BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3760

By: Oliveira

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes a person determined by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) or a court to be the owner of a motor vehicle that has had the serial number removed, altered, or obliterated to apply to TxDOT for an assigned vehicle identification number (VIN).  The vehicle must first be inspected by a county sheriff's department auto theft unit or other law enforcement agency.

C.S.H.B. 3760 allows a county or municipal law enforcement agency to impose a $40 fee for required vehicle inspections performed by the auto theft unit of the agency in connection with the assignment of a VIN by TxDOT to compensate for the costs associated with performing the inspections. 

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. 3760 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a county or municipal law enforcement agency to impose a fee of $40 if the auto theft unit of the agency conducts an inspection required by the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) in connection with the assignment of a vehicle identification number by TxDOT.  The bill requires the county or municipal treasurer to credit the fee to the general fund of the county or municipality, as applicable, to defray the agency's costs associated with the inspection.  The bill requires the fee to be waived by TxDOT or the agency imposing the fee if the person applying for an assigned vehicle number is the current registered owner of the vehicle. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 3760 differs from the original by authorizing a county or municipal law enforcement agency, rather than a sheriff's department, to impose a fee of $40 for an inspection required by the Texas Department of Transportation in connection with the assignment of a vehicle identification number.  The substitute requires the county or municipal treasurer to credit the fee to the general fund of the county or municipality, as applicable, to defray the agency's costs associated with the inspection, whereas the original requires the county treasurer to credit the fee to the general fund of the county to defray the county's costs associated with administering the Certificate of Title Act, including the administration of title hearings. 

C.S.H.B. 3760 adds a provision not in the original to require an inspection fee to be waived if the person applying for an assigned vehicle number is the current owner of the vehicle.