BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	C.S.H.B. 1959
85R31331 JXC-F	By: Thompson, Senfronia; Morrison, Geanie W. (Taylor, Larry)
	Transportation
	5/18/2017
	Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Interested parties contend that the current procedure for commercial fleet vehicle registration and management is not only cumbersome and outdated, but often expensive for fleet owners, local governments, and law enforcement.

 

H.B. 1959 seeks to address this issue by requiring the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to conduct a study that identifies and assesses alternative procedures for commercial vehicle registration, licensing, and permitting in Texas. H.B. 1959 authorizes TxDMV to collaborate with another state agency or a research division of an institution of higher education in Texas to conduct the study. (Original Author�s / Sponsor�s Statement of Intent)

 

C.S.H.B. 1959 amends current law relating to alternative registration technologies for commercial motor vehicles.

 

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 Chapter 1003, Transportation Code, by adding Sections 1003.006 and 1003.007, as follows:

 

Sec. 1003.006. STUDY ON REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR VEHICLES. (a) Requires that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV):

 

(1)  conduct a study that identifies and assesses alternative technologies for registering commercial motor vehicles to replace license plates, permits, and other existing documentation and registration methods currently in use in this state and evaluates the safety and suitability for use on roadways of certain technologies; and

 

(2)  submit a report on the results of the study to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation issues not later than December 1, 2021.

 

(b) Authorizes TxDMV to collaborate with another state agency or a research division of an institution of higher education (IHE) in this state to conduct the study.

 

(c) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2023.

 

Sec. 1003.007. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL VEHICLES. (a) Authorizes TxDMV, in consultation with a state agency or research division of an IHE in this state, to establish a limited pilot program (program) that identifies, implements, and assesses alternative technologies for registering commercial motor vehicles to replace license plates, permits, and other existing documentation and registration methods currently in use in this state if TxDMV determines that the program can be implemented at no cost to the state and that the results of the study conducted under Section 1003.006 indicate that the program is feasible.

 

(b) Requires that the pilot program:

 

(1)  evaluate the safety and suitability for use on roadways of the �alternative technologies identified under Subsection (a); and

 

(2)  be funded through contributions by participants who voluntarily opt into the pilot program.

 

(c) Requires TxDMV, not later than December 1, 2022, to submit a report on the results of the program to the governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation issues.

 

(d) Provides that this section expires January 1, 2023.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.