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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to specialty license plates and parking placards for |
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vehicles of certain disabled veterans. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 502.410(b), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a statement or |
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application filed or given under Section 502.060, 502.092, 502.093, |
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502.094, 502.095, 504.201, 504.202(b-1), 504.508, or 504.515. |
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SECTION 2. Section 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (k) and amending |
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Subsections (g) and (j) to read as follows: |
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(b-1) A person described by Subsection (b) who is eligible |
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to receive license plates under Section 504.201 may elect to |
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receive license plates under this section that include the symbol |
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described by Section 504.201(f). The initial application for |
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license plates under this subsection must be accompanied by: |
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(1) the written statement required by Section |
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504.201(d), unless the applicant is an organization described by |
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Subsection (b-2); and |
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(2) any other information required for an application |
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under this section. |
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(b-2) An organization that registers a motor vehicle under |
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Subsection (c) may elect to receive license plates under Subsection |
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(b-1) if the vehicle regularly transports veterans who are eligible |
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to receive license plates under Subsection (b-1). The department |
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shall adopt rules prescribing satisfactory proof of eligibility |
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under this subsection. |
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(g) A person who receives license plates under Subsection |
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(b-1) [this section] may receive a disabled parking placard under |
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Section 681.004 for each set of license plates [without providing |
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additional documentation]. |
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(j) A person entitled to license plates under this section |
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may instead use, for a vehicle that meets the requirements of |
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Section 504.501 or 504.502, disabled veteran license plates issued |
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by this state that [are]: |
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(1) are embossed with an alphanumeric pattern; |
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(2) are of a plate design that was issued in the same |
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year as the model year of the vehicle; [and] |
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(3) are approved for use by the department; and |
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(4) include the symbol described by Section |
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504.201(f), if the person satisfies the requirements for the |
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issuance of license plates under Subsection (b-1) and elects to |
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include the symbol on the plates. |
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(k) A reference in law to license plates issued under |
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Subsection (b-1) includes disabled veteran license plates |
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described by Subsection (j)(4). |
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SECTION 3. Section 681.004(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person with a permanent disability may receive: |
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(1) two disabled parking placards, if the person does |
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not receive a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; |
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(2) one disabled parking placard, if the person |
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receives a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; or |
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(3) two disabled parking placards, if the person |
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receives two sets of special license plates under Section |
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504.202(b-1) [504.202]. |
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SECTION 4. Section 681.008(a), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A vehicle may be parked for an unlimited period in a |
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parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons |
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with physical disabilities if [the vehicle]: |
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(1) the vehicle [is being operated by or for the |
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transportation of]: |
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(A) [the person who registered the vehicle under |
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Section 504.202(a) or a person described by Section 504.202(b) if |
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the vehicle is registered under that subsection; and |
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[(B)] displays special license plates issued |
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under Section 504.202(b-1) [504.202]; and |
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(B) is being operated by or for the |
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transportation of the person to whom the plates were issued; or |
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(2) the vehicle displays license plates issued by |
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another state of the United States that indicate on the face of the |
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license plates that the owner or operator of the vehicle is a |
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disabled veteran of the United States armed forces. |
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SECTION 5. Section 681.009(e), Transportation Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(e) Parking spaces or areas designated for the exclusive use |
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of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities may be used by |
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vehicles displaying a white on blue shield disabled parking |
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placard, license plates issued under Section 504.201 or |
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504.202(b-1) [504.202], or a white on red shield disabled parking |
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placard. |
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SECTION 6. Sections 681.011(a), (b), and (l), |
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Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A person commits an offense if: |
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(1) the person stands a vehicle on which are displayed |
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license plates issued under Section 504.201 or 504.202(b-1) |
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[504.202] or a disabled parking placard in a parking space or area |
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designated specifically for persons with disabilities by: |
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(A) a political subdivision; or |
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(B) a person who owns or controls private |
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property used for parking as to which a political subdivision has |
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provided for the application of this section under Subsection (f); |
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and |
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(2) the standing of the vehicle in that parking space |
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or area is not authorized by Section 681.006, 681.007, or 681.008. |
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(b) A person commits an offense if the person stands a |
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vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.201 or |
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504.202(b-1) [504.202] are not displayed and a disabled parking |
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placard is not displayed in a parking space or area designated |
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specifically for individuals with disabilities by: |
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(1) a political subdivision; or |
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(2) a person who owns or controls private property |
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used for parking as to which a political subdivision has provided |
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for the application of this section under Subsection (f). |
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(l) A person commits an offense if the person: |
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(1) stands a vehicle on which are displayed license |
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plates issued under Section 504.201 or 504.202(b-1) or a disabled |
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parking placard in a parking space or area for which this chapter |
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creates an exemption from payment of a fee or penalty imposed by a |
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governmental unit; |
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(2) does not have a disability; |
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(3) is not transporting a person with disability; and |
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(4) does not pay any applicable fee related to |
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standing in the space or area imposed by a governmental unit or |
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exceeds a limitation on the length of time for standing in the space |
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or area. |
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SECTION 7. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas |
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Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt rules for issuing |
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specialty license plates under Section 504.202(b-1), |
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Transportation Code, as added by this Act. |
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SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An |
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offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed |
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by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the |
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former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of |
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this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of |
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this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date. |
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SECTION 9. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this |
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section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2022. |
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(b) Section 7 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |