By: Hefner H.B. No. 3927
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the issuance and use of certain temporary motor vehicle
  tags and the classification of temporary motor vehicle tags as
  governmental records for purposes of certain criminal offenses.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 503.0626(c), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Before a dealer's or converter's temporary tag may be
  displayed on a vehicle, the dealer or converter must enter into the
  database through the Internet information on the vehicle and
  information about the dealer or converter as prescribed by the
  department. The department may [not] deny access to the database to
  any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number issued under
  this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations
  Code, or to any converter licensed under Chapter 2301, Occupations
  Code.
         SECTION 2.  Section 503.0631(c), Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (c)  Except as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer's
  temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer must enter
  into the database through the Internet information about the buyer
  of the vehicle for which the tag was issued as prescribed by the
  department and generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as
  required by Section 503.063(e).  The department may [not] deny
  access to the database to any dealer who holds a general
  distinguishing number issued under this chapter or who is licensed
  under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 503.067(b) and (d), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (b)  A person may not operate a vehicle that displays:
               (1)  a temporary tag in violation of this chapter or
  Chapter 502; or
               (2)  any other [an] unauthorized temporary tag.
         (d)  A person may not sell or distribute a temporary tag or an
  item represented to be a temporary tag unless the person is[:
               [(1)] a dealer issuing the tag in connection with the
  sale of a vehicle[; or
               [(2) a printer or distributor engaged in the business
  of selling temporary tags solely for uses authorized under this
  chapter].
         SECTION 4.  Section 37.01(2), Penal Code, is amended to read
  as follows:
               (2)  "Governmental record" means:
                     (A)  anything belonging to, received by, or kept
  by government for information, including a court record;
                     (B)  anything required by law to be kept by others
  for information of government;
                     (C)  a license, certificate, permit, seal, title,
  letter of patent, or similar document issued by government, by
  another state, or by the United States, including a temporary motor
  vehicle tag issued under Chapter 502 or 503, Transportation Code;
                     (D)  a standard proof of motor vehicle liability
  insurance form described by Section 601.081, Transportation Code, a
  certificate of an insurance company described by Section 601.083 of
  that code, a document purporting to be such a form or certificate
  that is not issued by an insurer authorized to write motor vehicle
  liability insurance in this state, an electronic submission in a
  form described by Section 502.046(i), Transportation Code, or an
  evidence of financial responsibility described by Section 601.053
  of that code;
                     (E)  an official ballot or other election record;
  or
                     (F)  the written documentation a mobile food unit
  is required to obtain under Section 437.0074, Health and Safety
  Code.
         SECTION 5.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.