By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 249

(In the Senate - Filed November 10, 2008; February 11, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; April 1, 2009, reported adversely, with favorable Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; April 1, 2009, sent to printer.)

COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 249 By: Shapleigh

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to optional fees on the registration of a vehicle imposed by certain counties.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subsections (a), (f), and (g), Section 502.1725, Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) This section applies only to a county:

(1) that borders the United Mexican States;

(2) that has a population of more than 300,000; and

(3) that either:

(A) has no [in which the largest] municipality with [has] a population of [less than] 300,000 or more; or

(B) borders another state of the United States.

(f) The county assessor-collector of a county imposing a fee under this section shall collect the additional fee for a vehicle when other fees imposed under this chapter are collected. The county shall deposit [send] the fee revenue in a special account in the county general fund. Money in the account may be used only to fund the costs of constructing and maintaining public roadway projects in the county and acquiring rights-of-way for those projects. The county may enter into a contract for a project with a public entity authorized by law to construct public roadway projects in [to the regional mobility authority of the county to fund long-term transportation projects in] the county.

(g) The department shall collect the additional fee on a vehicle that is owned by a resident of a county imposing a fee under this section and that, under this chapter, must be registered directly with the department. The department shall send all fees collected for a county under this subsection to the county for deposit and use as provided by Subsection (f) [regional mobility authority of the county to fund long-term transportation projects in the county].

SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2009.

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