S.B. No. 1451

	AN ACT
	relating to the disputed payment by a credit card or debit card of a
	vehicle registration fee.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter E, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
	is amended by adding Section 502.1931 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.1931.  DISPUTED PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD OR DEBIT
	CARD. (a)  A county assessor-collector who receives from any
	person a payment by credit card or debit card for a registration fee
	for a registration year that has not ended that is returned unpaid
	because the payment by the credit card or debit card has been
	disputed by the credit card or debit card company shall certify the
	fact to the sheriff or a constable or highway patrol officer in the
	county after attempts to contact the person fail to result in the
	collection of payment.  The certification must be made before the
	30th day after the date the assessor-collector is made aware that
	the credit card or debit card payment has been disputed and:
	(1)  be under the assessor-collector's official seal;
	(2)  include the name and address of the person who
	authorized the credit card or debit card payment;
	(3)  include the license plate number and make of the
	vehicle;
	(4)  be accompanied by evidence from the credit card or
	debit card company that the company has determined that it will not
	make payment on the disputed credit card or debit card charge; and
	(5)  be accompanied by documentation of any attempt to
	contact the person and collect payment.
	(b)  On receiving a complaint under Subsection (a) from the
	county assessor-collector, the sheriff, constable, or highway
	patrol officer shall find the person who authorized the credit card
	or debit card payment, if the person is in the county, and demand
	immediate redemption of payment from the person.  If the person
	fails or refuses to redeem the payment, the sheriff, constable, or
	highway patrol officer shall:
	(1)  seize and remove the license plates and
	registration insignia from the vehicle; and
	(2)  return the license plates and registration
	insignia to the assessor-collector.
	SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
	to a payment of a registration fee submitted to a county
	assessor-collector on or after the effective date of this Act. A
	payment submitted before the effective date of this Act is governed
	by the law in effect on the date the payment was submitted, and the
	former law is continued in effect for that purpose.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
	______________________________	______________________________
	President of the Senate	Speaker of the House
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1451 passed the Senate on
	April 15, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
	______________________________
	Secretary of the Senate
	I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1451 passed the House on
	May 12, 2015, by the following vote:  Yeas 138, Nays 6, two
	present not voting.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House
	Approved:
	______________________________
	Date
	______________________________
	Governor