BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 840 84R17887 MTB-D By: Watson Transportation 4/15/2015 Committee Report (Substituted)
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center C.S.S.B. 840
84R17887 MTB-D By: Watson
Transportation
4/15/2015
Committee Report (Substituted)
Senate Research Center
C.S.S.B. 840
84R17887 MTB-D
By: Watson
Transportation
4/15/2015
Committee Report (Substituted)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT The purpose of S.B. 840 is to provide financial relief for disabled veterans. Some disabled veterans are on fixed incomes and registration fees can have a major impact on their limited budgets. S.B. 840 reduces trailer registration fees for disabled veterans in the same manner Texas does for vehicle registration fees. The committee substitute makes the following changes to S.B. 840: Deletes references to boats; Re-defines eligibility according to Section 504.202, Transportation Code, instead of Section 42.012, Parks and Wildlife Code, to be consistent with reduced fee vehicle registration requirements; and Asserts that only one trailer is eligible for reduced registration fees. C.S.S.B. 840 amends current law relating to certain trailer registration fees for veterans with disabilities. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.254(a), Transportation Code, as follows: (a) Provides that the fee for a registration year for registration of a trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer with a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less, except as provided by Section 504.202 (Veterans With Disabilities), is $45.00. SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.202, Transportation Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (j), as follows: (a) Authorizes a person entitled to specialty license plates under this section to register, for the person's own use, rather than to register one vehicle, and without payment of any fee paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plates: (1) one motor vehicle; and (2) one trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer. (a-1) Creates this subsection from existing text. (b) Entitles a veteran of the United States armed forces to register, for the person's own use, vehicles, rather than motor vehicles, under this section if: (1) and (2) Makes no change to these subdivisions; and (3) the vehicle, rather than motor vehicle, is owned by the person and: (A) if the vehicle is a motor vehicle, has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds or less; or (B) if the vehicle is a trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer, has a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less. Makes nonsubstantive changes. (j) Defines motor vehicle, semitrailer, trailer, travel trailer, and vehicle. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 4. Effective date: January 1, 2016.
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
The purpose of S.B. 840 is to provide financial relief for disabled veterans. Some disabled veterans are on fixed incomes and registration fees can have a major impact on their limited budgets. S.B. 840 reduces trailer registration fees for disabled veterans in the same manner Texas does for vehicle registration fees.
The committee substitute makes the following changes to S.B. 840:
C.S.S.B. 840 amends current law relating to certain trailer registration fees for veterans with disabilities.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 502.254(a), Transportation Code, as follows:
(a) Provides that the fee for a registration year for registration of a trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer with a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less, except as provided by Section 504.202 (Veterans With Disabilities), is $45.00.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.202, Transportation Code, by amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsections (a-1) and (j), as follows:
(a) Authorizes a person entitled to specialty license plates under this section to register, for the person's own use, rather than to register one vehicle, and without payment of any fee paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for the license plates:
(1) one motor vehicle; and
(2) one trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer.
(a-1) Creates this subsection from existing text.
(b) Entitles a veteran of the United States armed forces to register, for the person's own use, vehicles, rather than motor vehicles, under this section if:
(1) and (2) Makes no change to these subdivisions; and
(3) the vehicle, rather than motor vehicle, is owned by the person and:
(A) if the vehicle is a motor vehicle, has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds or less; or
(B) if the vehicle is a trailer, travel trailer, or semitrailer, has a gross weight of 6,000 pounds or less.
Makes nonsubstantive changes.
(j) Defines motor vehicle, semitrailer, trailer, travel trailer, and vehicle.
SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective.
SECTION 4. Effective date: January 1, 2016.