BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2115

By: Phillips

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law authorizes a two-year initial inspection period for a new vehicle if it is sold in Texas, has not been previously registered in Texas or another state, and is the current or preceding model year. Interested parties note that rental car companies bring thousands of new vehicles to Texas each year. Given the sheer volume required to meet demand in Texas, new rental vehicles are purchased both in state and out-of-state for use in Texas. Interested parties contend that the current requirement creates a potential problem when two identical, new rental vehicles, one bought in Texas and the other bought out of state, have different initial inspection periods. This is an administrative burden for rental companies that results in re-inspection costs on cars with one-year inspections that ultimately are passed down to consumers. H.B. 2115 seeks to remedy this situation by revising provisions relating to the two-year initial inspection period for passenger cars and light trucks.

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. 2115 amends the Transportation Code to make the two-year initial inspection period for certain passenger cars and light trucks applicable to a passenger car or light truck purchased by a commercial fleet buyer for use in Texas if the vehicle has not been previously registered in Texas or another state and is of the current or preceding model year on the date of sale and the commercial fleet buyer is a deputy appointed and authorized by the county assessor-collector to perform titling and registration duties, uses the dealer title application process to submit title transactions to the county in which the commercial fleet buyer is a deputy, and has authority to accept an application for registration and application for title transfer that the county assessor-collector may accept.

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the bill does not receive the necessary vote, September 1, 2015.