By: Murphy (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 511

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2013; April 29, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation; May 9, 2013, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 9, 2013, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the registration of token trailers.

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

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 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 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 4. 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.

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