By: Morrison (Senate Sponsor - Hegar) H.B. No. 719
(In the Senate - Received from the House April 15, 2013;
April 17, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation; May 14, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 1;
May 14, 2013, sent to printer.)
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 719 By: Uresti
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the operation of a golf cart or utility vehicle on a
public highway in certain counties; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 551.402, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 551.402. REGISTRATION NOT AUTHORIZED. (a) The Texas
Department of Motor Vehicles [Transportation] may not register a
golf cart for operation on a public highway regardless of whether
any alteration has been made to the golf cart.
(b) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles [department] may
issue license plates for a golf cart [only] as authorized by
Subsection (c) [Section 504.510].
(c) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall by rule
establish a procedure to issue the license plates to be used for
operation in accordance with Sections 551.403 and 551.404.
(d) The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may charge a fee
not to exceed $10 for the cost of the license plate.
SECTION 2. Section 551.404, Transportation Code, is amended
by amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
follows:
(a-1) In addition to the operation authorized by Section
551.403, the commissioners court of a county described by
Subsection (a-2) [that borders or contains a portion of the
Guadalupe River and contains a part of a barrier island that borders
the Gulf of Mexico] may allow an operator to operate a golf cart or
utility vehicle on all or part of a public highway that:
(1) is located in the unincorporated area of the
county; and
(2) has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per
hour.
(a-2) Subsection (a-1) applies only to a county that:
(1) borders or contains a portion of the Red River;
(2) borders or contains a portion of the Guadalupe
River and contains a part of a barrier island that borders the Gulf
of Mexico; or
(3) is adjacent to a county described by Subdivision
(2) and:
(A) has a population of less than 30,000; and
(B) contains a part of a barrier island that
borders the Gulf of Mexico.
SECTION 3. Section 504.510, Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 4. Not later than December 31, 2013, the Texas
Department of Motor Vehicles shall establish a procedure for the
issuance of license plates for golf carts to be used for operation
on a public highway, as required by Section 551.402(c),
Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 5. 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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