85R7037 JXC-F
By: Pickett H.B. No. 2461
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to vehicle registration.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 91.905, Natural Resources Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 91.905. APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Section 212.153(e),
Local Government Code, and Sections 203.092 and [,] 224.008, [and
502.1981(c)(4),] Transportation Code, apply to saltwater pipeline
operators and saltwater pipeline facilities in the same manner as
they apply to utilities and utility facilities.
SECTION 2. Section 502.001(2), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(2) "Apportioned license plate" means a license plate
issued in lieu of a truck, motor bus, [license plate] or combination
license plate to a motor carrier in this state who proportionally
registers a vehicle owned or leased by the carrier in one or more
other states.
SECTION 3. Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, is
amended by amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection
(c-1) to read as follows:
(c) In addition to the registration fees prescribed by this
chapter, an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section
shall pay:
(1) a one-time [an annual commercial fleet
registration] fee of $10 per motor vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer
in the fleet; and
(2) except as provided by Subsection (e), a one-time
license plate manufacturing fee of $1.50 for each fleet motor
vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer license plate.
(c-1) A fee collected under Subsection (c) shall be
deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
fund.
(e) In addition to all other applicable registration fees,
an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section shall
pay a one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $8 for each set of
plates issued that includes on the legend the name or logo of the
business entity that owns the vehicle instead of the fee imposed by
Subsection (c)(2). A license plate manufacturing fee collected
under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas
Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
SECTION 4. Section 502.040(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The application must be accompanied by personal
identification as determined by department rule and made in a
manner prescribed by the department:
(1) through the county assessor-collector of the
county in which the owner resides; or
(2) if the office of that assessor-collector is
closed, or may be closed for a protracted period of time, as defined
by department rule, through a [if the county in which the owner
resides has been declared by the governor as a disaster area,
through the county assessor-collector of a county that is one of the
closest unaffected counties to a county that asks for assistance
and:
[(A) continues to be declared by the governor as
a disaster area because the county has been rendered inoperable by
the disaster; and
[(B) is inoperable for a protracted period of
time; or
[(3) if the county assessor-collector's office in
which the owner resides is closed for a protracted period of time as
defined by the department, to the] county assessor-collector [of a
county that borders the county in which the owner resides] who is
willing [agrees] to accept the application.
SECTION 5. Section 502.057, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 502.057. REGISTRATION RECEIPT. (a) The department
shall issue or require to be issued to the owner of a vehicle
registered under this chapter a registration receipt showing the
information required by rule.
(b) A receipt for the renewed registration of a vehicle
generated by an online registration system approved by the
department is proof of the vehicle's registration until the 31st
day after the date of renewal on the receipt.
SECTION 6. Section 502.060(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) No fee is required under this section if:
(1) the replacement fee for a license plate has been
paid under Section 504.007; or
(2) the county assessor-collector determines that the
owner paid for a prior replacement registration insignia for the
same registration period that was mailed to the owner but not
received by the owner.
SECTION 7. Section 502.091(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The department may adopt and enforce rules to carry out
the International Registration Plan or other agreement under this
section. The rules may require an applicant to register under the
unified carrier registration system as defined by Section 643.001
before the applicant applies for registration under the
International Registration Plan.
SECTION 8. Sections 502.146(a) and (h), Transportation
Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) The department shall issue distinguishing [specialty]
license plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b) or (c). The
fee for the license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the
credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
(h) A distinguishing [specialty] license plate may not be
issued or renewed under Subsection (a) to an owner of a vehicle
described by Subsection (b)(1) unless the vehicle's owner provides
a registration number issued by the comptroller under Section
151.1551, Tax Code, or the vehicle is owned by a farmers'
cooperative society incorporated under Chapter 51, Agriculture
Code, or a marketing association organized under Chapter 52,
Agriculture Code. The comptroller shall allow access to the online
system established under Section 151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a
registration number provided under this subsection.
SECTION 9. Section 502.198, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 502.198. DISPOSITION OF FEES GENERALLY. (a) Except
as provided by Sections 502.058, 502.060, 502.1911, 502.192,
502.356, and 502.357 and Subchapter H, this section applies to all
fees collected by a county assessor-collector under this chapter.
(b) Each Tuesday [Monday], a county assessor-collector
shall credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount equal to
the net collections made during the preceding week until the amount
so credited for the calendar year equals the total of:
(1) $60,000; and
(2) $350 for each mile of county road maintained by the
county, according to the most recent information available from the
department, not to exceed 500 miles[; and
[(3) an additional amount of fees equal to the amount
calculated under Section 502.1981].
(c) After the credits to the county road and bridge fund
equal the total computed under Subsection (b), each Tuesday
[Monday] the county assessor-collector shall:
(1) credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount
equal to 50 percent of the net collections made during the preceding
week, until the amount so credited for the calendar year equals
$125,000; and
(2) send to the department an amount equal to 50
percent of those collections for deposit to the credit of the state
highway fund.
(d) After the credits to the county road and bridge fund
equal the total amounts computed under Subsections (b) and (c)(1),
each Tuesday [Monday] the county assessor-collector shall send to
the department all collections made during the preceding week for
deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.
SECTION 10. Section 502.1983(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A [Except as provided by Section 502.357, a] county
assessor-collector may:
(1) deposit the fees subject to Section 502.198 in an
interest-bearing account or certificate in the county depository;
and
(2) send the fees to the department not later than the
34th day after the date the fees are due under Section 502.198
[502.357].
SECTION 11. Section 502.433(a-1), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a-1) A commercial motor vehicle registration may not be
issued or renewed [registered] under this section unless the
vehicle's owner provides a registration number issued by the
comptroller under Section 151.1551, Tax Code. The comptroller
shall allow access to the online system established under Section
151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a registration number provided
under this subsection.
SECTION 12. Section 504.007, Transportation Code, is
amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:
(g) No fee is required under this section if the county
assessor-collector determines that the owner paid for prior
replacement license plates for the same vehicle that were mailed to
the owner but not received by the owner.
SECTION 13. Section 504.202(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled
to register, for the person's own use, motor vehicles under this
section if:
(1) the person has suffered, as a result of military
service:
(A) at least a 50 percent service-connected
disability; or
(B) a 40 percent service-connected disability
because of the amputation of a lower extremity;
(2) the person receives compensation from the United
States because of the disability; and
(3) the motor vehicle:
(A) is owned by the person; and
(B) has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds
or less or is a motor home.
SECTION 14. Section 520.006(a-1), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a-1) A county assessor-collector collecting fees on behalf
of a county assessor-collector whose office [that has been declared
as a disaster area or that] is closed or may be closed for a
protracted period of time as defined by the department for purposes
of Section 501.023 or 502.040 may retain the commission for fees
collected, but shall allocate the fees to the county [declared as a
disaster area or] that is closed or may be closed for a protracted
period of time.
SECTION 15. Section 623.144, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 623.144. REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE. (a) A person may
not operate a vehicle permitted under this subchapter on a public
highway unless the vehicle is registered under Chapter 502 for the
maximum gross weight applicable to the vehicle under Section
621.101 or has distinguishing [specialty] license plates as
provided by Section 502.146 if applicable to the vehicle.
(b) The department may not issue distinguishing [specialty]
license plates to a vehicle described by Section 502.146(b)(3)
unless the applicant complies with the requirements of that
subsection.
SECTION 16. Sections 502.1585 and 502.1981, Transportation
Code, are repealed.
SECTION 17. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.