Honorable Dan Patrick, Lieutenant Governor, Senate
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
SB2076 by Rodríguez (Relating to the titling of motor vehicles; creating a criminal offense and authorizing fees.), As Passed 2nd House
No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend provisions in the Transportation Code regarding the titling of motor vehicles. The bill would amend §501.002 regarding the length and width of certain trailers defined as a "travel trailer." The bill would amend §501.004(b) to specify that the provisions of Chapter 501 do not apply to a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross weight of not more than 34,000 pounds. The bill would amend §501.032 and add §501.0321 and §501.0322 regarding requirements for a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer to have an identification number inspection. The bill would authorize the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) or another entity that provides an inspection under these sections to impose a fee not to exceed $40. A county or municipality that performs an inspection would be required to credit the fee revenue its general fund. Fees collected by TxDMV for these inspections would be credited to the TxDMV Fund. The bill would amend §501.134 to authorize TxDMV to revalidate a previously superseded or invalidated title or certified copy of title. The bill would add new §501.109(g) to make it a criminal offense to knowingly provide false or incorrect information or sign the name of another person without legal authority regarding the title of a nonrepairable or salvage motor vehicle. An offense under this subsection would be a third degree felony. The bill would require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) and TxDMV to conduct a study on the efficiency and necessity of titling, including the related actions of vehicle registration and inspection, and submit a report of results and recommendations to the Legislature.
TxDMV indicates the agency would incur one time technology costs for implementing changes related to travel trailers and certified copy of title provisions in the bill. Based on LBB's analysis of information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within existing resources.
TxDMV reports that counties and certain local law enforcement entities currently perform vehicle identification number inspections and does not anticipate it would begin performing inspections and assessing fees that would be deposited to the TxDMV Fund. TxDMV also indicates that an insignificant number of farm trailers or farm semi-trailers would be affected by changes in the bill. Based on the information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed these provisions of the bill would not result in a significant impact to state or local revenues.
Based on LBB's analysis of TxDMV and DPS, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with conducting a study and report on vehicle titling and associated activities could be absorbed within the agencies' existing resources.
This analysis assumes the provisions of the bill addressing felony sanctions for criminal offenses would not result in a significant impact on state correctional agencies.
Local Government Impact
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.
Source Agencies:
304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 405 Department of Public Safety, 608 Department of Motor Vehicles