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AN ACT
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relating to a prohibition on the sale or transfer of certain law |
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enforcement vehicles before removal of certain equipment and |
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insignia. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter Z, Chapter 2175, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 2175.908 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 2175.908. SALE OR TRANSFER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE. |
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(a) Except as provided by Subsection (b), the commission or another |
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state agency, including an agency delegated the authority to |
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dispose of surplus or salvage property under Section 2175.065, may |
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not sell or transfer a marked patrol car or other law enforcement |
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motor vehicle to the public unless the state agency first removes |
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any equipment or insignia that could mislead a reasonable person to |
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believe that the vehicle is a law enforcement motor vehicle, |
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including any police light, siren, amber warning light, spotlight, |
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grill light, antenna, emblem, outline of an emblem, and emergency |
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vehicle equipment. |
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(b) The commission or another state agency, including an |
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agency delegated the authority to dispose of surplus or salvage |
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property under Section 2175.065, may not sell or transfer a marked |
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patrol car or other law enforcement motor vehicle to a security |
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services contractor who is regulated by the Department of Public |
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Safety and licensed under Chapter 1702, Occupations Code, unless |
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each emblem or insignia that identifies the vehicle as a law |
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enforcement motor vehicle is removed before the sale or transfer. |
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SECTION 2. Section 2175.304, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsection (f) to read as follows: |
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(f) Section 2175.908 applies to a university system or |
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institution or agency of higher education included within the |
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definition of "state agency" under Section 2151.002. |
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SECTION 3. Chapter 272, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 272.006 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 272.006. SALE OR TRANSFER OF LAW ENFORCEMENT VEHICLE. |
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(a) In this section, "political subdivision" means a county, |
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municipality, school district, junior college district, other |
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special district, or other subdivision of state government. |
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(b) A political subdivision may not sell or transfer a |
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marked patrol car or other law enforcement motor vehicle to the |
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public unless the political subdivision first removes any equipment |
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or insignia that could mislead a reasonable person to believe that |
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the vehicle is a law enforcement motor vehicle, including any |
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police light, siren, amber warning light, spotlight, grill light, |
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antenna, emblem, outline of an emblem, or emergency vehicle |
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equipment. |
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(c) A political subdivision may not sell or transfer a |
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marked patrol car or other political subdivision law enforcement |
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motor vehicle to a security services contractor who is regulated by |
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the Department of Public Safety and licensed under Chapter 1702, |
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Occupations Code, unless each emblem or insignia that identifies |
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the vehicle as a law enforcement motor vehicle is removed before the |
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sale or transfer. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |
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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. 473 was passed by the House on April |
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30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 136, Nays 2, 2 present, not |
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voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.B. No. 473 was passed by the Senate on May |
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20, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 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 |