By: Shapleigh S.B. No. 249
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to optional fees on the registration of a vehicle imposed
by certain counties.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsections (a), (f), and (g), Section 502.1725,
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) This section applies only to a county:
(1) that borders the United Mexican States;
(2) that has a population of more than 300,000; and
(3) that either:
(A) has no [in which the largest] municipality
with [has] a population of [less than] 300,000 or more; or
(B) borders another state of the United States.
(f) The county assessor-collector of a county imposing a fee
under this section shall collect the additional fee for a vehicle
when other fees imposed under this chapter are collected. The
county shall deposit [send] the fee revenue in a special account in
the county general fund. Money in the account may be used only to
fund the costs of constructing and maintaining public roadway
projects in the county and acquiring rights-of-way for those
projects. The county may enter into a contract for a project with a
public entity authorized by law to construct public roadway
projects in [to the regional mobility authority of the county to
fund long-term transportation projects in] the county.
(g) The department shall collect the additional fee on a
vehicle that is owned by a resident of a county imposing a fee under
this section and that, under this chapter, must be registered
directly with the department. The department shall send all fees
collected for a county under this subsection to the county for
deposit and use as provided by Subsection (f) [regional mobility
authority of the county to fund long-term transportation projects
in the county].
SECTION 2. 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, 2009.