BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 735

By: Israel

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Electric and hybrid vehicles generally use less fuel than traditionally powered vehicles and possibly reduce fuel tax revenues, a primary funding source for building and maintaining Texas roadways. Interested parties note that although the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and county tax assessor-collectors collect certain information about vehicles registered in Texas, engine-type information is not collected. These parties contend that the state currently lacks the necessary procedures to keep an up-to-date count of electric and hybrid vehicles registered in Texas and that accurate data regarding these alternatively fueled vehicles is critical to planning and estimating funding levels for long-term infrastructure needs. C.S.H.B. 735 seeks to address these concerns.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 1 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 735 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) by rule to establish a program to collect information about the number of alternatively fueled vehicles registered in Texas. The bill requires TxDMV to submit an annual report to the legislature that, at a minimum, shows the number of vehicles registered in Texas that use electric plug-in drives, hybrid electric drives, and compressed natural gas drives.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2016.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 735 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 502.004 to read as follows: Sec. 502.004.  INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVELY FUELED VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "alternatively fueled vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is capable of using a fuel other than gasoline or diesel fuel, including a motor vehicle that uses electricity, fuel cells, natural gas, or propane. (b)  The department by rule shall establish a program to collect information about the number of alternatively fueled vehicles registered in this state. The rules may include a requirement for county assessor-collectors to compile and submit to the department information about the number of alternatively fueled vehicles registered by the assessor-collector. (c)  The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature that includes the information collected under this section. The report must show the number of vehicles registered in this state that use: (1)  electric plug-in drives; (2)  hybrid electric drives; (3)  hybrid electric plug-in drives; (4)  flexible fuel; (5)  fuel cells; (6)  natural gas; (7)  propane; or (8)  other alternative fuels.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 502.004 to read as follows: Sec. 502.004.  INFORMATION ON ALTERNATIVELY FUELED VEHICLES. (a) In this section, "alternatively fueled vehicle" means a motor vehicle that is capable of using a fuel other than gasoline or diesel fuel. (b)  The department by rule shall establish a program to collect information about the number of alternatively fueled vehicles registered in this state. (c)  The department shall submit an annual report to the legislature that includes the information collected under this section. The report must, at a minimum, show the number of vehicles registered in this state that use: (1)  electric plug-in drives; (2)  hybrid electric drives; and (3)  compressed natural gas drives.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2016.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.