By: Thompson of Harris, Morrison H.B. No. 1959
(Senate Sponsor - Taylor of Galveston)
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 10, 2017;
May 10, 2017, read first time and referred to Committee on
Transportation; May 19, 2017, reported adversely, with favorable
Committee Substitute by the following vote: Yeas 9, Nays 0;
May 19, 2017, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 1959 By: Hinojosa
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to alternative registration technologies for commercial
motor vehicles.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 1003, Transportation Code, is amended by
adding Sections 1003.006 and 1003.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 1003.006. STUDY ON REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR
VEHICLES. (a) The department shall:
(1) conduct a study that:
(A) identifies and assesses alternative
technologies for registering commercial motor vehicles to replace
license plates, permits, and other existing documentation and
registration methods currently in use in this state; and
(B) evaluates the safety and suitability for use
on roadways of the technologies identified under Paragraph (A); and
(2) submit a report on the results of the study to the
governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of
representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative
standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation
issues not later than December 1, 2021.
(b) The department may collaborate with another state
agency or a research division of an institution of higher education
in this state to conduct the study.
(c) This section expires January 1, 2023.
Sec. 1003.007. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL
VEHICLES. (a) The department, in consultation with a state agency
or research division of an institution of higher education in this
state, may establish a limited pilot program that identifies,
implements, and assesses alternative technologies for registering
commercial motor vehicles to replace license plates, permits, and
other existing documentation and registration methods currently in
use in this state if the department determines that the program can
be implemented at no cost to the state and that the results of the
study conducted under Section 1003.006 indicate that the program is
feasible.
(b) The program must:
(1) evaluate the safety and suitability for use on
roadways of the alternative technologies identified under
Subsection (a); and
(2) be funded through contributions by participants
who voluntarily opt into the program.
(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the department shall
submit a report on the results of the program to the governor,
lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and
presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with
primary jurisdiction over transportation issues.
(d) This section expires January 1, 2023.
SECTION 2. 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, 2017.
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