BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 912

By: Cortez

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Borinqueneers was a segregated unit of the U.S. Army that served during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War despite the prejudices its members faced. Several years ago, the Borinqueneers were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal by President Obama. Currently, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) does not issue a specialty license plate for recipients of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal. H.B. 912 seeks to address this issue by requiring TxDMV to issue these plates for these recipients in order to honor the Borinqueneers' dedication and service to their country.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 912 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal that include the following:

· the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal emblem;

· the words "Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal" at the bottom of each plate; and

· on license plates that are not personalized, the letter "B" as a prefix or suffix to the numerals on each plate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.