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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the denial of the registration of a motor vehicle based |
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on certain information provided by a county to the Texas Department |
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of Motor Vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 502.010, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsections (a), (b), (c), (d), (f), and (f-1) and |
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adding Subsections (a-1) and (k) to read as follows: |
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(a) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a county |
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assessor-collector [or the department] may refuse to register a |
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motor vehicle if the assessor-collector [or the department] |
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receives information that the owner of the vehicle: |
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(1) owes the county money for a fine, fee, or tax that |
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is past due; or |
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(2) failed to appear in connection with a complaint, |
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citation, information, or indictment in a court in the county in |
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which a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner. |
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(a-1) If the department determines that a county |
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assessor-collector is authorized to refuse to register a vehicle |
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under Subsection (a): |
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(1) the vehicle may not be registered through an |
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online system designated by the department under Section |
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520.005(d); and |
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(2) the department shall refuse to register the |
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vehicle through an online system that is available to the public. |
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(b) The [A county may contract with the] department shall |
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develop and implement a system through which counties may [to] |
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provide information to the department necessary to make a |
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determination under Subsection (a-1) [(a)]. The system developed |
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under this section must: |
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(1) verify in real time the information described by |
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Subsection (a) by searching against the vehicle owner's driver's |
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license number, date of birth, or other information provided to the |
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department; and |
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(2) be used for the registration of a vehicle |
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conducted through the department's Internet website. |
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(c) A county that provides information [has a contract] |
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under Subsection (b) shall immediately notify the department |
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regarding a person for whom the county assessor-collector or the |
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department has refused to register a motor vehicle on: |
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(1) the person's payment or other means of discharge, |
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including a waiver, of the past due fine, fee, or tax; or |
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(2) perfection of an appeal of the case contesting |
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payment of the fine, fee, or tax. |
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(d) After notice is received under Subsection (c), the |
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county assessor-collector or the department may not refuse to |
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register the motor vehicle under Subsection (a) or (a-1). |
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(f) Except as otherwise provided by this section, a county |
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[that has a contract under Subsection (b)] may impose an additional |
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reimbursement fee of $20 to: |
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(1) a person who fails to pay a fine, fee, or tax to the |
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county by the date on which the fine, fee, or tax is due; or |
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(2) a person who fails to appear in connection with a |
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complaint, citation, information, or indictment in a court in which |
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a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner. |
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(f-1) The additional reimbursement fee may be used only to |
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reimburse [the department or] the county assessor-collector for its |
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expenses for providing services under this section [the contract], |
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or another county department for expenses related to services under |
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this section [the contract]. |
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(k) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the |
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department: |
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(1) may collect information necessary to implement |
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this section, including a vehicle owner's driver's license number |
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or date of birth; and |
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(2) may not disclose any personal identifying |
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information collected under this section, including a vehicle |
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owner's driver's license number or date of birth. |
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SECTION 2. Section 502.010(e), Transportation Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall |
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implement the system required by Section 502.010(b), |
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Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, not later than |
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September 1, 2024. |
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SECTION 4. Section 502.010, Transportation Code, as amended |
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by this Act, applies only to an application for motor vehicle |
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registration or registration renewal received by the Texas |
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Department of Motor Vehicles on or after the effective date of this |
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Act. An application for registration or registration renewal that |
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was received before the effective date of this Act is governed by |
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the law in effect on the date the application was received, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. |
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SECTION 5. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2024. |
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(b) This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |