HBA-MSH H.B. 2787 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2787 By: Geren Public Safety 7/18/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE In 1999, there were approximately 41,000 non-resident students enrolled in public universities in Texas, many of whom own vehicles registered in other states. Prior to the 77th Legislature, there was no requirement for an owner of a vehicle registered in another state to obtain a Texas vehicle inspection certificate while temporarily residing in Texas. Therefore, the state had no means to determine if these vehicle conform to Texas safety and environmental standards. House Bill 2787 prohibits certain public universities from issuing a vehicle permit to a student who has not received written notice concerning state requirements for vehicle emissions inspection. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking authority is expressly delegated to the Public Safety Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 51.207, Education Code) of this bill. ANALYSIS House Bill 2787 amends the Education Code to prohibit a public institution of higher education located in an area in which motor vehicles are required to undergo vehicle emissions inspection from issuing a permit to a student of the institution for driving or parking a motor vehicle that is not registered in this state on institutional property unless the institution has provided written notice to the student concerning state requirements for vehicle emissions inspections. The bill requires the Public Safety Commission to adopt rules providing for the inspection of motor vehicles not registered in this state for the purpose of obtaining a permit. The bill prohibits a public institution of higher education that is not located in an area in which motor vehicles are required to undergo vehicle emissions inspection from issuing a permit unless the institution provides written notice to the student that failure to register the vehicle in Texas or to display a current and appropriate inspection certificate may violate state law if the owner of the vehicle resides in this state. The bill requires each institution of higher education that maintains a campus police force to adopt procedures for enforcing State of Texas vehicle inspection laws for vehicles parking or driving on the campus of the institution. The bill authorizes a public institution of higher education rather than each institution to provide for the issuance and use of suitable vehicle identification insignia. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001, except that provisions of this bill governing public institutions of higher education located in an area in which motor vehicles are required to undergo vehicle emissions inspection take effect January 1, 2002.