Texas House Bill HB3089

Texas 2009 - 81st Regular

• Out of House Committee: 4/24/09
• Voted on by House: 5/1/09
• Out of Senate Committee: 5/23/09
• Voted on by Senate: 5/26/09
• Governor Action: 6/19/09
• Enrolled: 5/30/09
• Passed: 6/19/09

Caption

Relating to the disposition of vehicles by a local government participating in a program designed to encourage the use of low-emission vehicles.

Impact

If enacted, HB 3089 would amend Section 263.152 of the Local Government Code, adding an additional provision that clarifies the disposal process for vehicles retired through clean vehicle programs. The bill is intended to ease the burden on local governments in managing retired vehicles, enabling them to respond efficiently to environmental goals. This could lead to increased participation in clean vehicle programs and ultimately help in reducing emissions as retired vehicles are removed from the road more swiftly.

Summary

House Bill 3089 seeks to streamline the process by which local governments can dispose of vehicles that have been retired as part of a clean vehicle program. Under the proposed legislation, commissioners courts in Texas would have the authority to order the immediate crushing and potential recycling of such vehicles without the need to go through an auction or bidding process. This change is aimed at promoting better environmental practices by facilitating quicker vehicle disposal in line with clean vehicle initiatives.

Contention

While the bill may be viewed positively for its environmental goals, it might also face scrutiny regarding the lack of a competitive process in vehicle disposal. Critics may raise concerns over potential accountability issues or the environmental implications of a more streamlined crushing process. The absence of an auction or bidding process could be perceived as undermining transparency or fair value recovery for the municipality, which could lead to debates regarding the best practices for vehicle disposal.