By: Thompson of Harris, Morrison H.B. No. 1959
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a study by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles of
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 Section 1003.006 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, the lieutenant governor, the speaker of the house of
representatives, and the chair of the standing committee of each
house of the legislature with primary jurisdiction over
transportation issues not later than December 21, 2018.
(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, 2019.
SECTION 2. (a) In this section, "department" means the
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles.
(b) The department, in consultation with a state agency or
research division of an institution of higher education in this
state, shall establish a pilot program at no cost to the state that
identifies, implements, and assesses alternative technologies to
replace license plates, permits, and other existing documentation
and registration methods currently in use for the registration of
commercial motor vehicles in this state.
(c) The pilot program must:
(1) evaluate the safety and suitability of the
alternative technologies identified under Subsection (b) of this
section for use on roadways; and
(2) be funded through contributions by participants
who voluntarily opt into the pilot program.
(d) Not later than December 21, 2018, the department shall
submit a report on the results of the pilot 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.
(e) This section expires January 1, 2019.
SECTION 3. 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.