BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2310

By: Vo

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been suggested that recent joint efforts between FEMA and the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV), with assistance from the Texas Division of Emergency Management, to capture vehicle identification numbers and license plate information in the wake of Hurricane Harvey could have benefited from the capture of additional information, including the vehicle identification number relating to the vehicle. Obtaining this information could assist TxDMV in carrying out its duties and ensure the titles for these vehicles are properly "branded" to indicate flood damage for the next owner in the event the vehicle is sold. H.B. 2310 seeks to address this issue by providing a method for TxDMV to obtain information necessary to appropriately title flood-damaged vehicles that have been repaired with federal financial assistance.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 2310 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) and the Texas Division of Emergency Management to coordinate with FEMA to ensure that TxDMV has information necessary to apply the requisite notation to the title or record of title of a vehicle that is a salvage motor vehicle because of damage caused exclusively by flood and that has been repaired or salvaged using financial assistance designated for that purpose and administered by FEMA.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.