| TO: | Honorable Kip Averitt, Chair, Senate Committee on Natural Resources |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB3140 by Gonzalez Toureilles (Relating to authorizing the transfer of certain abandoned or forfeited property to groundwater conservation districts.), As Engrossed |
The bill would amend the Code of Criminal Procedure to authorize a law enforcement agency to
which abandoned or forfeited property has been transferred to transfer or loan the property to a groundwater conservation district. If the property loaned is a motor vehicle, the district to which the vehicle is loaned would be required to maintain any automobile insurance coverage for the vehicle that is required by law. The loaning agency would be required to keep and update records regarding the loaned property.
The Transportation Code would also be amended to authorize, after fulfilling requirements related to
filing notice regarding abandonment, the transfer of an abandoned vehicle from a law enforcement
agency to a groundwater conservation district for that district's use.
If a law enforcement agency were to loan an abandoned vehicle that has been taken into the agency's custody to a groundwater conservation district, the loaning agency would experience a savings in insurance expenses; however, the receiving district would incur those costs. Costs would vary depending on the vehicle.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
| Source Agencies: |
| LBB Staff: | JOB, CL, DB, KJG
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