By: Middleton S.B. No. 931

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to remote vehicle disabling technology capable of being activated or engaged by a motor vehicle manufacturer or governmental entity; creating criminal offenses.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 547, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 547.619 to read as follows:

Sec. 547.619. REMOTE VEHICLE DISABLING TECHNOLOGY; OFFENSE. (a) In this section:

(1) "Governmental entity" means an agency of the United States, this state, or a local government of this state.

(2) "Remote vehicle disabling technology" means any application or device, including software, firmware, and hardware, that, when activated or engaged, allows a person to disable the operation of a motor vehicle. The term does not include an ignition interlock device as defined by Article 42A.408, Code of Criminal Procedure.

(b) A person commits an offense if the person:

(1) manufactures, distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute remote vehicle disabling technology that is capable of being:

(A) activated or engaged by a motor vehicle manufacturer or governmental entity; and

(B) installed on a light truck or passenger car;

(2) installs on a light truck or passenger car remote vehicle disabling technology that is capable of being activated or engaged by the vehicle manufacturer or a governmental entity; or

(3) sells a light truck or passenger car on which has been installed remote vehicle disabling technology that is capable of being activated or engaged by the vehicle manufacturer or a governmental entity.

(c) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.

(d) A license holder under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code, who commits an offense under this section is subject to the revocation of the license under Section 2301.651(a)(4), Occupations Code.

SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 was committed before that date.

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, 2023.