By: Menendez, Pickett H.B. No. 3433
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the extended registration of a fleet of motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 502.001, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subdivision (6-a) to read as follows:
(6-a) "Fleet" means a group of at least 25
nonapportioned motor vehicles owned by a corporation, limited or
general partnership, limited liability company, or other business
entity and used for the business purposes of that entity or its
affiliates.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 502.0023 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.0023. EXTENDED REGISTRATION OF FLEET MOTOR
VEHICLES. (a) Notwithstanding Section 502.158(c), the department
shall develop and implement a system of registration to allow an
owner of a fleet to register the motor vehicles in the fleet for an
extended registration period of not less than one year or more than
eight years. The owner may select the number of years for
registration under this section within that range and register the
fleet for that period. Payment for the entire registration period
selected is due at the time of registration.
(b) A system of extended registration under this section
must allow the owner of a fleet to register:
(1) an entire fleet in the county of the owner's
residence or principal place of business; or
(2) the motor vehicles in a fleet that are operated
most regularly in the same county.
(c) In addition to the registration fees prescribed by
Subchapter D, an owner registering a fleet under this section shall
pay an annual fleet registration fee of $10 per motor vehicle.
(d) A license plate issued under this section may include
the name or logo of the business entity that owns the vehicle.
(d-1) In addition to all other applicable registration
fees, an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section
shall pay a one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $8 for each
set of plates issued that includes on the legend the name or logo of
the business entity that owns the vehicle.
(e) The department shall issue a registration insignia for
validation of a license plate issued under this section that is
valid for the period of registration under this section.
(f) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules on suspension from the fleet program for
failure to comply with this section or rules adopted under this
section.
SECTION 3. Section 502.0022(c), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. The Texas Department of Transportation shall
adopt the rules and establish the system required under Section
502.0023, Transportation Code, as added by this Act, not later than
January 1, 2010.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.