Texas 2017 - 85th Regular

Texas House Bill HB2462 Compare Versions

Version 1 (Old)

Version 2 (New)

Old	New	Differences
1	1	85R24320 JAM-D
2	2	By: Pickett H.B. No. 2462
3	3	Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2462:
4	4	By: Morrison C.S.H.B. No. 2462
5	5
6	6
7	7	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
8	8	AN ACT
9	9	relating to the titling of motor vehicles; creating a criminal
10	10	offense and authorizing fees.
11	11	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
12	12	SECTION 1. Section 501.002(30), Transportation Code, is
13	13	amended to read as follows:
14	14	(30) "Travel trailer" means a house trailer-type
15	15	vehicle or a camper trailer:
16	16	(A) that is a recreational vehicle defined under
17	17	24 C.F.R. Section 3282.8(g); or
18	18	(B) that:
19	19	(i) is less than eight feet six inches in
20	20	width or 45 [40] feet in length, exclusive of any hitch installed on
21	21	the vehicle;
22	22	(ii) is designed primarily for use as
23	23	temporary living quarters in connection with recreational,
24	24	camping, travel, or seasonal use;
25	25	(iii) is not used as a permanent dwelling;
26	26	and
27	27	(iv) is not a utility trailer, enclosed
28	28	trailer, or other trailer that does not have human habitation as its
29	29	primary function.
30	30	SECTION 2. Section 501.004(b), Transportation Code, is
31	31	amended to read as follows:
32	32	(b) This chapter does not apply to:
33	33	(1) a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross
34	34	vehicle weight of not more than 34,000 pounds used only for the
35	35	transportation of farm products if the products are not transported
36	36	for hire;
37	37	(2) the filing or recording of a lien that is created
38	38	only on an automobile accessory, including a tire, radio, or
39	39	heater;
40	40	(3) a motor vehicle while it is owned or operated by
41	41	the United States; or
42	42	(4) a new motor vehicle on loan to a political
43	43	subdivision of the state for use only in a driver education course
44	44	conducted by an entity exempt from licensure under Section
45	45	1001.002, Education Code.
46	46	SECTION 3. Section 501.021(a), Transportation Code, is
47	47	amended to read as follows:
48	48	(a) A motor vehicle title issued by the department must
49	49	include:
50	50	(1) the legal name and address of each purchaser [and
51	51	seller at the first sale or a subsequent sale];
52	52	(2) the legal name of the seller and the municipality
53	53	and state in which the seller is located or resides [make of the
54	54	motor vehicle];
55	55	(3) the year, make, and body style [type] of the
56	56	vehicle;
57	57	(4) the [manufacturer's permanent] vehicle
58	58	identification number of the vehicle [or the vehicle's motor number
59	59	if the vehicle was manufactured before the date that stamping a
60	60	permanent identification number on a motor vehicle was universally
61	61	adopted];
62	62	(5) if the vehicle is subject to odometer disclosure
63	63	under Section 501.072, the odometer reading and odometer brand as
64	64	recorded on the last title assignment [serial number] for the
65	65	vehicle;
66	66	(6) the name and address of each lienholder and the
67	67	date of each lien on the vehicle, listed in the chronological order
68	68	in which the lien was recorded;
69	69	(7) a statement indicating rights of survivorship
70	70	under Section 501.031; and
71	71	(8) [if the vehicle has an odometer, the odometer
72	72	reading at the time of application for the title; and
73	73	[(9)] any other information required by the
74	74	department.
75	75	SECTION 4. Section 501.023(a), Transportation Code, is
76	76	amended to read as follows:
77	77	(a) The owner of a motor vehicle must present identification
78	78	and apply for a title as prescribed by the department, unless
79	79	otherwise exempted by law. To obtain a title, the owner must apply:
80	80	(1) to the county assessor-collector in the county in
81	81	which:
82	82	(A) the owner is domiciled; or
83	83	(B) the motor vehicle is purchased or encumbered;
84	84	or
85	85	(2) [if the county in which the owner resides has been
86	86	declared by the governor as a disaster area, to the county
87	87	assessor-collector in one of the closest unaffected counties to a
88	88	county that asks for assistance and:
89	89	[(A) continues to be declared by the governor as
90	90	a disaster area because the county has been rendered inoperable by
91	91	the disaster; and
92	92	[(B) is inoperable for a protracted period of
93	93	time; or
94	94	[(3) if the county assessor-collector's office of the
95	95	county in which the owner resides is closed for a protracted period
96	96	of time as defined by the department,] to the county
97	97	assessor-collector of a county [that borders the county in which
98	98	the owner resides] who is willing [agrees] to accept the
99	99	application if the county assessor-collector's office of the county
100	100	in which the owner resides is closed or may be closed for a
101	101	protracted period of time as defined by the department.
102	102	SECTION 5. Section 501.030(a), Transportation Code, is
103	103	amended to read as follows:
104	104	(a) Before a motor vehicle that was last registered or
105	105	titled in another state or country may be titled in this state, the
106	106	county assessor-collector shall verify that the vehicle has passed
107	107	the inspections required by Chapter 548, as indicated in the
108	108	Department of Public Safety's inspection database under Section
109	109	548.251, or that the owner has obtained an identification number
110	110	inspection in accordance with department rule.
111	111	SECTION 6. The heading to Section 501.032, Transportation
112	112	Code, is amended to read as follows:
113	113	Sec. 501.032. [ASSIGNMENT OF VEHICLE] IDENTIFICATION
114	114	NUMBER INSPECTION REQUIRED [BY DEPARTMENT].
115	115	SECTION 7. Sections 501.032(a) and (b), Transportation
116	116	Code, are amended to read as follows:
117	117	(a) In addition to any requirement established by
118	118	department rule, a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must have
119	119	an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321 if:
120	120	(1) the department does not have a motor vehicle
121	121	record for the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the
122	122	department's registration and title system, and the owner of the
123	123	motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is filing a bond with the
124	124	department under Section 501.053;
125	125	(2) the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was
126	126	last titled or registered outside of the United States and imported
127	127	into the United States; or
128	128	(3) the owner or person claiming ownership requires an
129	129	assigned or reassigned identification number under Section 501.033
130	130	[On proper application, the department shall assign a vehicle
131	131	identification number to a travel trailer, a trailer or
132	132	semitrailer, a frame, or an item of equipment, including a tractor,
133	133	farm implement, unit of special mobile equipment, or unit of
134	134	off-road construction equipment:
135	135	[(1) on which a vehicle identification number was not
136	136	die-stamped by the manufacturer;
137	137	[(2) on which a vehicle identification number
138	138	die-stamped by the manufacturer has been lost, removed, or
139	139	obliterated; or
140	140	[(3) for which a vehicle identification number was
141	141	never assigned].
142	142	(b) An active duty member of a branch of the United States
143	143	armed forces, or an immediate family member of such a member,
144	144	returning to Texas with acceptable proof of the active duty status
145	145	is exempt from an identification number inspection required under
146	146	Subsection (a)(2) [The applicant shall die-stamp the assigned
147	147	vehicle identification number at the place designated by the
148	148	department on the travel trailer, trailer, semitrailer, frame, or
149	149	equipment].
150	150	SECTION 8. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Transportation Code,
151	151	is amended by adding Sections 501.0321 and 501.0322 to read as
152	152	follows:
153	153	Sec. 501.0321. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INSPECTION. (a) An
154	154	inspection required under Section 501.032 must verify, as
155	155	applicable, the identity of:
156	156	(1) a motor vehicle;
157	157	(2) a trailer or semitrailer;
158	158	(3) a frame, body, or motor of a motor vehicle; or
159	159	(4) an item of equipment not required to be titled but
160	160	that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued licensed plates
161	161	under Chapter 504.
162	162	(b) An inspection under this section may not rely solely on
163	163	the public identification number to verify the identity.
164	164	(c) An inspection under this section may be performed only
165	165	by a person who has successfully completed an appropriate training
166	166	program as determined by department rule and is:
167	167	(1) an auto theft investigator who is a law
168	168	enforcement officer of this state or a political subdivision of
169	169	this state;
170	170	(2) a person working under the direct supervision of a
171	171	person described by Subdivision (1);
172	172	(3) an employee of the department authorized by the
173	173	department to perform an inspection under this section; or
174	174	(4) an employee of the National Insurance Crime Bureau
175	175	authorized by the department to perform an inspection under this
176	176	section.
177	177	(d) The department shall prescribe a form on which the
178	178	identification number inspection is to be recorded. The department
179	179	may provide the form only to a person described by Subsection (c).
180	180	(e) The department or another entity that provides an
181	181	inspection under this section may impose a fee of not more than $40
182	182	for the inspection. The county or municipal treasurer of a county
183	183	or municipal entity that provides an inspection under this section
184	184	shall credit the fee to the general fund of the county or
185	185	municipality, as applicable, to defray the entity's cost associated
186	186	with the inspection. If the department provides an inspection
187	187	under this section, the fee shall be deposited to the credit of the
188	188	Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.
189	189	(f) The department may not impose a fee for an inspection
190	190	requested by the department. The department shall include a
191	191	notification of the waiver to the owner at the time the department
192	192	requests the identification number inspection.
193	193	Sec. 501.0322. ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER
194	194	INSPECTION. The department by rule may establish a process for
195	195	verifying the identity of an item listed in Section 501.0321(a) as
196	196	an alternative to an identification number inspection under Section
197	197	501.0321. The rules may include the persons authorized to perform
198	198	the inspection, when an alternative inspection under this section
199	199	is required, and any fees that may be assessed. Any fee authorized
200	200	must comply with Sections 501.0321(e) and (f).
201	201	SECTION 9. Section 501.033, Transportation Code, is amended
202	202	to read as follows:
203	203	Sec. 501.033. ASSIGNMENT AND REASSIGNMENT OF
204	204	IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BY DEPARTMENT. (a) If the permanent
205	205	identification number affixed by the manufacturer has been removed,
206	206	altered, or obliterated, or a permanent identification number was
207	207	never assigned, the department shall assign an identification
208	208	number to [A person determined by law enforcement or a court to be
209	209	the owner of] a motor vehicle, [travel trailer,] semitrailer, [or]
210	210	trailer, motor [a part of a motor vehicle], [travel trailer,
211	211	semitrailer, or trailer, a] frame, or body of a motor vehicle, or an
212	212	item of equipment not required to be titled but that may be
213	213	registered under Chapter 502 or issued license plates under Chapter
214	214	504 on inspection under Section 501.0321 and application to the
215	215	department [including a tractor, farm implement, unit of special
216	216	mobile equipment, or unit of off-road construction equipment may
217	217	apply to the department for an assigned vehicle identification
218	218	number that has been removed, altered, obliterated, or has never
219	219	been assigned].
220	220	(b) An application under this section must be in a manner
221	221	prescribed by the department and accompanied by valid evidence of
222	222	ownership in the name of, or properly assigned to, the applicant as
223	223	required by the department.
224	224	(c) A fee of $2 must accompany each application under this
225	225	section to be deposited in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles
226	226	fund.
227	227	(d) The assigned [vehicle] identification number shall be
228	228	die-stamped or otherwise affixed in the manner and location
229	229	designated by the department.
230	230	(e) The department shall reassign an original
231	231	manufacturer's identification number only if the person who
232	232	conducts the inspection under Section 501.0321 determines that the
233	233	permanent identification number affixed by the manufacturer has
234	234	been removed, altered, or obliterated [If the auto theft unit of a
235	235	county or municipal law enforcement agency conducts an inspection
236	236	required by the department under this section, the agency may
237	237	impose a fee of $40. The county or municipal treasurer shall credit
238	238	the fee to the general fund of the county or municipality, as
239	239	applicable, to defray the agency's cost associated with the
240	240	inspection. The fee shall be waived by the department or agency
241	241	imposing the fee if the person applying under this section is the
242	242	current registered owner].
243	243	(f) If the department reassigns a manufacturer's
244	244	identification number, a representative of the department shall
245	245	affix the number in a manner and location designated by the
246	246	department.
247	247	(g) On affixing an assigned identification number or
248	248	witnessing the affixing of a reassigned identification number, the
249	249	owner or the owner's representative shall certify on a form
250	250	prescribed by the department that the identification number has
251	251	been affixed in the manner and location designated by the
252	252	department and shall submit the form in a manner prescribed by the
253	253	department.
254	254	(h) Only the department may issue an identification number
255	255	to a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, motor, frame, or body of a
256	256	motor vehicle, or an item of equipment not required to be titled but
257	257	that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued license plates
258	258	under Chapter 504. The department may not recognize an
259	259	identification number assigned by any other agency or political
260	260	subdivision of this state.
261	261	SECTION 10. Section 501.036, Transportation Code, is
262	262	amended to read as follows:
263	263	Sec. 501.036. TITLE FOR FARM TRAILER OR FARM SEMITRAILER.
264	264	(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the
265	265	department may issue a title for a farm trailer or farm semitrailer
266	266	with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 34,000 [4,000] pounds
267	267	if[:
268	268	[(1) the farm semitrailer is eligible for registration
269	269	under Section 502.146; and
270	270	[(2)] all [other] requirements for issuance of a title
271	271	are met.
272	272	(b) To obtain a title under this section, the owner [of the
273	273	farm semitrailer] must:
274	274	(1) apply for the title in the manner required by
275	275	Section 501.023; and
276	276	(2) pay the fee required by Section 501.138.
277	277	(c) A subsequent purchaser of a farm trailer or farm
278	278	semitrailer titled previously under this section or in another
279	279	jurisdiction must obtain a title under [The department shall adopt
280	280	rules to implement and administer] this section.
281	281	SECTION 11. Section 501.037, Transportation Code, is
282	282	amended to read as follows:
283	283	Sec. 501.037. TITLE FOR TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS. (a)
284	284	Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the department
285	285	may issue a title for a trailer or semitrailer that has a gross
286	286	vehicle weight of 4,000 pounds or less if all other requirements for
287	287	issuance of a title are met.
288	288	(b) To obtain a title under this section, the owner of the
289	289	trailer or semitrailer must:
290	290	(1) apply for the title in the manner required by
291	291	Section 501.023; and
292	292	(2) pay the fee required by Section 501.138.
293	293	(c) A subsequent purchaser of a trailer or semitrailer
294	294	titled previously under this section or in another jurisdiction
295	295	must obtain a title under this section.
296	296	SECTION 12. Section 501.071(a), Transportation Code, is
297	297	amended to read as follows:
298	298	(a) Except as provided by Sections 503.036 and [in Section]
299	299	503.039, a motor vehicle may not be the subject of a subsequent sale
300	300	unless the owner designated on the title submits a transfer of
301	301	ownership of the title.
302	302	SECTION 13. Section 501.072, Transportation Code, is
303	303	amended to read as follows:
304	304	Sec. 501.072. ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. (a) Except
305	305	as provided by Subsection (c), the transferor [seller] of a motor
306	306	vehicle transferred [sold] in this state shall provide to the
307	307	transferee [buyer, on a form prescribed by the department,] a
308	308	[written] disclosure of the vehicle's odometer reading at the time
309	309	of the transfer in compliance with 49 U.S.C. Section 32705 [sale.
310	310	The form must include space for the signature and printed name of
311	311	both the seller and buyer].
312	312	(b) When application for a [certificate of] title is made,
313	313	the transferee [owner] shall record the [current] odometer reading
314	314	on the application. The [written] disclosure required by
315	315	Subsection (a) must accompany the application.
316	316	(c) An odometer disclosure statement is not required for the
317	317	transfer [sale] of a motor vehicle that is exempt from odometer
318	318	disclosure requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 580[:
319	319	[(1) has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of
320	320	more than two tons;
321	321	[(2) is not self-propelled;
322	322	[(3) is 10 or more years old;
323	323	[(4) is sold directly by the manufacturer to an agency
324	324	of the United States government in conformity with contractual
325	325	specifications; or
326	326	[(5) is a new motor vehicle].
327	327	(d) The department shall provide for use consistent with 49
328	328	C.F.R. Part 580:
329	329	(1) a secure power of attorney form; and
330	330	(2) a secure reassignment form for licensed motor
331	331	vehicle dealers.
332	332	(e) In this section, "transferee" and "transferor" have the
333	333	meanings assigned by 49 C.F.R. Part 580.
334	334	SECTION 14. Section 501.091(9), Transportation Code, is
335	335	amended to read as follows:
336	336	(9) "Nonrepairable motor vehicle" means a motor
337	337	vehicle [that]:
338	338	(A) that is damaged, wrecked, or burned to the
339	339	extent that the only residual value of the vehicle is as a source of
340	340	parts or scrap metal; [or]
341	341	(B) that comes into this state under a comparable
342	342	ownership document that indicates that the vehicle is
343	343	nonrepairable;
344	344	(C) that a salvage vehicle dealer has reported to
345	345	the department under Section 501.1003;
346	346	(D) for which an owner has surrendered evidence
347	347	of ownership for the purpose of dismantling, scrapping, or
348	348	destroying the motor vehicle; or
349	349	(E) that is sold for export only under Section
350	350	501.099.
351	351	SECTION 15. Section 501.09113(a), Transportation Code, is
352	352	amended to read as follows:
353	353	(a) On receipt of a proper application from the owner of a
354	354	motor vehicle, the department shall issue the applicant the
355	355	appropriate title with any notations determined by the department
356	356	as necessary to describe or disclose the motor vehicle's current or
357	357	former condition if the [This section applies only to a] motor
358	358	vehicle was brought into this state from another state or
359	359	jurisdiction and [that] has on any title or comparable out-of-state
360	360	ownership document issued by the other state or jurisdiction or
361	361	record in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System
362	362	reported by another state or jurisdiction:
363	363	(1) a "rebuilt," "repaired," "reconstructed," "flood
364	364	damage," "fire damage," "owner retained," "salvage," or similar
365	365	notation; or
366	366	(2) a "nonrepairable," "dismantle only," "parts
367	367	only," "junked," "scrapped," "crushed," or similar notation.
368	368	SECTION 16. Section 501.097(a), Transportation Code, as
369	369	amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of
370	370	the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted to read
371	371	as follows:
372	372	(a) An application for a nonrepairable vehicle title,
373	373	nonrepairable record of title, salvage vehicle title, or salvage
374	374	record of title must:
375	375	(1) be made in a manner prescribed by the department
376	376	and accompanied by a $8 application fee;
377	377	(2) include, in addition to any other information
378	378	required by the department:
379	379	(A) the name and current address of the owner;
380	380	and
381	381	(B) a description of the motor vehicle, including
382	382	the make, style of body, model year, and vehicle identification
383	383	number; and
384	384	(3) include the name and address of:
385	385	(A) any currently recorded lienholder, if the
386	386	motor vehicle is a nonrepairable motor vehicle; or
387	387	(B) any currently recorded lienholder or a new
388	388	lienholder, if the motor vehicle is a salvage motor vehicle.
389	389	SECTION 17. Section 501.1001(a), Transportation Code, as
390	390	amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of
391	391	the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and
392	392	amended to read as follows:
393	393	(a) Except as provided by Section 501.0925, an insurance
394	394	company that is licensed to conduct business in this state and that
395	395	acquires, through payment of a claim, ownership or possession of a
396	396	salvage motor vehicle or nonrepairable motor vehicle [covered by a
397	397	certificate of title issued by this state or a manufacturer's
398	398	certificate of origin] shall surrender the [a] properly assigned
399	399	evidence of ownership and apply for the appropriate title under
400	400	Section 501.097 [title or manufacturer's certificate of origin to
401	401	the department, on a form prescribed by the department].
402	402	SECTION 18. Section 501.1002(a), Transportation Code, as
403	403	amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of
404	404	the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted to read
405	405	as follows:
406	406	(a) If an insurance company pays a claim on a nonrepairable
407	407	motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle and the insurance company
408	408	does not acquire ownership of the motor vehicle, the insurance
409	409	company shall:
410	410	(1) submit to the department, before the 31st day
411	411	after the date of the payment of the claim, on the form prescribed
412	412	by the department, a report stating that the insurance company:
413	413	(A) has paid a claim on the motor vehicle; and
414	414	(B) has not acquired ownership of the motor
415	415	vehicle; and
416	416	(2) provide notice to the owner of the motor vehicle
417	417	of:
418	418	(A) the report required under Subdivision (1);
419	419	and
420	420	(B) the requirements for operation or transfer of
421	421	ownership of the motor vehicle under Subsection (b).
422	422	SECTION 19. Section 501.1002(b), Transportation Code, is
423	423	amended to read as follows:
424	424	(b) The owner of a salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle
425	425	[to which this section applies] may not [operate or permit
426	426	operation of the motor vehicle on a public highway or] transfer
427	427	ownership of the motor vehicle by sale or otherwise unless the
428	428	department has issued a salvage vehicle title, salvage record of
429	429	title, nonrepairable vehicle title, or nonrepairable record of
430	430	title for the motor vehicle or a comparable ownership document has
431	431	been issued by another state or jurisdiction for the motor vehicle
432	432	in the name of the owner.
433	433	SECTION 20. Section 501.109, Transportation Code, is
434	434	amended by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections
435	435	(g) and (h) to read as follows:
436	436	(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under
437	437	Subsection (a), (b), or (c) [this section] is a Class C misdemeanor.
438	438	(e) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under
439	439	Subsection (a), (b), or (c) [this section] that the defendant has
440	440	been previously convicted of:
441	441	(1) one offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c)
442	442	[this section], the offense is a Class B misdemeanor; or
443	443	(2) two or more offenses under Subsection (a), (b), or
444	444	(c) [this section], the offense is a state jail felony.
445	445	(g) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly
446	446	provides false or incorrect information or without legal authority
447	447	signs the name of another person on:
448	448	(1) an application for a title to a nonrepairable
449	449	motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle;
450	450	(2) an application for a certified copy of an original
451	451	title to a nonrepairable motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle;
452	452	(3) an assignment of title for a nonrepairable motor
453	453	vehicle or salvage motor vehicle;
454	454	(4) a discharge of a lien on a title for a
455	455	nonrepairable motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle; or
456	456	(5) any other document required by the department or
457	457	necessary for the transfer of ownership of a nonrepairable motor
458	458	vehicle or salvage motor vehicle.
459	459	(h) An offense under Subsection (g) is a felony of the third
460	460	degree.
461	461	SECTION 21. Effective January 1, 2019, the heading to
462	462	Section 501.134, Transportation Code, is amended to read as
463	463	follows:
464	464	Sec. 501.134. CERTIFIED COPY OF LOST OR DESTROYED
465	465	CERTIFICATE OF TITLE.
466	466	SECTION 22. Effective January 1, 2019, Sections 501.134(a),
467	467	(b), (c), and (d), Transportation Code, are amended to read as
468	468	follows:
469	469	(a) If a printed title is lost or destroyed, the owner or
470	470	lienholder disclosed on the title may obtain, in the manner
471	471	provided by this section and department rule, a certified copy of
472	472	the lost or destroyed title directly from the department by
473	473	applying in a manner prescribed by the department and paying a fee
474	474	of $2. A fee collected under this subsection shall be deposited to
475	475	the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund [and may
476	476	be spent only as provided by Section 501.138].
477	477	(b) If a lien is disclosed on a title, the department may
478	478	issue a certified copy of the [original] title only to the first
479	479	lienholder or the lienholder's verified agent unless the owner has
480	480	original proof from the lienholder of lien satisfaction.
481	481	(c) The department must plainly mark "certified copy" on the
482	482	face of a certified copy issued under this section. [A subsequent
483	483	purchaser or lienholder of the vehicle only acquires the rights,
484	484	title, or interest in the vehicle held by the holder of the
485	485	certified copy.]
486	486	(d) A certified copy of the title that is lawfully obtained
487	487	under this section supersedes and invalidates any previously issued
488	488	title or certified copy. If the certified copy of the title is
489	489	later rescinded, canceled, or revoked under Section 501.051, the
490	490	department may revalidate a previously superseded or invalidated
491	491	title or certified copy of title [A purchaser or lienholder of a
492	492	motor vehicle having a certified copy issued under this section may
493	493	at the time of the purchase or establishment of the lien require
494	494	that the seller or owner indemnify the purchaser or lienholder and
495	495	all subsequent purchasers of the vehicle against any loss the
496	496	person may suffer because of a claim presented on the original
497	497	title].
498	498	SECTION 23. Section 541.201(5), Transportation Code, is
499	499	amended to read as follows:
500	500	(5) "House trailer" means a trailer or semitrailer,
501	501	other than a towable recreational vehicle, that:
502	502	(A) is transportable on a highway in one or more
503	503	sections;
504	504	(B) is less than 45 [40] feet in length,
505	505	excluding tow bar, while in the traveling mode;
506	506	(C) is built on a permanent chassis;
507	507	(D) is designed to be used as a dwelling or for
508	508	commercial purposes if connected to required utilities; and
509	509	(E) includes plumbing, heating,
510	510	air-conditioning, and electrical systems.
511	511	SECTION 24. The following provisions of the Transportation
512	512	Code are repealed:
513	513	(1) Sections 501.032(c) and (d); and
514	514	(2) Section 501.09113(b).
515	515	SECTION 25. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this
516	516	Act takes effect September 1, 2017.