authorizing a dealer to issue an additional tag under certain circumstances. The bill makes a conforming change relating to previous law that dissolved the Motor Vehicle Board and transferred its rulemaking responsibilities to the Texas Transportation Commission. The bill repeals provisions relating to a dealer's notice to a buyer about a buyer's temporary cardboard tag.

 

H.B. 3088 repeals Section 503.0632, Transportation Code.

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2009.