86R27763 BEE-F
 
  By: Thompson of Brazoria H.B. No. 2112
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to salvage motor vehicles, including flood vehicles, and
  nonrepairable motor vehicles.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 501.091, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subdivision (4-a) and amending Subdivision (15) to read
  as follows:
               (4-a)  "Flood vehicle":
                     (A)  means a motor vehicle that was submerged in a
  level of water higher than a doorsill of the vehicle or had water
  enter the passenger, trunk, or engine compartment and:
                           (i)  water came into contact with electrical
  components of the vehicle;
                           (ii)  because of the water, the vehicle
  requires repair to, or replacement of, any mechanical component to
  operate; or
                           (iii)  an insurance company paid a claim as a
  result of damage from the water; and
                     (B)  does not include a motor vehicle designed for
  and capable of water submersion for recreational or other purposes
  unless the submersion results in damage to:
                           (i)  electrical safety components; or
                           (ii)  a major component part.
               (15)  "Salvage motor vehicle"  means a motor vehicle
  that:
                     (A)  has damage to or is missing a major component
  part to the extent that the cost of repairs, including parts and
  labor other than the cost of materials and labor for repainting the
  motor vehicle and excluding sales tax on the total cost of repairs,
  exceeds the actual cash value of the motor vehicle immediately
  before the damage; [or]
                     (B)  comes into this state under an out-of-state
  salvage motor vehicle title or similar out-of-state ownership
  document; or
                     (C)  is a flood vehicle.
         SECTION 2.  Sections 501.097(c) and (c-1), Transportation
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (c)  A [printed] nonrepairable vehicle title must state on
  its face that the motor vehicle:
               (1)  may not:
                     (A)  be repaired, rebuilt, or reconstructed;
                     (B)  be issued a title or registered in this
  state;
                     (C)  be operated on a public highway, in addition
  to any other requirement of law; and
               (2)  may only be used as a source for used parts or
  scrap metal.
         (c-1)  The department's titling system must include a remark
  that clearly identifies the vehicle as a salvage motor vehicle or
  nonrepairable motor vehicle.
         SECTION 3.  Section 501.1002, Transportation Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.1002.  OWNER-RETAINED VEHICLES. (a)  If an
  insurance company pays a claim on a nonrepairable motor vehicle or
  salvage motor vehicle and the insurance company does not acquire
  ownership of the motor vehicle, the insurance company shall:
               (1)  submit to the department, before the 31st day
  after the date of the payment of the claim, on the form prescribed
  by the department, a report stating that the insurance company:
                     (A)  has paid a claim on the motor vehicle; [and]
                     (B)  has not acquired ownership of the motor
  vehicle; and
                     (C)  has determined that the motor vehicle is a
  salvage motor vehicle or a nonrepairable motor vehicle; and
               (2)  provide notice to the owner of the motor vehicle
  of:
                     (A)  the report required under Subdivision (1);
  [and]
                     (B)  the requirements for operation or transfer of
  ownership of the motor vehicle under Subsection (b); and
                     (C)  the insurance company's determination that
  the motor vehicle is a salvage motor vehicle or a nonrepairable
  motor vehicle.
         (b)  The owner of a salvage motor vehicle or nonrepairable
  motor vehicle may not transfer ownership of the motor vehicle by
  sale or otherwise unless the department has issued a salvage
  vehicle title, salvage record of title, nonrepairable vehicle
  title, or nonrepairable record of title for the motor vehicle or a
  comparable ownership document has been issued by another state or
  jurisdiction for the motor vehicle in the name of the owner.
         (c)  Notwithstanding any other provision of this subchapter,
  on receipt of a report required under Subsection (a) for a vehicle
  described by that subsection, the department shall issue for the
  vehicle in the name of the owner, as applicable:
               (1)  a salvage vehicle title or a salvage record of
  title for a salvage motor vehicle; or
               (2)  a nonrepairable vehicle title or a nonrepairable
  record of title for a nonrepairable motor vehicle.
         (d)  The department shall collect the fee authorized under
  this subchapter for the issuance of a title or record of title under
  Subsection (c).  The department shall waive the fee if the report
  required under Subsection (a)(1) is submitted through the
  department's titling system. 
         SECTION 4.  Subchapter E, Chapter 501, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 501.1004 to read as follows:
         Sec. 501.1004.  FLOOD VEHICLES. (a) A salvage vehicle
  title, salvage record of title, nonrepairable vehicle title, or
  nonrepairable record of title issued by the department for a flood
  vehicle or any title or record of title subsequently issued by the
  department for a flood vehicle must bear a notation that the
  department considers appropriate for a flood vehicle.
         (b)  An entity that takes possession of a flood vehicle
  issued ownership documents without the notation required under
  Subsection (a) shall:
               (1)  submit, on a form prescribed by the department, a
  report to the department before the 31st day after the date the
  entity takes possession of the flood vehicle, unless the entity:
                     (A)  is an insurance company or salvage pool
  operator as defined by Section 2302.001, Occupations Code; and
                     (B)  obtains an ownership document for the vehicle
  that bears the notation required by Subsection (a) before the
  entity transfers the vehicle; and 
               (2)  if the entity is a lienholder in possession of the
  vehicle under Chapter 54, 59, or 70, Property Code, or Chapter 2303,
  Occupations Code, apply to the department for the appropriate title
  in accordance with Section 501.097 before offering the vehicle for
  public sale.
         SECTION 5.  The following provisions are repealed:
               (1)  Section 2302.254(c), Occupations Code; and
               (2)  Section 501.09112, Transportation Code.
         SECTION 6.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.