HBA-JEK H.B. 996 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 996 By: Coleman Transportation 6/29/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Prior to the 77th Legislature, law prohibited a parking facility owner or towing company from removing a vehicle from a public roadway unless such a removal was directed by a peace officer or the owner or operator of the vehicle. Under this arrangement, a vehicle in the street that was immobilized by a wheel boot could hinder traffic until an officer was called to authorize the vehicle's removal. Officers were required to spend time overseeing the towing of vehicles rather than on other duties. House Bill 996 provides municipalities the option to designate a municipal employee to remove vehicles from public roadways in the municipality. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 996 amends the Transportation Code to authorize an employee, designated by a municipality, to aid in the enforcement of a municipal ordinance regulating the parking of vehicles by immobilizing a vehicle parked in the municipality or by removing an immobilized vehicle from a public roadway in the municipality. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.