HBA-DMD H.B. 1714 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1714
By: Hawley
Transportation
3/12/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Auto theft has been and is continuing to be a problem in Texas.  Currently,
when a peace officer runs a check on a motor vehicle with the Division of
Motor Vehicles, the officer is provided with the make and body type of the
motor vehicle. 

H.B. 1714 adds the year model, trade name, style, and color of the motor
vehicle to a motor vehicle certificate of title issued by the Texas
Department of Transportation.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 501.021, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (c), as follows: 

(a) Adds the year model, trade name, style, and color of a motor vehicle on
a motor vehicle certificate of title issued by the Texas Department of
Transportation (department).  

(c) Prohibits the department from refusing to disclose information
contained in the department's motor vehicle certificate of title records
that is requested by a peace officer, as defined by Article 2.12 (Who are
Peace Officers), Code of Criminal Procedure, who is acting in an official
capacity. 

SECTION 2.Effective date: September 1, 1999.
Makes application of this Act prospective to a certificate of title issued
on or after January 1, 2000. 
 
SECTION 3Emergency clause.