By: Bonnen of Brazoria (Senate Sponsor - Huffman)	H.B. No. 1466
	(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015;
	May 6, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
	Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs; May 12, 2015, reported
	favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent
	to printer.)

	A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
	AN ACT
	relating to Parks and Wildlife Department procedures for the
	transfer of ownership of boats or outboard motors; providing
	penalties; creating a criminal offense.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
	SECTION 1.  Section 31.025, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 31.025.  RENEWAL OF CERTIFICATES OF NUMBER. (a) An
	application for the renewal of each certificate of number shall be
	prepared by the department and mailed to the owner of the vessel, or
	sent electronically to the owner if the owner has agreed to receive
	department communications electronically, during the period of the
	last 90 days before the expiration date of the certificate. The same
	number shall be issued on renewal.
	(b)  The completed application for renewal may be returned to
	the department, to any county tax assessor-collector, or if
	permitted by the department, to an agent of the department.
	(c)  A completed application [Applications] not received
	during the 90-day period shall be treated in the same manner as an
	original application [applications].
	(d)  The department, an authorized agent, or a county tax
	assessor-collector may not issue a renewal certificate of number
	unless the tax due on the vessel under Chapter 160, Tax Code, is
	paid.
	SECTION 2.  Section 31.037, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended to read as follows:
	Sec. 31.037.  CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP INTEREST; NOTICE TO
	DEPARTMENT. (a) The recorded owner of a vessel numbered in this
	state shall notify the department not later than the 20th day after
	the date:
	(1)  [within a reasonable time] of the transfer by
	sale, donation, gift, or other means of all or any part of the
	owner's [his] interest in the vessel, other than the creation of a
	security interest in the vessel;
	(2)  [, or] of the destruction or disposal
	[abandonment] of the vessel; or
	(3)  of the permanent removal of the vessel from this
	state to another state or country.
	(a-1)  The notification under Subsection (a) must be on a
	form prescribed by the department that includes:
	(1)  the name and address of the new owner, as
	applicable; and
	(2)  the vessel's certificate of number [notice shall
	be accompanied by a surrender of the certificate of number].
	(b)  If the vessel is destroyed, disposed of, or permanently
	moved to another state or country [abandoned], the department shall
	cancel the certificate of number and enter the cancellation in its
	records.
	(c)  The new owner [purchaser] of a vessel shall, not later
	than the 20th day after the date ownership was transferred, submit
	an application to the department with:
	(1)  [present] evidence of [his] ownership;
	(2)  the new owner's [to the department within a
	reasonable time along with his] name and [,] address;
	(3)  [, and] the number of the vessel; and
	(4)  [shall at the same time pay to the department] a
	fee of $2 or an amount set by the commission, whichever amount is
	more.
	(d)  On receipt of the new owner's application and fee the
	department shall transfer the certificate of number issued for the
	vessel to the new owner. Unless the application is made and the fee
	is paid on [within a reasonable] time, the vessel is without a
	certificate of number, and it is unlawful for any person to operate
	the vessel until the certificate is issued.
	SECTION 3.  Section 31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code, is
	amended by adding Subsections (e), (f), (g), (h), and (i) to read as
	follows:
	(e)  The recorded owner of a vessel or outboard motor shall
	notify the department not later than the 20th day after the date:
	(1)  of the transfer by sale, donation, gift, or other
	means of all or any part of the owner's interest in the vessel or
	outboard motor; or
	(2)  of the permanent removal of the vessel or outboard
	motor from this state to another state or country.
	(f)  Notification of a transfer of interest or move to
	another state or country under Subsection (e) must be on a form
	prescribed by the department that includes the name and address of
	the new owner and, as applicable:
	(1)  the vessel's certificate of number; and
	(2)  the serial number of the outboard motor.
	(g)  If a vessel or outboard motor for which the department
	has issued a certificate of title is destroyed or disposed of in a
	manner not described by Subsection (e), the recorded owner shall
	notify the department not later than the 20th day after the date of
	the destruction or disposal and shall surrender to the department
	the certificate of title.
	(h)  On receipt of notice under Subsection (e) or (g), the
	department shall cancel the title and enter the cancellation in the
	department's records.
	(i)  A recorded owner who fails to file notification in
	accordance with Section 31.037 or this section:
	(1)  is subject to the penalties under Section 31.127;
	and
	(2)  is subject to the removal costs under Section
	40.108, Natural Resources Code, and penalties under Chapter 40,
	Natural Resources Code, as the person considered responsible for an
	abandoned vessel or outboard motor.
	SECTION 4.  The Parks and Wildlife Department may begin
	enforcement of the 20-day period for an owner to notify the
	department of a change in ownership under Sections 31.037 and
	31.045, Parks and Wildlife Code, as amended by this Act, only on or
	after January 1, 2016.
	SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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