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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to payment for the use of a highway toll project. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 228.057, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (i) to read as follows: |
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(i) The department shall provide electronic toll collection |
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customers with an option to authorize automatic payment of tolls |
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through the withdrawal of funds from the customer's bank account. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 372, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 372.054, 372.055, and 372.056 to read |
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as follows: |
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Sec. 372.054. DETERMINATION OF ELECTRONIC TOLL COLLECTION |
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CUSTOMER ACCOUNT BEFORE PAYMENT SOLICITATION. (a) A toll project |
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entity may not send an invoice or a notice of unpaid tolls to the |
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registered owner of a vehicle soliciting payment of a toll or any |
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related administrative fee unless the entity first determines |
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whether there is an active electronic toll collection customer |
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account that corresponds to a transponder issued for the vehicle. |
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(b) If a toll project entity determines under Subsection (a) |
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that there is a sufficiently funded electronic toll collection |
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customer account that corresponds to a transponder issued for the |
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vehicle, the entity must: |
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(1) satisfy the outstanding toll from the account at |
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the standard electronic collection rate and may not collect any |
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administrative fees or late fees; and |
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(2) if the entity determines that a transponder issued |
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to an electronic toll collection customer did not work correctly |
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more than 10 times in a 30-day period, send to the customer a notice |
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informing the customer that the transponder issued for the |
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customer's vehicle may not be working correctly. |
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Sec. 372.055. INFORMATION REQUIRED ON NOTICE OR INVOICE. A |
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notice or an invoice of unpaid tolls sent by a toll project entity |
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under Section 372.054 or any other section must clearly state that |
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the document is a bill and the recipient is expected to pay the |
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amount indicated. |
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Sec. 372.056. METHOD OF SENDING INVOICE OR NOTICE. An |
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invoice or notice provided to a person by a toll project entity |
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under this subchapter may be provided by: |
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(1) first class mail; or |
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(2) e-mail if the person has provided an e-mail |
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address to the entity and has elected to receive notice |
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electronically. |
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SECTION 3. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to the collection of a toll incurred on or after the effective date |
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of this Act. The collection of a toll incurred before the effective |
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date of this Act is governed by the law in effect immediately before |
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the effective date of this Act, and that law is continued in effect |
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for that purpose. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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* * * * * |