By: Rodriguez of Travis (Senate Sponsor - Watson) H.B. No. 2305
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2013;
May 9, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation; May 15, 2013, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 15, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to motor vehicle inspection requirements for vehicles
equipped with compressed natural gas containers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 548.104(d), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(d) An inspection station or inspector may not issue an
inspection certificate for a vehicle equipped with:
(1) a carburetion device permitting the use of
liquefied gas alone or interchangeably with another fuel, unless a
valid liquefied gas tax decal issued by the comptroller is attached
to the lower right-hand corner of the front windshield of the
vehicle on the passenger side; [or]
(2) a sunscreening device prohibited by Section
547.613, except that the department by rule shall provide
procedures for issuance of an inspection certificate for a vehicle
exempt under Section 547.613(c); or
(3) a compressed natural gas container unless the
owner demonstrates in accordance with department rules proof:
(A) that:
(i) the container has met the inspection
requirements under 49 C.F.R. Section 571.304; and
(ii) the manufacturer's recommended service
life for the container, as stated on the container label required by
49 C.F.R. Section 571.304, has not expired; or
(B) that the vehicle is a fleet vehicle for which
the fleet operator employs a technician certified to inspect the
container.
SECTION 2. (a) Not later than January 1, 2014, the
Department of Public Safety shall adopt rules relating to the proof
required by Section 548.104(d), Transportation Code, as amended by
this Act.
(b) The change in law made by Section 548.104(d),
Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, applies only to a
vehicle inspected on or after September 1, 2014.
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, 2013.
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