85R7037 JXC-F     By: Pickett H.B. No. 2461       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to vehicle registration.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 91.905, Natural Resources Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 91.905.  APPLICATION OF OTHER LAW. Section 212.153(e),   Local Government Code, and Sections 203.092 and [,] 224.008, [and   502.1981(c)(4),] Transportation Code, apply to saltwater pipeline   operators and saltwater pipeline facilities in the same manner as   they apply to utilities and utility facilities.          SECTION 2.  Section 502.001(2), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:                (2)  "Apportioned license plate" means a license plate   issued in lieu of a truck, motor bus, [license plate] or combination   license plate to a motor carrier in this state who proportionally   registers a vehicle owned or leased by the carrier in one or more   other states.          SECTION 3.  Section 502.0023, Transportation Code, is   amended by amending Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection   (c-1) to read as follows:          (c)  In addition to the registration fees prescribed by this   chapter, an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section   shall pay:                (1)  a one-time [an annual commercial fleet   registration] fee of $10 per motor vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer   in the fleet; and                (2)  except as provided by Subsection (e), a one-time   license plate manufacturing fee of $1.50 for each fleet motor   vehicle, semitrailer, or trailer license plate.          (c-1)  A fee collected under Subsection (c) shall be   deposited to the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles   fund.          (e)  In addition to all other applicable registration fees,   an owner registering a commercial fleet under this section shall   pay a one-time license plate manufacturing fee of $8 for each set of   plates issued that includes on the legend the name or logo of the   business entity that owns the vehicle instead of the fee imposed by   Subsection (c)(2). A license plate manufacturing fee collected   under this section shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas   Department of Motor Vehicles fund.          SECTION 4.  Section 502.040(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The application must be accompanied by personal   identification as determined by department rule and made in a   manner prescribed by the department:                (1)  through the county assessor-collector of the   county in which the owner resides; or                (2)  if the office of that assessor-collector is   closed, or may be closed for a protracted period of time, as defined   by department rule, through a [if the county in which the owner   resides has been declared by the governor as a disaster area,   through the county assessor-collector of a county that is one of the   closest unaffected counties to a county that asks for assistance   and:                      [(A)     continues to be declared by the governor as   a disaster area because the county has been rendered inoperable by   the disaster; and                      [(B)     is inoperable for a protracted period of   time; or                [(3)     if the county assessor-collector's office in   which the owner resides is closed for a protracted period of time as   defined by the department, to the] county assessor-collector [of a   county that borders the county in which the owner resides] who is   willing [agrees] to accept the application.          SECTION 5.  Section 502.057, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 502.057.  REGISTRATION RECEIPT. (a) The department   shall issue or require to be issued to the owner of a vehicle   registered under this chapter a registration receipt showing the   information required by rule.          (b)  A receipt for the renewed registration of a vehicle   generated by an online registration system approved by the   department is proof of the vehicle's registration until the 31st   day after the date of renewal on the receipt.          SECTION 6.  Section 502.060(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  No fee is required under this section if:                (1)  the replacement fee for a license plate has been   paid under Section 504.007; or                (2)  the county assessor-collector determines that the   owner paid for a prior replacement registration insignia for the   same registration period that was mailed to the owner but not   received by the owner.          SECTION 7.  Section 502.091(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  The department may adopt and enforce rules to carry out   the International Registration Plan or other agreement under this   section. The rules may require an applicant to register under the   unified carrier registration system as defined by Section 643.001   before the applicant applies for registration under the   International Registration Plan.          SECTION 8.  Sections 502.146(a) and (h), Transportation   Code, are amended to read as follows:          (a)  The department shall issue distinguishing [specialty]   license plates to a vehicle described by Subsection (b) or (c). The   fee for the license plates is $5 and shall be deposited to the   credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund.          (h)  A distinguishing [specialty] license plate may not be   issued or renewed under Subsection (a) to an owner of a vehicle   described by Subsection (b)(1) unless the vehicle's owner provides   a registration number issued by the comptroller under Section   151.1551, Tax Code, or the vehicle is owned by a farmers'   cooperative society incorporated under Chapter 51, Agriculture   Code, or a marketing association organized under Chapter 52,   Agriculture Code. The comptroller shall allow access to the online   system established under Section 151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a   registration number provided under this subsection.          SECTION 9.  Section 502.198, Transportation Code, is amended   to read as follows:          Sec. 502.198.  DISPOSITION OF FEES GENERALLY. (a)  Except   as provided by Sections 502.058, 502.060, 502.1911, 502.192,   502.356, and 502.357 and Subchapter H, this section applies to all   fees collected by a county assessor-collector under this chapter.          (b)  Each Tuesday [Monday], a county assessor-collector   shall credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount equal to   the net collections made during the preceding week until the amount   so credited for the calendar year equals the total of:                (1)  $60,000; and                (2)  $350 for each mile of county road maintained by the   county, according to the most recent information available from the   department, not to exceed 500 miles[; and                [(3)     an additional amount of fees equal to the amount   calculated under Section 502.1981].          (c)  After the credits to the county road and bridge fund   equal the total computed under Subsection (b), each Tuesday   [Monday] the county assessor-collector shall:                (1)  credit to the county road and bridge fund an amount   equal to 50 percent of the net collections made during the preceding   week, until the amount so credited for the calendar year equals   $125,000; and                (2)  send to the department an amount equal to 50   percent of those collections for deposit to the credit of the state   highway fund.          (d)  After the credits to the county road and bridge fund   equal the total amounts computed under Subsections (b) and (c)(1),   each Tuesday [Monday] the county assessor-collector shall send to   the department all collections made during the preceding week for   deposit to the credit of the state highway fund.          SECTION 10.  Section 502.1983(a), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a)  A [Except as provided by Section 502.357, a] county   assessor-collector may:                (1)  deposit the fees subject to Section 502.198 in an   interest-bearing account or certificate in the county depository;   and                (2)  send the fees to the department not later than the   34th day after the date the fees are due under Section 502.198   [502.357].          SECTION 11.  Section 502.433(a-1), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  A commercial motor vehicle registration may not be   issued or renewed [registered] under this section unless the   vehicle's owner provides a registration number issued by the   comptroller under Section 151.1551, Tax Code. The comptroller   shall allow access to the online system established under Section   151.1551(l), Tax Code, to verify a registration number provided   under this subsection.          SECTION 12.  Section 504.007, Transportation Code, is   amended by adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:          (g)  No fee is required under this section if the county   assessor-collector determines that the owner paid for prior   replacement license plates for the same vehicle that were mailed to   the owner but not received by the owner.          SECTION 13.  Section 504.202(b), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (b)  A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled   to register, for the person's own use, motor vehicles under this   section if:                (1)  the person has suffered, as a result of military   service:                      (A)  at least a 50 percent service-connected   disability; or                      (B)  a 40 percent service-connected disability   because of the amputation of a lower extremity;                (2)  the person receives compensation from the United   States because of the disability; and                (3)  the motor vehicle:                      (A)  is owned by the person; and                      (B)  has a gross vehicle weight of 18,000 pounds   or less or is a motor home.          SECTION 14.  Section 520.006(a-1), Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          (a-1)  A county assessor-collector collecting fees on behalf   of a county assessor-collector whose office [that has been declared   as a disaster area or that] is closed or may be closed for a   protracted period of time as defined by the department for purposes   of Section 501.023 or 502.040 may retain the commission for fees   collected, but shall allocate the fees to the county [declared as a   disaster area or] that is closed or may be closed for a protracted   period of time.          SECTION 15.  Section 623.144, Transportation Code, is   amended to read as follows:          Sec. 623.144.  REGISTRATION OF VEHICLE. (a) A person may   not operate a vehicle permitted under this subchapter on a public   highway unless the vehicle is registered under Chapter 502 for the   maximum gross weight applicable to the vehicle under Section   621.101 or has distinguishing [specialty] license plates as   provided by Section 502.146 if applicable to the vehicle.          (b)  The department may not issue distinguishing [specialty]   license plates to a vehicle described by Section 502.146(b)(3)   unless the applicant complies with the requirements of that   subsection.          SECTION 16.  Sections 502.1585 and 502.1981, Transportation   Code, are repealed.          SECTION 17.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.