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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 511

By: Murphy

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Interested parties assert that many trucking companies find it easier to manage their fleets by registering their token trailers in other states that have less burdensome registration requirements. C.S.H.B. 511 seeks to alleviate the burden by implementing provisions to facilitate the registration of token trailers in Texas.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 3 of this bill.

 

ANALYSIS

 

C.S.H.B. 511 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue a license plate that does not expire for a token trailer registered under statutory provisions relating to extended registration of commercial fleet vehicles. The bill authorizes the alphanumeric pattern for such a license plate to remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold. The bill specifies that the registration receipt for certain heavy vehicles is not required for a vehicle that displays such a license plate.

 

C.S.H.B. 511 removes a provision authorizing TxDMV to issue specially designed license plates for token trailers. The bill instead requires TxDMV to issue a license plate that does not expire or require an annual registration insignia to be valid for a token trailer registered under statutory provisions relating to the registration fee for a truck-tractor or commercial motor vehicle with a specified gross weight used in combination with a semitrailer. The bill authorizes the alphanumeric pattern for such a license plate to remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold.  The bill specifies that the registration receipt for certain heavy vehicles is not required for a vehicle that displays such a license plate.   

 

C.S.H.B. 511 requires TxDMV to adopt rules, as soon as practicable after the bill's effective date, for the administration of statutory provisions relating to the extended registration of commercial fleet vehicles and the bill's provisions and authorizes TxDMV to adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2013.

 

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 511 may differ from the original in nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantive differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

 

INTRODUCED

HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE

No equivalent provision.

 

SECTION 1.  Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to read as follows:

(d)  A license plate issued under this section:

(1)  may, on request of the owner, include the name or logo of the business entity that owns the vehicle;

(2)  except as provided by Subsection (d-1), must include the expiration date of the registration period; and

(3)  does not require an annual registration insignia to be valid.

(d-1)  The department shall issue a license plate for a token trailer registered under this section that does not expire.  The alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this subsection may remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold.  The registration receipt required under Section 621.002 is not required for a vehicle that displays a license plate issued under this subsection.

 

SECTION 1.  Section 502.255(i), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(i)  The department shall [may] issue specially designed nonexpiring license plates for token trailers.  The nonexpiring license plate shall remain displayed on the token trailer until the trailer is sold or removed from service or the license plate is not legible.  The department shall provide for a person to register a token trailer under this section on the department's Internet website.

 

SECTION 2.  Section 502.255(i), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(i)  The department shall issue a license plate for a token trailer registered under this section that does not expire or require an annual registration insignia to be valid.  The alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this subsection may remain on a token trailer for as long as the registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token trailer is removed from service or sold.  The registration receipt required under Section 621.002 is not required for a vehicle that displays a license plate issued under this subsection [may issue specially designed license plates for token trailers].

 

SECTION 2.  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt rules for the administration of Section 502.255(i), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the department may adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

 

SECTION 3.  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt rules for the administration of Sections 502.0023 and 502.255(i), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the department may adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for emergency rules.

 

SECTION 3.  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, 2013.

 

SECTION 4. Same as introduced version.