By: Paddie, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Paxton) H.B. No. 1711
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 24, 2019;
  April 25, 2019, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Transportation; May 15, 2019, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 1;
  May 15, 2019, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1711 By:  Hancock
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the issuance of digital license plates; authorizing a
  fee.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by
  adding Subchapter B-1 to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER B-1. DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES
         Sec. 504.151.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Digital license plate" means an electronic
  display that is designed to:
                     (A)  display the information required to be
  included on a physical license plate; and
                     (B)  be placed on the rear of a vehicle in lieu of
  a physical license plate issued under this chapter.
               (2)  "Digital license plate provider" means a person
  engaged in the business of providing digital license plate hardware
  and services to vehicle owners, including the sale or lease of and
  issuance of digital license plates.
         Sec. 504.152.  APPLICABILITY OF OTHER LAW. Except as
  otherwise provided by this subchapter or a rule adopted under this
  subchapter, a digital license plate issued under this subchapter is
  subject to the laws of this state applicable to a physical license
  plate.
         Sec. 504.153.  RULES. The board shall adopt rules as
  necessary to implement and administer this subchapter.
         Sec. 504.154.  DIGITAL LICENSE PLATES AUTHORIZED;
  FUNCTIONALITY. (a) The board by rule shall allow a vehicle
  described by Subsection (b) to be equipped with a digital license
  plate that is placed on the rear of the vehicle in lieu of a physical
  license plate issued under this chapter. The rule must require the
  owner of a vehicle issued a digital license plate to obtain a
  physical license plate to be placed on the front of the vehicle
  unless the vehicle is of a class of vehicles that is not required to
  display two license plates, as provided by other law.
         (b)  A vehicle registered under Chapter 502 may be equipped
  with a digital license plate only if the vehicle:
               (1)  is part of a commercial fleet, as defined by
  Section 502.001;
               (2)  is owned or operated by a governmental entity; or
               (3)  is not a passenger vehicle.
         (c)  The department may contract with digital license plate
  providers for the issuance of digital license plates, including any
  services related to the issuance of digital license plates.
         (d)  Notwithstanding any other law, rules adopted under this
  subchapter:
               (1)  shall authorize the display of the vehicle's
  registration insignia on a digital license plate issued for the
  vehicle in lieu of attaching the registration insignia to the
  inside of the vehicle's windshield as required by Section 502.059;
               (2)  may establish a fee in an amount necessary to cover
  any administrative costs incurred that relate to the issuance of a
  digital license plate and exceed the administrative costs incurred
  for the issuance of a physical license plate;
               (3)  shall prohibit a digital license plate provider
  from contracting with the department under Subchapter J;
               (4)  shall authorize the use of a digital license plate
  for electronic toll collection or to display a parking permit; and
               (5)  may establish procedures for displaying on a
  digital license plate:
                     (A)  an emergency alert or other public safety
  alert issued by a governmental entity, including an alert
  authorized under Subchapter L, M, or P, Chapter 411, Government
  Code;
                     (B)  vehicle manufacturer safety recall notices;
                     (C)  static logo displays, including unique
  displays for fleet vehicles; or
                     (D)  advertising approved by the department.
         Sec. 504.155.  DIGITAL LICENSE PLATE REQUIREMENTS. (a) The
  board by rule shall set the specifications and requirements for
  digital license plates, including requirements for the placement of
  digital license plates. The design of and information displayed on
  a digital license plate must be approved by the department.
         (b)  A digital license plate issued under this subchapter
  must:
               (1)  meet the specifications and requirements adopted
  under Subsection (a);
               (2)  include the information required to be included on
  a physical license plate and legibly display that information at
  all times and in all light conditions, provided that the license
  plate may display the information in a smaller typeface when the
  vehicle is parked;
               (3)  have wireless connectivity capability; and
               (4)  provide benefits to law enforcement that meet or
  exceed the benefits provided by physical license plates as of the
  time of enactment of this subchapter and as determined by the
  Department of Public Safety.
         (c)  The Department of Public Safety may test digital license
  plates to ensure that the digital license plates comply with the
  requirements of Subsection (b).
         Sec. 504.156.  DIGITAL LICENSE PLATE PROVIDER POWERS AND
  DUTIES. A digital license plate provider with whom the department
  contracts under Section 504.154:
               (1)  shall maintain a database of the digital license
  plates issued by the provider in this state;
               (2)  shall make available a digital version of each
  specialty license plate authorized by this chapter, other than
  personalized license plates authorized for marketing and sale under
  Subchapter J, provided that:
                     (A)  each issuance of a specialty license plate
  with restricted distribution, including a license plate authorized
  under Subchapter C, D, E, or F, must be approved by the department;
  and
                     (B)  the provider shall remit to the department in
  the manner prescribed by the department all money:
                           (i)  payable to the department; or
                           (ii)  required to be used or deposited in the
  manner prescribed by the law establishing the license plate;
               (3)  may contract with the private vendor under
  Subchapter J to make available a digital version of a personalized
  license plate authorized for marketing and sale under that
  subchapter, provided that the contract shall conform with any
  applicable requirements of Subchapter J and the terms of the
  private vendor's contract with the department;
               (4)  shall promptly update the display of the
  registration insignia to reflect the current registration period
  for the vehicle and, on request of the department, suspend the
  display of the registration insignia or indicate on the license
  plate that the registration insignia for the vehicle is expired;
               (5)  may provide any service related to the issuance of
  a digital license plate that is authorized by board rule, including
  the sale, lease, and installation of and customer service for a
  digital license plate; and
               (6)  may charge a fee, payable in installments, for the
  issuance of a digital license plate or any additional services
  provided by the provider for that license plate.
         Sec. 504.157.  DEFENSE TO PROSECUTION OF CERTAIN OFFENSES.
  It is a defense to prosecution of an offense involving the operation
  of a motor vehicle and relating to the placement of a license plate
  or the display of a registration insignia that the vehicle was
  operated in compliance with rules issued under this subchapter
  governing the placement of a digital license plate or the display of
  a registration insignia on a digital license plate, as applicable.
         SECTION 2.  Not later than December 31, 2019, the board of
  the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt the rules
  required by Subchapter B-1, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, as
  added by this Act, and any other rules necessary to implement and
  administer that subchapter.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
 
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