HBA-NIK S.B. 432 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 432
By: Ratliff
Transportation
5/14/1999
Engrossed



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law requires the annual registration renewal date for the
owner of a motor vehicle to start the month the vehicle was first
registered and titled with the county tax assessor collector. If someone
owns more than one vehicle  or a trailer, the registration renewal dates
for each of these vehicles could fall on different months throughout the
year.  S.B. 432 authorizes the owner of a motor vehicle or trailer to
designate an initial or a renewal registration period for that vehicle so
that the registration period for the vehicle or trailer expires on the same
date as the registration period for another vehicle or trailer previously
registered by that owner. 

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by adding
Section 502.1585, as follows: 

Sec. 502.1585. DESIGNATION OF REGISTRATION PERIOD BY OWNER. (a) Provides
that this section applies only to a person who owns more than one motor
vehicle or trailer that is subject to registration under this chapter
(Registration of Vehicles). 

(b) Authorizes the owner of a motor vehicle or a trailer, notwithstanding
Section 502.158 (Registration Year), to designate an initial or a renewal
registration period for that vehicle so that the registration period for
the vehicle or trailer expires on the same date as the registration period
for another vehicle or trailer previously registered by that owner. 

(c) Provides that the registration period designated under this section
must begin on the first day of a calendar month and end on the last day of
a calendar month.  Prohibits such registration period from being for less
than 12 months. 

(d) Provides that the registration fee for a registration period designated
under this section is computed at a rate of one-twelfth the annual
registration fee multiplied by the number of months in the designated
registration period. 

(e) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation  to issue an applicant
for registration who pays registration fees for a designated period under
this section a registration receipt and registration insignia that are
valid until the expiration of the designated period. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.