BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 691

By: Walle

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerned parties contend that certain bad actors in the automotive wrecking and salvage yard industry are likely to be engaging in activities that violate the statutes in the Transportation Code specifically designed to govern that industry. The parties emphasize that the incentives to stop these violations should come in the form of an increased maximum civil penalty for those statutory violations. H.B. 691 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 691 amends the Transportation Code to increase from $1,000 to $5,000 the maximum civil penalty that may be imposed for each violation of statutory provisions regulating an automotive wrecking and salvage yard that is in a county with a population of 3.3 million or more, is not located within a municipality in that county, and is established on or after September 1, 1983.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.