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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the release of a motor vehicle accident report to a |
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first lienholder of a vehicle damaged in the accident described by |
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the report. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 550.065(c), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(c) On written request and payment of any required fee, the |
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department or the governmental entity shall release the information |
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to: |
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(1) an entity described by Subsection (b); |
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(2) the law enforcement agency that employs the peace |
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officer who investigated the accident and sent the information to |
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the department, including an agent of the law enforcement agency |
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authorized by contract to obtain the information; |
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(3) the court in which a case involving a person |
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involved in the accident is pending if the report is subpoenaed; or |
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(4) any person directly concerned in the accident or |
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having a proper interest therein, including: |
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(A) any person involved in the accident; |
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(B) the authorized representative of any person |
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involved in the accident; |
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(C) a driver involved in the accident; |
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(D) an employer, parent, or legal guardian of a |
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driver involved in the accident; |
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(E) the owner of a vehicle or property damaged in |
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the accident; |
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(F) a person who has established financial |
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responsibility for a vehicle involved in the accident in a manner |
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described by Section 601.051, including a policyholder of a motor |
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vehicle liability insurance policy covering the vehicle; |
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(G) an insurance company that issued an insurance |
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policy covering a vehicle involved in the accident; |
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(H) an insurance company that issued a policy |
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covering any person involved in the accident; |
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(I) a person under contract to provide claims or |
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underwriting information to a person described by Paragraph (F), |
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(G), or (H); |
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(J) a radio or television station that holds a |
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license issued by the Federal Communications Commission; |
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(K) a newspaper that is: |
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(i) a free newspaper of general circulation |
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or qualified under Section 2051.044, Government Code, to publish |
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legal notices; |
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(ii) published at least once a week; and |
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(iii) available and of interest to the |
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general public in connection with the dissemination of news; [or] |
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(L) any person who may sue because of death |
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resulting from the accident; or |
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(M) the first lienholder of a vehicle damaged in |
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the accident, including: |
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(i) a vehicle storage facility that is |
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licensed under Chapter 2303, Occupations Code, and is the first |
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lienholder of the vehicle; and |
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(ii) a towing company that is licensed |
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under Chapter 2308, Occupations Code, and is the first lienholder |
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of the vehicle. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |