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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disposition of surplus vehicles by a governmental |
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agency. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 503.063, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 503.063. BUYER'S TEMPORARY TAGS. (a) Except as |
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provided by this section, a dealer or federal, state, or local |
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governmental agency exempt from the requirements to obtain a dealer |
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general distinguishing number under Section 503.024(a)(2) shall |
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issue to a person who buys a vehicle one temporary buyer's tag for |
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the vehicle. |
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(b) Except as provided by this section, the buyer's tag is |
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valid for the operation of the vehicle until the earlier of: |
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(1) the date on which the vehicle is registered; or |
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(2) the 60th day after the date of purchase. |
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(c) The dealer or federal, state, or local governmental |
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agency: |
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(1) must show in ink on the buyer's tag the actual date |
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of sale and any other required information; and |
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(2) is responsible for displaying the tag. |
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(d) The dealer or federal, state, or local governmental |
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agency is responsible for the safekeeping and distribution of each |
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buyer's tag the dealer or federal, state, or local governmental |
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agency obtains. |
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(e) The department may not issue a buyer's tag or contract |
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for the issuance of a buyer's tag but shall prescribe: |
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(1) the specifications, color, and form of a buyer's |
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tag; and |
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(2) procedures for a dealer or federal, state, or |
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local governmental agency to: |
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(A) generate a vehicle-specific number using the |
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database developed under Section 503.0631 and assign it to each |
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tag; |
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(B) generate a vehicle-specific number using the |
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database developed under Section 503.0631 for future use for when a |
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dealer or federal, state, or local governmental agency is unable to |
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access the Internet at the time of sale; and |
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(C) clearly display the vehicle-specific number |
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on the tag. |
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(f) The department shall ensure that a dealer or federal, |
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state, or local governmental agency may generate in advance a |
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sufficient amount of vehicle-specific numbers under Subsection |
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(e)(2)(B) in order to continue selling vehicles for a period of up |
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to one week in which a dealer or federal, state, or local |
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governmental agency is unable to access the Internet due to an |
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emergency. The department shall establish an expedited procedure |
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to allow affected dealers or federal, state, or local governmental |
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agency to apply for additional vehicle-specific numbers so they may |
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remain in business during an emergency. |
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(g) For each buyer's temporary tag, a dealer shall charge |
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the buyer a registration fee of not more than $5 as prescribed by |
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the department to be sent to the comptroller for deposit to the |
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credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund. A federal, |
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state, or local governmental agency is not required to charge the |
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fee prescribed under this Subsection. |
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SECTION 2. Section 503.0631, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 503.0631. BUYER'S TEMPORARY TAG DATABASE. |
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(c) Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer's |
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temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer or federal, |
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state, or local governmental agency must enter into the database |
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through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for |
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which the tag was issued as prescribed by the department and |
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generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as required by |
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Section 503.063(e). The department may not deny access to the |
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database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number |
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issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301, |
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Occupations Code. |
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(d) A dealer or federal, state, or local governmental agency |
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shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business or |
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operation, but if the dealer or federal, state, or local |
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governmental agency is unable to access the Internet at the time of |
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the sale of a vehicle, the dealer or federal, state, or local |
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governmental agency shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed |
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by the department, that states the dealer or federal, state, or |
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local governmental agency has Internet access, but was unable to |
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access the Internet at the time of sale. The buyer shall keep the |
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original copy of the form in the vehicle until the vehicle is |
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registered to the buyer. |
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Not later than the next business day after |
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the time of sale, the dealer or federal, state, or local |
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governmental agency shall submit the information required under |
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Subsection (c). |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2019. |