bill makes catalytic converter sellers hand over the VIN

The text as introduced · 634 words

89R799 JCG-F

By: Lopez of Cameron
H.B. No. 1120

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the purchase or acquisition by metal recycling entities

of catalytic converters removed from a motor vehicle; imposing an

administrative penalty.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 1956.0321(c), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(c) A metal recycling entity may not purchase a catalytic

converter unless the entity :

(1) determines that the catalytic converter is

consistent with the manufacturer's specifications for a catalytic

converter from the vehicle for which the seller provided

information under Subsection (a)(1) ; and

(2) enters the vehicle identification number provided

by the seller under Subsection (a)(1) into the National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration's VIN Decoder, or successor

database, and verifies that the vehicle year, make, and model

retrieved from the database with respect to that vehicle

identification number are the same as the vehicle year, make, and

model provided by the seller .

SECTION 2. Subchapter C-1, Chapter 1956, Occupations Code,

is amended by adding Section 1956.1235 to read as follows:

Sec. 1956.1235. SELLER'S DUTY TO PROVIDE CERTAIN

INFORMATION; PURCHASER'S DUTY TO VERIFY. (a) In a transaction to

which this subchapter applies, the seller shall provide to the

metal recycling entity the year, make, model, and vehicle

identification number for the vehicle from which the catalytic

converter was removed.

(b) The metal recycling entity may not purchase or otherwise

acquire the catalytic converter unless the entity enters the

vehicle identification number provided by the seller under

Subsection (a) into the National Highway Traffic Safety

Administration's VIN Decoder, or successor database, and verifies

that the vehicle year, make, and model retrieved from the database

with respect to that vehicle identification number are the same as

the vehicle year, make, and model provided by the seller.

SECTION 3. Section 1956.124(b), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(b) A record meets the requirements of Subsection (a) if it

contains:

(1) the year, make, model, and vehicle identification

number for the vehicle from which each purchased or otherwise

acquired catalytic converter was removed [ a description made in

accordance with the custom of the trade for the volume of catalytic

converters purchased or otherwise acquired ];

(2) the business name of the person from whom each

[ the ] catalytic converter was [ converters were ] purchased or

otherwise acquired; and

(3) the date of the transaction.

SECTION 4. Section 1956.128(a), Occupations Code, is

amended to read as follows:

(a) The commission may impose an administrative penalty

under Subchapter R, Chapter 411, Government Code, on a metal

recycling entity that:

(1) violates Section 1956.123 due to the entity's

failure to exercise due diligence in purchasing or acquiring a

catalytic converter removed from a motor vehicle; [ or ]

(2) violates Section 1956.1235; or

(3) violates Section 1956.124.

SECTION 5. Section 1956.124, Occupations Code, as amended

by this Act, applies only to an offense committed on or after the

effective date of this Act. An offense committed before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in

effect for that purpose. For purposes of this section, an offense

was committed before the effective date of this Act if any element

of the offense occurred before that date.

SECTION 6. Section 1956.128, Occupations Code, as amended

by this Act, applies only to conduct that occurs on or after the

effective date of this Act. Conduct that occurs before the

effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect on the

date the conduct occurred, and the former law is continued in effect

for that purpose.

SECTION 7. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025.