BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 792

By: Campbell

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, any person with a disabled veteran license plate may use designated parking for people with disabilities regardless of whether or not the person's mobility is impaired, and it has been suggested that this should be changed because there is often a lack of such parking spaces, particularly at locations such as Veterans Affairs facilities. S.B. 792 seeks to address these concerns by authorizing certain disabled veterans to elect to receive disabled veteran specialty license plates that include the international symbol of access and by restricting certain parking privileges for vehicles with disabled veteran license plates to only those vehicles with plates that include the symbol.

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 rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles in SECTION 2 of this bill.

ANALYSIS

S.B. 792 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a U.S. armed forces veteran who is eligible for disabled veteran license plates and for specialty license plates issued for persons with certain disabilities to elect to receive disabled veteran license plates that include the international symbol of access. The bill also authorizes an organization that registers a motor vehicle that qualifies for disabled veteran license plates to elect to receive disabled veteran license plates that include the international symbol of access if the vehicle regularly transports veterans who are eligible to receive license plates with that symbol and requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to adopt rules prescribing satisfactory proof of such eligibility.

S.B. 792 requires an initial application for disabled veteran license plates that include the international symbol of access to be accompanied by the required written statement from a licensed physician certifying that the person is legally blind or has an applicable mobility problem, unless the applicant is an organization, and any other required application information. The bill exempts such a statement or application from the offense of falsification or forgery of a statement or application filed or given as required by provisions relating to the registration of vehicles.

S.B. 792 makes the authorization for a person who receives disabled veteran license plates to receive a disabled parking placard for each set of license plates applicable only to persons who receive disabled veteran license plates that include the international symbol of access and removes the specification that no additional documentation is necessary. The bill also limits the authorization for a vehicle with disabled veteran license plates to be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities to vehicles displaying disabled veteran license plates with the international symbol of access that are being operated by or for the transportation of the person to whom the plates were issued.

S.B. 792 provides for an eligible person's authority to use disabled veteran license plates with the international symbol of access for classic motor vehicles and travel trailers, custom vehicles, street rods, and certain exhibition vehicles. 

S.B. 792 requires TxDMV, not later than December 1, 2021, to adopt rules for issuing disabled veteran license plates that include the international symbol of access. This requirement takes effect September 1, 2021.

EFFECTIVE DATE

Except as otherwise provided, January 1, 2022.