BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2213

By: Metcalf

Licensing & Administrative Procedures

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties explain that Montgomery County is one of the fastest growing areas of the state and that increased traffic is a part of that growth. There are currently hundreds of registered tow trucks within the county, and the parties claim that it is not uncommon for many of them to arrive at the scene of an accident. The parties express concerns regarding this mass of tow trucks increasing the likelihood of secondary accidents and suggest that the adoption of a tow rotation list in the unincorporated areas of the county may adequately address this public safety issue and ensure that there is no unethical behavior. H.B. 2213 seeks to amend the applicable law 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. 2213 amends the Occupations Code to decrease from 550,000 to 450,000 the minimum population threshold of a county that is adjacent to a county with a population of 3.3 million or more that triggers the application of statutory provisions authorizing a sheriff's office to maintain a list of towing companies to perform nonconsent tows of motor vehicles in the county's unincorporated area that are initiated by a peace officer investigating a traffic accident or a traffic incident.

EFFECTIVE DATE

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