Texas HB 3760: Relating to the issuance of buyer's temporary tags for vehicles sold by governmental agencies.

Bill Text

By:AAGuillen H.B.ANo.A3760
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the disposition of surplus vehicles by a governmental
agency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTIONA1.AASection 503.063, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec.A503.063.AABUYER’S TEMPORARY TAGS. (a) Except as
provided by this section, a dealer or federal, state, or local
governmental agency exempt from the requirements to obtain a dealer
general distinguishing number under Section 503.024(a)(2) shall
issue to a person who buys a vehicle one temporary buyer’s tag for
the vehicle.
(b)AAExcept as provided by this section, the buyer’s tag is
valid for the operation of the vehicle until the earlier of:
(1)AAthe date on which the vehicle is registered; or
(2)AAthe 60th day after the date of purchase.
(c)AAThe dealer or federal, state, or local governmental
agency:
(1)AAmust show in ink on the buyer’s tag the actual date
of sale and any other required information; and
(2)AAis responsible for displaying the tag.
(d)AAThe dealer or federal, state, or local governmental
agency is responsible for the safekeeping and distribution of each
buyer’s tag the dealer or federal, state, or local governmental
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agency obtains.
(e)AAThe department may not issue a buyer’s tag or contract
for the issuance of a buyer’s tag but shall prescribe:
(1)AAthe specifications, color, and form of a buyer’s
tag; and
(2)AAprocedures for a dealer or federal, state, or
local governmental agency to:
(A)AAgenerate a vehicle-specific number using the
database developed under Section 503.0631 and assign it to each
tag;
(B)AAgenerate a vehicle-specific number using the
database developed under Section 503.0631 for future use for when a
dealer or federal, state, or local governmental agency is unable to
access the Internet at the time of sale; and
(C)AAclearly display the vehicle-specific number
on the tag.
(f)AAThe department shall ensure that a dealer or federal,
state, or local governmental agency may generate in advance a
sufficient amount of vehicle-specific numbers under Subsection
(e)(2)(B) in order to continue selling vehicles for a period of up
to one week in which a dealer or federal, state, or local
governmental agency is unable to access the Internet due to an
emergency. The department shall establish an expedited procedure
to allow affected dealers or federal, state, or local governmental
agency to apply for additional vehicle-specific numbers so they may
remain in business during an emergency.
(g)AAFor each buyer’s temporary tag, a dealer shall charge
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the buyer a registration fee of not more than $5 as prescribed by
the department to be sent to the comptroller for deposit to the
credit of the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles fund. A federal,
state, or local governmental agency is not required to charge the
fee prescribed under this Subsection.
SECTIONA2.AASection 503.0631, Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec.A503.0631.AABUYER’S TEMPORARY TAG DATABASE.
(c)AAExcept as provided by Subsection (d), before a buyer’s
temporary tag may be displayed on a vehicle, a dealer or federal,
state, or local governmental agency must enter into the database
through the Internet information about the buyer of the vehicle for
which the tag was issued as prescribed by the department and
generate a vehicle-specific number for the tag as required by
Section 503.063(e). The department may not deny access to the
database to any dealer who holds a general distinguishing number
issued under this chapter or who is licensed under Chapter 2301,
Occupations Code.
(d)AAA dealer or federal, state, or local governmental agency
shall obtain 24-hour Internet access at its place of business or
operation, but if the dealer or federal, state, or local
governmental agency is unable to access the Internet at the time of
the sale of a vehicle, the dealer or federal, state, or local
governmental agency shall complete and sign a form, as prescribed
by the department, that states the dealer or federal, state, or
local governmental agency has Internet access, but was unable to
access the Internet at the time of sale. The buyer shall keep the
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original copy of the form in the vehicle until the vehicle is
registered to the buyer. Not later than the next business day after
the time of sale, the dealer or federal, state, or local
governmental agency shall submit the information required under
Subsection (c).
SECTIONA3.AAThis Act takes effect September 1, 2019.
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