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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to notice provided to vehicle owners and lienholders by |
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operators of vehicle storage facilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 2303.151, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) The operator of a vehicle storage facility shall send |
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a written notice required under Subsection (b) to an address |
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obtained, by mail or electronically, either: |
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(1) directly from the governmental entity with which |
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the vehicle is registered; or |
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(2) from a private entity authorized by that |
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governmental entity to obtain title, registration, and lienholder |
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information using a single vehicle identification number inquiry |
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submitted through a secure access portal to the governmental |
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entity's motor vehicle records. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2303.152, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) Notice by publication is not required if the operator of |
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the vehicle storage facility obtains, by mail or electronically: |
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(1) a report from the National Motor Vehicle Title |
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Information System operated by the United States Department of |
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Justice, or a successor system, showing the state in which the |
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vehicle is titled; and |
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(2) a report showing that no record of a registered |
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owner or lienholder of record was found, either: |
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(A) directly from the governmental entity with |
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which the vehicle is titled or registered; or |
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(B) from a private entity authorized by the |
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governmental entity with which the vehicle is titled or registered |
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to obtain title, registration, and lienholder information using a |
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single vehicle identification number inquiry submitted through a |
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secure access portal to the governmental entity's motor vehicle |
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records. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |