AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties note that certain counties that have opted to regulate junkyards or automotive wrecking and salvage yards can only recover a fee of $25 for the issuance or renewal of a license. These parties believe this fee amount to be inadequate to cover the cost of the administration of a viable wrecking and salvage yard enforcement program, especially in geographically large counties. H.B. 2007 seeks to remedy this situation.

 

H.B. 2007 amends current law relating to fees imposed by a county for licensing a junkyard or automotive wrecking and salvage yard.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Section 396.041(c), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(c) Authorizes an ordinance to:

 

(1) impose a fee for the issuance or renewal of a license in an amount:

 

(A) of $25, if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county not described by Paragraph (B), (C), or (D);

 

(B) of not more than $150, if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county with a population of one million or more that contains two or more municipalities, each of which has a population of 250,000 or more;

 

(C) of not more than $500, if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more; or

 

(D) necessary to pay for the administration and enforcement of the ordinance, but not to exceed $150, if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county located on the Texas-Mexico border that has a population of less than 300,000 and contains one or more municipalities with a population of 200,000 or more;

 

(2) condition the license on the operation of the junkyard or automotive wrecking and salvage yard only at a location approved by the commissioners court; or

 

(3) establish grounds for suspending or revoking a license if the junkyard or automotive wrecking and salvage yard is not screened.

 

Deletes existing text authorizing an ordinance to impose a fee of $25 for the issuance or renewal of a license, authorizing an ordinance to impose a fee of not more than $150 for the issuance or renewal of a license, if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county with a population of one million or more that contains two or more municipalities, each of which has a population of 250,000 or more, or $500 for the issuance or renewal of a license if the ordinance is adopted by the commissioners court of a county with a population of 3.3 million or more. Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2015.