By: Morrison (Senate Sponsor - Hegar)	H.B. No. 719
	(In the Senate - Received from the House April 15, 2013;
	April 17, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
	Transportation; May 14, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
	Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 1;
	May 14, 2013, sent to printer.)
	COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 719	By:  Uresti

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to the operation of a golf cart or utility vehicle on a
	public highway in certain counties; authorizing a fee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 551.402, Transportation Code, is amended
	to read as follows:
	Sec. 551.402.  REGISTRATION NOT AUTHORIZED.  (a)  The Texas
	Department of Motor Vehicles [Transportation] may not register a
	golf cart for operation on a public highway regardless of whether
	any alteration has been made to the golf cart.
	(b)  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles [department] may
	issue license plates for a golf cart [only] as authorized by
	Subsection (c) [Section 504.510].
	(c)  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall by rule
	establish a procedure to issue the license plates to be used for
	operation in accordance with Sections 551.403 and 551.404.
	(d)  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles may charge a fee
	not to exceed $10 for the cost of the license plate.
	SECTION 2.  Section 551.404, Transportation Code, is amended
	by amending Subsection (a-1) and adding Subsection (a-2) to read as
	follows:
	(a-1)  In addition to the operation authorized by Section
	551.403, the commissioners court of a county described by
	Subsection (a-2) [that borders or contains a portion of the
	Guadalupe River and contains a part of a barrier island that borders
	the Gulf of Mexico] may allow an operator to operate a golf cart or
	utility vehicle on all or part of a public highway that:
	(1)  is located in the unincorporated area of the
	county; and
	(2)  has a speed limit of not more than 35 miles per
	hour.
	(a-2)  Subsection (a-1) applies only to a county that:
	(1)  borders or contains a portion of the Red River;
	(2)  borders or contains a portion of the Guadalupe
	River and contains a part of a barrier island that borders the Gulf
	of Mexico; or
	(3)  is adjacent to a county described by Subdivision
	(2) and:
	(A)  has a population of less than 30,000; and
	(B)  contains a part of a barrier island that
	borders the Gulf of Mexico.
	SECTION 3.  Section 504.510, Transportation Code, is
	repealed.
	SECTION 4.  Not later than December 31, 2013, the Texas
	Department of Motor Vehicles shall establish a procedure for the
	issuance of license plates for golf carts to be used for operation
	on a public highway, as required by Section 551.402(c),
	Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
	a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
	provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
	Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
	Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
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