By: Bonnen of Brazoria (Senate Sponsor - Huffman) H.B. No. 1466
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015;
May 6, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs; May 12, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent
to printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to Parks and Wildlife Department procedures for the
transfer of ownership of boats or outboard motors; providing
penalties; creating a criminal offense.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 31.025, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 31.025. RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES OF NUMBER. (a) An
application for the renewal of each certificate of number shall be
prepared by the department and mailed to the owner of the vessel, or
sent electronically to the owner if the owner has agreed to receive
department communications electronically, during the period of the
last 90 days before the expiration date of the certificate. The same
number shall be issued on renewal.
(b) The completed application for renewal may be returned to
the department, to any county tax assessor-collector, or if
permitted by the department, to an agent of the department.
(c) A completed application [Applications] not received
during the 90-day period shall be treated in the same manner as an
original application [applications].
(d) The department, an authorized agent, or a county tax
assessor-collector may not issue a renewal certificate of number
unless the tax due on the vessel under Chapter 160, Tax Code, is
paid.
SECTION 2. Section 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 31.037. CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP INTEREST; NOTICE TO
DEPARTMENT. (a) The recorded owner of a vessel numbered in this
state shall notify the department not later than the 20th day after
the date:
(1) [within a reasonable time] of the transfer by
sale, donation, gift, or other means of all or any part of the
owner's [his] interest in the vessel, other than the creation of a
security interest in the vessel;
(2) [, or] of the destruction or disposal
[abandonment] of the vessel; or
(3) of the permanent removal of the vessel from this
state to another state or country.
(a-1) The notification under Subsection (a) must be on a
form prescribed by the department that includes:
(1) the name and address of the new owner, as
applicable; and
(2) the vessel's certificate of number [notice shall
be accompanied by a surrender of the certificate of number].
(b) If the vessel is destroyed, disposed of, or permanently
moved to another state or country [abandoned], the department shall
cancel the certificate of number and enter the cancellation in its
records.
(c) The new owner [purchaser] of a vessel shall, not later
than the 20th day after the date ownership was transferred, submit
an application to the department with:
(1) [present] evidence of [his] ownership;
(2) the new owner's [to the department within a
reasonable time along with his] name and [,] address;
(3) [, and] the number of the vessel; and
(4) [shall at the same time pay to the department] a
fee of $2 or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount is
more.
(d) On receipt of the new owner's application and fee the
department shall transfer the certificate of number issued for the
vessel to the new owner. Unless the application is made and the fee
is paid on [within a reasonable] time, the vessel is without a
certificate of number, and it is unlawful for any person to operate
the vessel until the certificate is issued.
SECTION 3. Section 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
amended by adding Subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as
follows:
(e) The recorded owner of a vessel or outboard motor shall
notify the department not later than the 20th day after the date:
(1) of the transfer by sale, donation, gift, or other
means of all or any part of the owner's interest in the vessel or
outboard motor; or
(2) of the permanent removal of the vessel or outboard
motor from this state to another state or country.
(f) Notification of a transfer of interest or move to
another state or country under Subsection (e) must be on a form
prescribed by the department that includes the name and address of
the new owner and, as applicable:
(1) the vessel's certificate of number; and
(2) the serial number of the outboard motor.
(g) If a vessel or outboard motor for which the department
has issued a certificate of title is destroyed or disposed of in a
manner not described by Subsection (e), the recorded owner shall
notify the department not later than the 20th day after the date of
the destruction or disposal and shall surrender to the department
the certificate of title.
(h) On receipt of notice under Subsection (e) or (g), the
department shall cancel the title and enter the cancellation in the
department's records.
(i) A recorded owner who fails to file notification in
accordance with Section 31.037 or this section:
(1) is subject to the penalties under Section 31.127;
and
(2) is subject to the removal costs under Section
40.108, Natural Resources Code, and penalties under Chapter 40,
Natural Resources Code, as the person considered responsible for an
abandoned vessel or outboard motor.
SECTION 4. The Parks and Wildlife Department may begin
enforcement of the 20-day period for an owner to notify the
department of a change in ownership under Sections 31.037 and
31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended by this Act, only on or
after January 1, 2016.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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