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AN ACT
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relating to the titling of motor vehicles; creating a criminal |
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offense and authorizing fees. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 152.062, Tax Code, is amended by adding |
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Subsection (d) to read as follows: |
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(d) A seller of a motor vehicle is not required to complete a |
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joint statement described by this section if: |
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(1) the seller does not hold a general distinguishing |
|
number issued under Chapter 503, Transportation Code; and |
|
(2) the seller has complied with Section 501.028 or |
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501.072, Transportation Code, as applicable. |
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SECTION 2. Section 501.002(30), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
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(30) "Travel trailer" means a house trailer-type |
|
vehicle or a camper trailer: |
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(A) that is a recreational vehicle defined under |
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24 C.F.R. Section 3282.8(g); or |
|
(B) that: |
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(i) is less than eight feet six inches in |
|
width or 45 [40] feet in length, exclusive of any hitch installed on |
|
the vehicle; |
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(ii) is designed primarily for use as |
|
temporary living quarters in connection with recreational, |
|
camping, travel, or seasonal use; |
|
(iii) is not used as a permanent dwelling; |
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and |
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(iv) is not a utility trailer, enclosed |
|
trailer, or other trailer that does not have human habitation as its |
|
primary function. |
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SECTION 3. Section 501.004(b), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
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(b) This chapter does not apply to: |
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(1) a farm trailer or farm semitrailer with a gross |
|
vehicle weight of not more than 34,000 pounds used only for the |
|
transportation of farm products if the products are not transported |
|
for hire; |
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(2) the filing or recording of a lien that is created |
|
only on an automobile accessory, including a tire, radio, or |
|
heater; |
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(3) a motor vehicle while it is owned or operated by |
|
the United States; or |
|
(4) a new motor vehicle on loan to a political |
|
subdivision of the state for use only in a driver education course |
|
conducted by an entity exempt from licensure under Section |
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1001.002, Education Code. |
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SECTION 4. Section 501.021(a), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A motor vehicle title issued by the department must |
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include: |
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(1) the legal name and address of each purchaser [and
|
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seller at the first sale or a subsequent sale]; |
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(2) the legal name of the seller and the municipality |
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and state in which the seller is located or resides [make of the
|
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motor vehicle]; |
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(3) the year, make, and body style [type] of the |
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vehicle; |
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(4) the [manufacturer's permanent] vehicle |
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identification number of the vehicle [or the vehicle's motor number
|
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if the vehicle was manufactured before the date that stamping a
|
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permanent identification number on a motor vehicle was universally
|
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adopted]; |
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(5) if the vehicle is subject to odometer disclosure |
|
under Section 501.072, the odometer reading and odometer brand as |
|
recorded on the last title assignment [serial number] for the |
|
vehicle; |
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(6) the name and address of each lienholder and the |
|
date of each lien on the vehicle, listed in the chronological order |
|
in which the lien was recorded; |
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(7) a statement indicating rights of survivorship |
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under Section 501.031; and |
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(8) [if the vehicle has an odometer, the odometer
|
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reading at the time of application for the title; and
|
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[(9)] any other information required by the |
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department. |
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SECTION 5. Section 501.023(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) The owner of a motor vehicle must present identification |
|
and apply for a title as prescribed by the department, unless |
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otherwise exempted by law. To obtain a title, the owner must apply: |
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(1) to the county assessor-collector in the county in |
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which: |
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(A) the owner is domiciled; or |
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(B) the motor vehicle is purchased or encumbered; |
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or |
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(2) [if the county in which the owner resides has been
|
|
declared by the governor as a disaster area, to the county
|
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assessor-collector in one of the closest unaffected counties to a
|
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county that asks for assistance and:
|
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[(A)
continues to be declared by the governor as
|
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a disaster area because the county has been rendered inoperable by
|
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the disaster; and
|
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[(B)
is inoperable for a protracted period of
|
|
time; or
|
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[(3)
if the county assessor-collector's office of the
|
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county in which the owner resides is closed for a protracted period
|
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of time as defined by the department,] to the county |
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assessor-collector of a county [that borders the county in which
|
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the owner resides] who is willing [agrees] to accept the |
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application if the county assessor-collector's office of the county |
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in which the owner resides is closed or may be closed for a |
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protracted period of time as defined by the department. |
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SECTION 6. Section 501.028, Transportation Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.028. SIGNATURES [OWNER'S SIGNATURE]. (a) On |
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receipt of a certificate of title, the owner of a motor vehicle |
|
shall write the owner's name in ink in the space provided on the |
|
certificate. |
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(b) Upon transfer of ownership, the seller shall complete |
|
assignment of title by signing and printing the seller's name, |
|
printing the date of transfer, and printing the purchaser's name |
|
and address on the title. |
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SECTION 7. Section 501.030(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Before a motor vehicle that was last registered or |
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titled in another state or country may be titled in this state, the |
|
county assessor-collector shall verify that the vehicle has passed |
|
the inspections required by Chapter 548, as indicated in the |
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Department of Public Safety's inspection database under Section |
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548.251, or that the owner has obtained an identification number |
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inspection in accordance with department rule. |
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SECTION 8. The heading to Section 501.032, Transportation |
|
Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.032. [ASSIGNMENT OF VEHICLE] IDENTIFICATION |
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NUMBER INSPECTION REQUIRED [BY DEPARTMENT]. |
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SECTION 9. Sections 501.032(a) and (b), Transportation |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) In addition to any requirement established by |
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department rule, a motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer must have |
|
an identification number inspection under Section 501.0321 if: |
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(1) the department does not have a motor vehicle |
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record for the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer in the |
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department's registration and title system, and the owner of the |
|
motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer is filing a bond with the |
|
department under Section 501.053; |
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(2) the motor vehicle, trailer, or semitrailer was |
|
last titled or registered outside of the United States and imported |
|
into the United States; or |
|
(3) the owner or person claiming ownership requires an |
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assigned or reassigned identification number under Section 501.033 |
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[On proper application, the department shall assign a vehicle
|
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identification number to a travel trailer, a trailer or
|
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semitrailer, a frame, or an item of equipment, including a tractor,
|
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farm implement, unit of special mobile equipment, or unit of
|
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off-road construction equipment:
|
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[(1)
on which a vehicle identification number was not
|
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die-stamped by the manufacturer;
|
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[(2)
on which a vehicle identification number
|
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die-stamped by the manufacturer has been lost, removed, or
|
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obliterated; or
|
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[(3)
for which a vehicle identification number was
|
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never assigned]. |
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(b) An active duty member of a branch of the United States |
|
armed forces, or an immediate family member of such a member, |
|
returning to Texas with acceptable proof of the active duty status |
|
is exempt from an identification number inspection required under |
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Subsection (a)(2) [The applicant shall die-stamp the assigned
|
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vehicle identification number at the place designated by the
|
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department on the travel trailer, trailer, semitrailer, frame, or
|
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equipment]. |
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SECTION 10. Subchapter B, Chapter 501, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Sections 501.0321 and 501.0322 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 501.0321. IDENTIFICATION NUMBER INSPECTION. (a) An |
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inspection required under Section 501.032 must verify, as |
|
applicable, the identity of: |
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(1) a motor vehicle; |
|
(2) a trailer or semitrailer; |
|
(3) a frame, body, or motor of a motor vehicle; or |
|
(4) an item of equipment not required to be titled but |
|
that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued licensed plates |
|
under Chapter 504. |
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(b) An inspection under this section may not rely solely on |
|
the public identification number to verify the identity. |
|
(c) An inspection under this section may be performed only |
|
by a person who has successfully completed an appropriate training |
|
program as determined by department rule and is: |
|
(1) an auto theft investigator who is a law |
|
enforcement officer of this state or a political subdivision of |
|
this state; |
|
(2) a person working under the direct supervision of a |
|
person described by Subdivision (1); |
|
(3) an employee of the department authorized by the |
|
department to perform an inspection under this section; or |
|
(4) an employee of the National Insurance Crime Bureau |
|
authorized by the department to perform an inspection under this |
|
section. |
|
(d) The department shall prescribe a form on which the |
|
identification number inspection is to be recorded. The department |
|
may provide the form only to a person described by Subsection (c). |
|
(e) The department or another entity that provides an |
|
inspection under this section may impose a fee of not more than $40 |
|
for the inspection. The county or municipal treasurer of a county |
|
or municipal entity that provides an inspection under this section |
|
shall credit the fee to the general fund of the county or |
|
municipality, as applicable, to defray the entity's cost associated |
|
with the inspection. If the department provides an inspection |
|
under this section, the fee shall be deposited to the credit of the |
|
Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund. |
|
(f) The department may not impose a fee for an inspection |
|
requested by the department. The department shall include a |
|
notification of the waiver to the owner at the time the department |
|
requests the identification number inspection. |
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Sec. 501.0322. ALTERNATIVE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER |
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INSPECTION. The department by rule may establish a process for |
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verifying the identity of an item listed in Section 501.0321(a) as |
|
an alternative to an identification number inspection under Section |
|
501.0321. The rules may include the persons authorized to perform |
|
the inspection, when an alternative inspection under this section |
|
is required, and any fees that may be assessed. Any fee authorized |
|
must comply with Sections 501.0321(e) and (f). |
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SECTION 11. Section 501.033, Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 501.033. ASSIGNMENT AND REASSIGNMENT OF |
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IDENTIFICATION NUMBER BY DEPARTMENT. (a) If the permanent |
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identification number affixed by the manufacturer has been removed, |
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altered, or obliterated, or a permanent identification number was |
|
never assigned, the department shall assign an identification |
|
number to [A person determined by law enforcement or a court to be
|
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the owner of] a motor vehicle, [travel trailer,] semitrailer, [or] |
|
trailer, motor [a part of a motor vehicle], [travel trailer,
|
|
semitrailer, or trailer, a] frame, or body of a motor vehicle, or an |
|
item of equipment not required to be titled but that may be |
|
registered under Chapter 502 or issued license plates under Chapter |
|
504 on inspection under Section 501.0321 and application to the |
|
department [including a tractor, farm implement, unit of special
|
|
mobile equipment, or unit of off-road construction equipment may
|
|
apply to the department for an assigned vehicle identification
|
|
number that has been removed, altered, obliterated, or has never
|
|
been assigned]. |
|
(b) An application under this section must be in a manner |
|
prescribed by the department and accompanied by valid evidence of |
|
ownership in the name of, or properly assigned to, the applicant as |
|
required by the department. |
|
(c) A fee of $2 must accompany each application under this |
|
section to be deposited in the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles |
|
fund. |
|
(d) The assigned [vehicle] identification number shall be |
|
die-stamped or otherwise affixed in the manner and location |
|
designated by the department. |
|
(e) The department shall reassign an original |
|
manufacturer's identification number only if the person who |
|
conducts the inspection under Section 501.0321 determines that the |
|
permanent identification number affixed by the manufacturer has |
|
been removed, altered, or obliterated [If the auto theft unit of a
|
|
county or municipal law enforcement agency conducts an inspection
|
|
required by the department under this section, the agency may
|
|
impose a fee of $40.
The county or municipal treasurer shall credit
|
|
the fee to the general fund of the county or municipality, as
|
|
applicable, to defray the agency's cost associated with the
|
|
inspection.
The fee shall be waived by the department or agency
|
|
imposing the fee if the person applying under this section is the
|
|
current registered owner]. |
|
(f) If the department reassigns a manufacturer's |
|
identification number, a representative of the department shall |
|
affix the number in a manner and location designated by the |
|
department. |
|
(g) On affixing an assigned identification number or |
|
witnessing the affixing of a reassigned identification number, the |
|
owner or the owner's representative shall certify on a form |
|
prescribed by the department that the identification number has |
|
been affixed in the manner and location designated by the |
|
department and shall submit the form in a manner prescribed by the |
|
department. |
|
(h) Only the department may issue an identification number |
|
to a motor vehicle, trailer, semitrailer, motor, frame, or body of a |
|
motor vehicle, or an item of equipment not required to be titled but |
|
that may be registered under Chapter 502 or issued license plates |
|
under Chapter 504. The department may not recognize an |
|
identification number assigned by any other agency or political |
|
subdivision of this state. |
|
SECTION 12. Section 501.036, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 501.036. TITLE FOR FARM TRAILER OR FARM SEMITRAILER. |
|
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the |
|
department may issue a title for a farm trailer or farm semitrailer |
|
with a gross vehicle weight of not more than 34,000 [4,000] pounds |
|
if[:
|
|
[(1)
the farm semitrailer is eligible for registration
|
|
under Section 502.146; and
|
|
[(2)] all [other] requirements for issuance of a title |
|
are met. |
|
(b) To obtain a title under this section, the owner [of the
|
|
farm semitrailer] must: |
|
(1) apply for the title in the manner required by |
|
Section 501.023; and |
|
(2) pay the fee required by Section 501.138. |
|
(c) A subsequent purchaser of a farm trailer or farm |
|
semitrailer titled previously under this section or in another |
|
jurisdiction must obtain a title under [The department shall adopt
|
|
rules to implement and administer] this section. |
|
SECTION 13. Section 501.037, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 501.037. TITLE FOR TRAILERS OR SEMITRAILERS. |
|
(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the |
|
department may issue a title for a trailer or semitrailer that has a |
|
gross vehicle weight of 4,000 pounds or less if all other |
|
requirements for issuance of a title are met. |
|
(b) To obtain a title under this section, the owner of the |
|
trailer or semitrailer must: |
|
(1) apply for the title in the manner required by |
|
Section 501.023; and |
|
(2) pay the fee required by Section 501.138. |
|
(c) A subsequent purchaser of a trailer or semitrailer |
|
titled previously under this section or in another jurisdiction |
|
must obtain a title under this section. |
|
SECTION 14. Section 501.071(a), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Sections 503.036 and [in Section] |
|
503.039, a motor vehicle may not be the subject of a subsequent sale |
|
unless the owner designated on the title submits a transfer of |
|
ownership of the title. |
|
SECTION 15. Section 501.072, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
Sec. 501.072. ODOMETER DISCLOSURE STATEMENT. (a) Except |
|
as provided by Subsection (c), the transferor [seller] of a motor |
|
vehicle transferred [sold] in this state shall provide to the |
|
transferee [buyer, on a form prescribed by the department,] a |
|
[written] disclosure of the vehicle's odometer reading at the time |
|
of the transfer in compliance with 49 U.S.C. Section 32705 [sale.
|
|
The form must include space for the signature and printed name of
|
|
both the seller and buyer]. |
|
(b) When application for a [certificate of] title is made, |
|
the transferee [owner] shall record the [current] odometer reading |
|
on the application. The [written] disclosure required by |
|
Subsection (a) must accompany the application. |
|
(c) An odometer disclosure statement is not required for the |
|
transfer [sale] of a motor vehicle that is exempt from odometer |
|
disclosure requirements under 49 C.F.R. Part 580[:
|
|
[(1)
has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of
|
|
more than two tons;
|
|
[(2) is not self-propelled;
|
|
[(3) is 10 or more years old;
|
|
[(4)
is sold directly by the manufacturer to an agency
|
|
of the United States government in conformity with contractual
|
|
specifications; or
|
|
[(5) is a new motor vehicle]. |
|
(d) The department shall provide for use consistent with 49 |
|
C.F.R. Part 580: |
|
(1) a secure power of attorney form; and |
|
(2) a secure reassignment form for licensed motor |
|
vehicle dealers. |
|
(e) In this section, "transferee" and "transferor" have the |
|
meanings assigned by 49 C.F.R. Part 580. |
|
SECTION 16. Section 501.091(9), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(9) "Nonrepairable motor vehicle" means a motor |
|
vehicle [that]: |
|
(A) that is damaged, wrecked, or burned to the |
|
extent that the only residual value of the vehicle is as a source of |
|
parts or scrap metal; [or] |
|
(B) that comes into this state under a comparable |
|
ownership document that indicates that the vehicle is |
|
nonrepairable; |
|
(C) that a salvage vehicle dealer has reported to |
|
the department under Section 501.1003; |
|
(D) for which an owner has surrendered evidence |
|
of ownership for the purpose of dismantling, scrapping, or |
|
destroying the motor vehicle; or |
|
(E) that is sold for export only under Section |
|
501.099. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 501.09113(a), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) On receipt of a proper application from the owner of a |
|
motor vehicle, the department shall issue the applicant the |
|
appropriate title with any notations determined by the department |
|
as necessary to describe or disclose the motor vehicle's current or |
|
former condition if the [This section applies only to a] motor |
|
vehicle was brought into this state from another state or |
|
jurisdiction and [that] has on any title or comparable out-of-state |
|
ownership document issued by the other state or jurisdiction or |
|
record in the National Motor Vehicle Title Information System |
|
reported by another state or jurisdiction: |
|
(1) a "rebuilt," "repaired," "reconstructed," "flood |
|
damage," "fire damage," "owner retained," "salvage," or similar |
|
notation; or |
|
(2) a "nonrepairable," "dismantle only," "parts |
|
only," "junked," "scrapped," "crushed," or similar notation. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 501.097(a), Transportation Code, as |
|
amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of |
|
the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(a) An application for a nonrepairable vehicle title, |
|
nonrepairable record of title, salvage vehicle title, or salvage |
|
record of title must: |
|
(1) be made in a manner prescribed by the department |
|
and accompanied by a $8 application fee; |
|
(2) include, in addition to any other information |
|
required by the department: |
|
(A) the name and current address of the owner; |
|
and |
|
(B) a description of the motor vehicle, including |
|
the make, style of body, model year, and vehicle identification |
|
number; and |
|
(3) include the name and address of: |
|
(A) any currently recorded lienholder, if the |
|
motor vehicle is a nonrepairable motor vehicle; or |
|
(B) any currently recorded lienholder or a new |
|
lienholder, if the motor vehicle is a salvage motor vehicle. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 501.1001(a), Transportation Code, as |
|
amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of |
|
the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted and |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Except as provided by Section 501.0925, an insurance |
|
company that is licensed to conduct business in this state and that |
|
acquires, through payment of a claim, ownership or possession of a |
|
salvage motor vehicle or nonrepairable motor vehicle [covered by a
|
|
certificate of title issued by this state or a manufacturer's
|
|
certificate of origin] shall surrender the [a] properly assigned |
|
evidence of ownership and apply for the appropriate title under |
|
Section 501.097 [title or manufacturer's certificate of origin to
|
|
the department, on a form prescribed by the department]. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 501.1002(a), Transportation Code, as |
|
amended by Chapters 1136 (H.B. 1422) and 1296 (H.B. 2357), Acts of |
|
the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, is reenacted to read |
|
as follows: |
|
(a) If an insurance company pays a claim on a nonrepairable |
|
motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle and the insurance company |
|
does not acquire ownership of the motor vehicle, the insurance |
|
company shall: |
|
(1) submit to the department, before the 31st day |
|
after the date of the payment of the claim, on the form prescribed |
|
by the department, a report stating that the insurance company: |
|
(A) has paid a claim on the motor vehicle; and |
|
(B) has not acquired ownership of the motor |
|
vehicle; and |
|
(2) provide notice to the owner of the motor vehicle |
|
of: |
|
(A) the report required under Subdivision (1); |
|
and |
|
(B) the requirements for operation or transfer of |
|
ownership of the motor vehicle under Subsection (b). |
|
SECTION 21. Section 501.1002(b), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(b) The owner of a salvage or nonrepairable motor vehicle |
|
[to which this section applies] may not [operate or permit
|
|
operation of the motor vehicle on a public highway or] transfer |
|
ownership of the motor vehicle by sale or otherwise unless the |
|
department has issued a salvage vehicle title, salvage record of |
|
title, nonrepairable vehicle title, or nonrepairable record of |
|
title for the motor vehicle or a comparable ownership document has |
|
been issued by another state or jurisdiction for the motor vehicle |
|
in the name of the owner. |
|
SECTION 22. Section 501.109, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsections (d) and (e) and adding Subsections |
|
(g) and (h) to read as follows: |
|
(d) Except as provided by Subsection (e), an offense under |
|
Subsection (a), (b), or (c) [this section] is a Class C misdemeanor. |
|
(e) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under |
|
Subsection (a), (b), or (c) [this section] that the defendant has |
|
been previously convicted of: |
|
(1) one offense under Subsection (a), (b), or (c) |
|
[this section], the offense is a Class B misdemeanor; or |
|
(2) two or more offenses under Subsection (a), (b), or |
|
(c) [this section], the offense is a state jail felony. |
|
(g) A person commits an offense if the person knowingly |
|
provides false or incorrect information or without legal authority |
|
signs the name of another person on: |
|
(1) an application for a title to a nonrepairable |
|
motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle; |
|
(2) an application for a certified copy of an original |
|
title to a nonrepairable motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle; |
|
(3) an assignment of title for a nonrepairable motor |
|
vehicle or salvage motor vehicle; |
|
(4) a discharge of a lien on a title for a |
|
nonrepairable motor vehicle or salvage motor vehicle; or |
|
(5) any other document required by the department or |
|
necessary for the transfer of ownership of a nonrepairable motor |
|
vehicle or salvage motor vehicle. |
|
(h) An offense under Subsection (g) is a felony of the third |
|
degree. |
|
SECTION 23. Effective January 1, 2019, the heading to |
|
Section 501.134, Transportation Code, is amended to read as |
|
follows: |
|
Sec. 501.134. CERTIFIED COPY OF LOST OR DESTROYED |
|
CERTIFICATE OF TITLE. |
|
SECTION 24. Effective January 1, 2019, Sections 501.134(a), |
|
(b), (c), and (d), Transportation Code, are amended to read as |
|
follows: |
|
(a) If a printed title is lost or destroyed, the owner or |
|
lienholder disclosed on the title may obtain, in the manner |
|
provided by this section and department rule, a certified copy of |
|
the lost or destroyed title directly from the department by |
|
applying in a manner prescribed by the department and paying a fee |
|
of $2. A fee collected under this subsection shall be deposited to |
|
the credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund [and may
|
|
be spent only as provided by Section 501.138]. |
|
(b) If a lien is disclosed on a title, the department may |
|
issue a certified copy of the [original] title only to the first |
|
lienholder or the lienholder's verified agent unless the owner has |
|
original proof from the lienholder of lien satisfaction. |
|
(c) The department must plainly mark "certified copy" on the |
|
face of a certified copy issued under this section. [A subsequent
|
|
purchaser or lienholder of the vehicle only acquires the rights,
|
|
title, or interest in the vehicle held by the holder of the
|
|
certified copy.] |
|
(d) A certified copy of the title that is lawfully obtained |
|
under this section supersedes and invalidates any previously issued |
|
title or certified copy. If the certified copy of the title is |
|
later rescinded, canceled, or revoked under Section 501.051, the |
|
department may revalidate a previously superseded or invalidated |
|
title or certified copy of title [A purchaser or lienholder of a
|
|
motor vehicle having a certified copy issued under this section may
|
|
at the time of the purchase or establishment of the lien require
|
|
that the seller or owner indemnify the purchaser or lienholder and
|
|
all subsequent purchasers of the vehicle against any loss the
|
|
person may suffer because of a claim presented on the original
|
|
title]. |
|
SECTION 25. Section 541.201(5), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(5) "House trailer" means a trailer or semitrailer, |
|
other than a towable recreational vehicle, that: |
|
(A) is transportable on a highway in one or more |
|
sections; |
|
(B) is less than 45 [40] feet in length, |
|
excluding tow bar, while in the traveling mode; |
|
(C) is built on a permanent chassis; |
|
(D) is designed to be used as a dwelling or for |
|
commercial purposes if connected to required utilities; and |
|
(E) includes plumbing, heating, |
|
air-conditioning, and electrical systems. |
|
SECTION 26. The following provisions of the Transportation |
|
Code are repealed: |
|
(1) Sections 501.032(c) and (d); and |
|
(2) Section 501.09113(b). |
|
SECTION 27. Not later than December 31, 2018, the |
|
Department of Public Safety and the Texas Department of Motor |
|
Vehicles shall: |
|
(1) conduct a study on the efficiency and necessity of |
|
the titling, including actions related to titling such as |
|
registration, and inspection of vehicles in this state; and |
|
(2) submit to the legislature a report on the results |
|
of the study that includes: |
|
(A) identification of any elements of the vehicle |
|
titling, including actions related to titling such as registration, |
|
and inspection programs that can be eliminated; and |
|
(B) recommendations for legislation to eliminate |
|
those elements. |
|
SECTION 28. Except as otherwise provided by this Act, this |
|
Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
|
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2076 passed the Senate on |
|
April 27, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4; and that |
|
the Senate concurred in House amendments on May 26, 2017, by the |
|
following vote: Yeas 27, Nays 4. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Secretary of the Senate |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 2076 passed the House, with |
|
amendments, on May 21, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 130, |
|
Nays 12, one present not voting. |
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
|
|
|
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
Governor |