By: Cortez H.B. No. 3416
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles and county tax
  assessor-collector vehicle titling and registration duties and
  fees associated with those duties.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 502.040, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
         (e)  With the approval of the commissioners court of a
  county, a county assessor-collector may contract with a private
  entity to enable an applicant for registration to use an electronic
  off-premises location.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter B, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 502.0441 to read as follows:
         Sec 502.0441.  REGISTRATION RENEWAL THROUGH ELECTRONIC
  SYSTEM. (a) The department may designate an electronic system for
  registration renewal applications.
         (b)  If the department designates an electronic system, each
  county assessor-collector shall:
               (1)  use the system to receive registration renewal
  applications for vehicles that are not required by this chapter to
  be registered directly by the department;
               (2)  review and process the applications; and
               (3)  mail to an applicant for renewed registration in
  the assessor-collector's county the registration receipt or
  insignia issued to the applicant.
         SECTION 3.  Section 502.1911, Transportation Code, is
  amended by amending Subsections (b) and (c) and adding Subsection
  (d) to read as follows:
         (b)  The board by rule shall set the fee in an amount that:
               (1)  includes the fee established under Section
  502.356(a); and
               (2)  is sufficient to cover the expenses associated
  with collecting registration fees by:
                     (A)  the department;
                     (B)  a county tax assessor-collector;
                     (C)  a private entity with which a county tax
  assessor-collector contracts under Section 502.040(e) [502.197];
  or
                     (D)  a deputy assessor-collector that is
  deputized in accordance with board rule under Section 520.0071.
         (c)  The county tax assessor-collector, a private entity
  with which a county tax assessor-collector contracts under Section
  502.040(e) [502.197], or a deputy assessor-collector may retain a
  portion of the fee [collected under Subsection (b)] as provided by
  board rule. Remaining amounts collected under this section shall be
  deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
  fund.
         (d)  The rules adopted under this section must allow a county
  tax assessor-collector to retain a service charge of at least $1.50
  for each application submitted to the assessor-collector by mail.
  The retained service charge shall be used to pay the costs of
  handling and postage to mail the registration receipt and insignia
  to the applicant.
         SECTION 4.  Section 502.471(b), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (b)  This section does not apply to a violation of Section
  502.003, 502.042, [502.197,] or 502.431.
         SECTION 5.  Section 520.0071, Transportation Code, is
  amended by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c) to
  read as follows:
         (a)  The board by rule shall prescribe:
               (1)  the classification types of deputies performing
  titling and registration duties;
               (2)  the duties and obligations of deputies;
               (3)  the type and amount of any bonds that may be
  required by a county assessor-collector for a deputy to perform
  titling and registration duties; and
               (4)  except as provided by Subsection (c), the fees
  that may be charged or retained by deputies.
         (c)  
  A county assessor-collector that deputizes an
  individual or business under this section may authorize the deputy
  to charge or retain a fee in addition to fees authorized under
  Chapter 501 or 502 in an amount to be determined by the
  assessor-collector.
         SECTION 6.  Sections 348.005 and 353.006, Finance Code, are
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 348.005.  ITEMIZED CHARGE.  An amount in a retail
  installment contract is an itemized charge if the amount is not
  included in the cash price and is the amount of:
               (1)  fees for registration, certificate of title, and
  license and any additional registration fees charged by a deputy as
  authorized [by rules adopted] under Section 520.0071,
  Transportation Code;
               (2)  any taxes;
               (3)  fees or charges prescribed by law and connected
  with the sale or inspection of the motor vehicle; and
               (4)  charges authorized for insurance, service
  contracts, warranties, automobile club memberships, or a debt
  cancellation agreement by Subchapter C.
         Sec. 353.006.  ITEMIZED CHARGE.  An amount in a retail
  installment contract is an itemized charge if the amount is not
  included in the cash price and is the amount of:
               (1)  fees for registration, certificate of title, and
  license and any additional registration fees charged by a deputy as
  authorized [by rules adopted] under Section 520.0071,
  Transportation Code;
               (2)  any taxes;
               (3)  fees or charges prescribed by law and connected
  with the sale or inspection of the commercial vehicle;
               (4)  charges authorized for insurance, service
  contracts, and warranties by Subchapter C; and
               (5)  advances or payments authorized under Section
  353.402(b) or (c) made by the retail seller to or for the benefit of
  the retail buyer.
         SECTION 7.  Sections 502.197 and 520.005(d), Transportation
  Code, are repealed.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.