89R11994 JAM-F     By: Blanco S.B. No. 2022       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the denial of the registration of a motor vehicle based   on certain information provided by a county to the Texas Department   of Motor Vehicles; authorizing a fee.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 502.010, Transportation Code, is amended   by adding Subsection (k) to read as follows:          (k)  This section does not apply to a county described by   Section 502.0101(a).          SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 502.0101 to read as follows:          Sec. 502.0101.  SCOFFLAW IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a)  This   section applies only to a county that:                (1)  borders the United Mexican States; and                (2)  contains a municipality with a population of more   than 500,000.          (b)  In this section:                (1)  a fine, fee, or tax is considered past due if it is   unpaid 90 or more days after the date it is due; and                (2)  registration of a motor vehicle includes renewal   of the registration of the vehicle.          (c)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, a county   assessor-collector may refuse to register a motor vehicle if:                (1)  the assessor-collector receives information from   the Department of Public Safety driver's license division or the   department that the owner of the vehicle:                      (A)  owes the county money for a fine, fee, or tax   that is past due; or                      (B)  failed to appear in connection with a   complaint, citation, information, or indictment in a court in the   county in which a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner;   and                (2)  the identity of the owner of the vehicle has been   confirmed:                      (A)  through the Department of Public Safety based   on the owner's name, driver's license number, and date of birth; or                      (B)  through the department's motor vehicle   database by the last four digits of the owner's social security   number, last four digits of the vehicle identification number, and   license plate number.          (d)  If the department or the Department of Public Safety   determines that a county assessor-collector is authorized to refuse   to register a vehicle under Subsection (c):                (1)  the vehicle may not be registered through an   online system designated by the department under Section   520.005(d);                (2)  the department shall refuse to register the   vehicle through an online system that is available to the public;   and                (3)  the department or the Department of Public Safety   shall notify the county assessor-collector that the owner of the   vehicle owes the county money for a fine, fee, or tax that is past   due.          (e)  Information that is provided to make a determination   under Subsection (c)(1) and that concerns the past due status of a   fine or fee imposed for a criminal offense and owed to the county   expires on the second anniversary of the date the information was   provided and may not be used to refuse registration after that   date.  Once information about a past due fine or fee is provided   under Subsection (f), subsequent information about other fines or   fees that are imposed for a criminal offense and that become past   due before the second anniversary of the date the initial   information was provided may not be used, either before or after the   second anniversary of that date, to refuse registration under this   section unless the motor vehicle is no longer subject to refusal of   registration because of notice received under Subsection (g).          (f)  The department shall develop and implement a system   through which a county may provide information to the department   necessary to make a determination under Subsection (d). The   department may charge a fee for the use of the system. The system   developed under this section must:                (1)  verify in real time the information described by   Subsection (c)(1) by searching against the vehicle owner's driver's   license number, date of birth, or other information provided to the   department; and                (2)  be used for the registration of a vehicle   conducted through the department's Internet website.          (g)  A county that provides information under Subsection (f)   shall immediately notify the department regarding a person for whom   the county assessor-collector or the department has refused to   register a motor vehicle on:                (1)  the person's payment or other means of discharge,   including a waiver, of the past due fine, fee, or tax; or                (2)  perfection of an appeal of the case contesting   payment of the fine, fee, or tax.          (h)  After notice is received under Subsection (g), the   county assessor-collector or the department may not refuse to   register the motor vehicle under Subsection (c) or (d).          (i)  Except as otherwise provided by this section, a county   may impose an additional reimbursement fee of $20 to:                (1)  a person who fails to pay a fine, fee, or tax to the   county by the date on which the fine, fee, or tax is due; or                (2)  a person who fails to appear in connection with a   complaint, citation, information, or indictment in a court in which   a criminal proceeding is pending against the owner.          (j)  An additional reimbursement fee imposed under   Subsection (i) may be used only to reimburse the county   assessor-collector for providing services under this section.          (k)  A municipal court judge or justice of the peace who has   jurisdiction over the underlying offense may waive an additional   reimbursement fee imposed under Subsection (i) if the judge or   justice makes a finding that the defendant is economically unable   to pay the fee or that good cause exists for the waiver.          (l)  If a county assessor-collector is notified that the   court having jurisdiction over the underlying offense has waived   the past due fine or fee, including a reimbursement fee, due to the   defendant's indigency, the county may not impose an additional   reimbursement fee on the defendant under Subsection (i).          (m)  Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the   department:                (1)  may collect from the Department of Public Safety   information necessary to implement this section, including a   vehicle owner's driver's license number or date of birth; and                (2)  may not disclose any personal identifying   information collected under this section, including a vehicle   owner's driver's license number or date of birth.          (n)  A county assessor-collector may not refuse to register a   motor vehicle under this section if the assessor-collector receives   information that the owner of the vehicle has an income that is less   than 250 percent of the applicable income level established by the   federal poverty guidelines.          (o)  This section does not apply to the registration of a   motor vehicle under Section 501.0234, unless the vehicle is titled   and registered in the name of a person who holds a general   distinguishing number.          SECTION 3.  The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles shall   implement the system required by Section 502.0101(f),   Transportation Code, as added by this Act, not later than September   1, 2026.          SECTION 4.  Section 502.0101, Transportation Code, as added   by this Act, applies only to an application for motor vehicle   registration or registration renewal received by the Texas   Department of Motor Vehicles on or after the effective date of this   Act. An application for registration or registration renewal that   was received before the effective date of this Act is governed by   the law in effect on the date the application was received, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose.          SECTION 5.  (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this   section, this Act takes effect September 1, 2026.          (b)  Section 3 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2025.