| Vote Recommendation | Economic Freedom | Property Rights | Personal Responsibility | Limited Government | Individual Liberty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
Estimated Two-year Net Impact to General Revenue Related Funds for HB2508, Committee Report 1st House, Substituted: a negative impact of ($839,992) through the biennium ending August 31, 2019.
The bill would make no appropriation but could provide the legal basis for an appropriation of funds to implement the provisions of the bill.
HB 2508 amends Occupations Code relating to license and regulation procedures for tow truck companies and operators, vehicle storage facilities and employees, and parking facilities and owners. and state licenses for booting companies.
First, the bill would authorize the Texas Commission of Licensing and Regulation to adopt and implement rules regarding the licensing of a person to operate a vehicle storage facility. The bill would eliminate state licensing requirements for booting companies, which would include the elimination of the requirement that a vehicle storage facilities only employ individuals with specific vehicle storage facilities employee licenses.
Second, the bill would direct the commission to adjust fees for vehicles stored in governmental facilities and would require that a notification be sent notifying of any fee adjustments to facilities as necessary.
Third, vehicle storage facilities would be required to pay a $10 fee to have abandoned vehicles removed from the parking facility to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles. Currently that money is sent to the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation or a law enforcement agency. The parking facility operator would be required to send notice of the vehicle’s removal to the vehicle’s owner.
Fourth, the bill would add specific language regarding boot removals. A booting company would be required to remove a boot on a vehicle it installed: within an hour after being contacted about the request of the removal and waive fees if it removes the boot after the hour window.
Fifth, the bill would add requirements to be eligible for incident management towing operator’s licenses, private property towing operator’s licenses, and consent towing operator’s license.
The bill would increase the fee a local political subdivision can charge a towing operator from $15 to $50.
This bill removes state licensing requirements on booting operators, making it easier to earn a living, however, the bill also adds licensing requirements for vehicle storage facility.
For these reasons, we remain neutral on HB 2508 because the bill would both enhance and offend our principles of limited government and individual liberty.