By: Murphy (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 511
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 25, 2013;
April 29, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation; May 9, 2013, reported favorably by the following
vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; May 9, 2013, sent to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the registration of token trailers.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, is
amended by amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsection (d-1) to
read as follows:
(d) A license plate issued under this section:
(1) may, on request of the owner, include the name or
logo of the business entity that owns the vehicle;
(2) except as provided by Subsection (d-1), must
include the expiration date of the registration period; and
(3) does not require an annual registration insignia
to be valid.
(d-1) The department shall issue a license plate for a token
trailer registered under this section that does not expire. The
alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this
subsection may remain on a token trailer for as long as the
registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token
trailer is removed from service or sold. The registration receipt
required under Section 621.002 is not required for a vehicle that
displays a license plate issued under this subsection.
SECTION 2. Section 502.255(i), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(i) The department shall issue a license plate for a token
trailer registered under this section that does not expire or
require an annual registration insignia to be valid. The
alphanumeric pattern for a license plate issued under this
subsection may remain on a token trailer for as long as the
registration of the token trailer is renewed or until the token
trailer is removed from service or sold. The registration receipt
required under Section 621.002 is not required for a vehicle that
displays a license plate issued under this subsection [may issue
specially designed license plates for token trailers].
SECTION 3. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall
adopt rules for the administration of Sections 502.0023 and
502.255(i), Transportation Code, as amended by this Act, as soon as
practicable after this Act takes effect. For that purpose, the
department may adopt the rules in the manner provided by law for
emergency rules.
SECTION 4. 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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