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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to an optional county fee on vehicle registration in |
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certain counties to be used for transportation projects. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 502.402, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a), (b), (b-1), and (e) and adding |
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Subsection (e-1) to read as follows: |
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(a) This section applies only to: |
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(1) a county that: |
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(A) borders the United Mexican States; and |
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(B) has a population of more than 250,000; [and] |
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(2) a county that has a population of more than 1.5 |
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million that is coterminous with a regional mobility authority; |
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(3) a county other than a county described by |
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Subdivision (1) or (2) that is part of a regional mobility |
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authority; and |
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(4) a county: |
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(A) that has a population of more than 320,000; |
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(B) that does not border the United Mexican |
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States; and |
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(C) in which a port authority is authorized to |
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issue permits for oversize or overweight vehicles under Chapter |
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623. |
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(b) The commissioners court of a county by order may impose |
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an additional fee for a vehicle registered in the county. Except as |
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provided by Subsection (b-1), the fee may not exceed $10. In a |
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county described by Subsection (a)(3), the fee must be approved by a |
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majority of the qualified voters of the county voting on the issue |
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at a referendum election, which the commissioners court may order |
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and hold for that purpose. |
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(b-1) The commissioners court of a county described by |
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Subsection (a) [with a population of less than 700,000] may |
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increase the additional fee to an amount that does not exceed $20 if |
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approved by a majority of the qualified voters of the county voting |
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on the issue at a referendum election, which the commissioners |
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court may order and hold for that purpose. |
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(e) The additional fee shall be collected for a vehicle when |
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other fees imposed under this chapter are collected. Except as |
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otherwise provided by Subsection (e-1), the [The] fee revenue |
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collected shall be: |
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(1) sent to a regional mobility authority located in |
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the county to fund long-term transportation projects in the county |
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that are consistent with the purposes specified by Section 7-a, |
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Article VIII, Texas Constitution; or |
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(2) if there is no regional mobility authority located |
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in the county, used by the county only to fund long-term |
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transportation projects in the county that are consistent with the |
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purposes specified by Section 7-a, Article VIII, Texas |
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Constitution. |
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(e-1) If a county described by Subsection (a)(1), other than |
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a county in which a vehicle is required to pass an emissions |
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inspection, has been authorized to increase the amount of the fee |
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under Subsection (b-1), 50 percent of the additional revenue |
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collected as authorized by that subsection shall be sent to the |
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county treasurer of the county to be credited to the county road and |
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bridge fund. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |