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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the development of a statewide motor vehicle |
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registration program to prevent transnational motor vehicle theft; |
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authorizing fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.0094 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.0094. MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION PROGRAM: |
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TRANSNATIONAL THEFT. (a) In this section, "owner" means the owner |
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of a motor vehicle as shown on the vehicle registration records of |
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the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles or the analogous department |
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or agency of another state or country. |
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(b) The department shall develop a statewide motor vehicle |
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registration program to help prevent the transnational theft of |
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motor vehicles. The department may not implement the program |
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unless the legislature subsequently provides by general law for the |
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implementation of the program. |
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(c) Under the program, an owner of a motor vehicle may |
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register the motor vehicle with the department to authorize a peace |
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officer to stop the registered vehicle before the vehicle crosses |
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the international border of this state. |
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(d) The department shall develop a form to register a motor |
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vehicle under the program. The form must advise the owner of the |
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motor vehicle regarding the provisions of Subsection (g). A motor |
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vehicle may not be registered under the program unless the owner |
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consents to the provisions of Subsection (g). |
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(e) The program must provide a method for an owner to |
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withdraw a motor vehicle from the program. The program may not |
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require an owner of a motor vehicle to participate in the program. |
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(f) After implementation of the program, the department |
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shall maintain a database of all motor vehicles registered under |
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the program. |
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(g) A peace officer who observes a motor vehicle that is |
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registered under the program and is crossing the international |
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border of this state may stop the motor vehicle to determine whether |
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the motor vehicle is being operated by the owner or with the owner's |
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permission. |
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(h) The department shall propose rules to administer the |
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program and may propose a registration fee in an amount sufficient |
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to recover the cost of administering the program. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |