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AN ACT
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relating to alternative registration technologies for commercial |
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motor vehicles. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 1003, Transportation Code, is amended by |
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adding Sections 1003.006 and 1003.007 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 1003.006. STUDY ON REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL MOTOR |
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VEHICLES. (a) The department shall: |
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(1) conduct a study that: |
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(A) identifies and assesses alternative |
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technologies for registering commercial motor vehicles to replace |
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license plates, permits, and other existing documentation and |
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registration methods currently in use in this state; and |
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(B) evaluates the safety and suitability for use |
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on roadways of the technologies identified under Paragraph (A); and |
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(2) submit a report on the results of the study to the |
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governor, lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of |
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representatives, and presiding officer of each legislative |
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standing committee with primary jurisdiction over transportation |
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issues not later than December 1, 2021. |
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(b) The department may collaborate with another state |
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agency or a research division of an institution of higher education |
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in this state to conduct the study. |
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(c) This section expires January 1, 2023. |
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Sec. 1003.007. PILOT PROGRAM FOR REGISTRATION OF COMMERCIAL |
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VEHICLES. (a) The department, in consultation with a state agency |
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or research division of an institution of higher education in this |
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state, may establish a limited pilot program that identifies, |
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implements, and assesses alternative technologies for registering |
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commercial motor vehicles to replace license plates, permits, and |
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other existing documentation and registration methods currently in |
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use in this state if the department determines that the program can |
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be implemented at no cost to the state and that the results of the |
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study conducted under Section 1003.006 indicate that the program is |
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feasible. |
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(b) The program must: |
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(1) evaluate the safety and suitability for use on |
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roadways of the alternative technologies identified under |
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Subsection (a); and |
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(2) be funded through contributions by participants |
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who voluntarily opt into the program. |
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(c) Not later than December 1, 2022, the department shall |
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submit a report on the results of the program to the governor, |
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lieutenant governor, speaker of the house of representatives, and |
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presiding officer of each legislative standing committee with |
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primary jurisdiction over transportation issues. |
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(d) This section expires January 1, 2023. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2017. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1959 was passed by the House on May 9, |
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2017, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 2, 2 present, not |
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voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. |
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No. 1959 on May 26, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 137, Nays 7, |
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2 present, not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 1959 was passed by the Senate, with |
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amendments, on May 24, 2017, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays |
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0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |