By: Middleton S.B. No. 931
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to remote vehicle disabling technology capable of being
activated or engaged by a motor vehicle manufacturer or
governmental entity; creating criminal offenses.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter K, Chapter 547, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 547.619 to read as follows:
Sec. 547.619. REMOTE VEHICLE DISABLING TECHNOLOGY;
OFFENSE. (a) In this section:
(1) "Governmental entity" means an agency of the
United States, this state, or a local government of this state.
(2) "Remote vehicle disabling technology" means any
application or device, including software, firmware, and hardware,
that, when activated or engaged, allows a person to disable the
operation of a motor vehicle. The term does not include an ignition
interlock device as defined by Article 42A.408, Code of Criminal
Procedure.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) manufactures, distributes, or possesses with
intent to distribute remote vehicle disabling technology that is
capable of being:
(A) activated or engaged by a motor vehicle
manufacturer or governmental entity; and
(B) installed on a light truck or passenger car;
(2) installs on a light truck or passenger car remote
vehicle disabling technology that is capable of being activated or
engaged by the vehicle manufacturer or a governmental entity; or
(3) sells a light truck or passenger car on which has
been installed remote vehicle disabling technology that is capable
of being activated or engaged by the vehicle manufacturer or a
governmental entity.
(c) An offense under this section is a state jail felony.
(d) A license holder under Chapter 2301, Occupations Code,
who commits an offense under this section is subject to the
revocation of the license under Section 2301.651(a)(4),
Occupations Code.
SECTION 2. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
this Act if any element of the offense was committed before that
date.
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, 2023.