BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1790

By: Pickett

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

There is concern that the process for revocation and reinstatement by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) of disabled parking placards seized by law enforcement is outdated and unnecessarily costly and time-consuming. Interested parties explain that the owner of a seized placard may apply for a replacement placard with the county before TxDMV has even revoked the record of the placard in the registration and titling system. H.B. 1790 seeks to streamline the process and eliminate preventable costs by consolidating it at the county level.

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. 1790 amends the Transportation Code to remove the requirement for the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles on request to conduct a hearing and determine whether the revocation of a disabled parking placard that has been seized and revoked should continue or the placard should be returned to the person and the revocation rescinded. The bill instead authorizes the person from whom such a placard is seized to apply for a new placard by submitting an application for the placard as for an original. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.