BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 108
88R3577 DIO-F	By: Cortez (Men�ndez)
	Transportation
	5/18/2023
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Currently, there are no specialty license plates available to public educators in the state of Texas. H.B. 108 would allow classroom teachers to be issued specialty license plates only if they have taught public school students for at least 15 years. The license plates must include the word "Texas Teacher," as well as a logo designed by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) in consultation with the Texas Education Agency (TEA). The fee for issuance of the license plates is $10. A person issued specialty license plates under this section shall be issued one set of the license plates without payment of the registration fee.

H.B. 108 would also allow retired classroom teachers to be issued specialty license plates only if they taught public school students for at least 20 years, and the license plates must include the word "Retired Texas Teacher," as well as a logo designed by TxDMV in consultation with TEA. The fee for issuance of the license plates is $5. A person issued specialty license plates under this section shall be issued one set of the license plates without payment of the registration fee.

H.B. 108 amends Chapter 504 of the Transportation Code to include requirements for current and retired classroom teachers to be issued specialty license plates. The license plates must have the word "Texas Teacher" or "Retired Texas Teacher," as well as a logo designed by TxDMV in consultation with TEA. 

H.B. 108 amends current law relating to privileged parking and the issuance of specialty license plates for certain classroom teachers and retired classroom teachers and imposes a fee.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Sections 504.517 and 504.518, as follows:

Sec. 504.517.� CLASSROOM TEACHERS.� (a)� Defines "classroom teacher."

(b)� Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for classroom teachers with at least 15 years of service teaching public school students.� Requires that the license plates include the words "Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo.� Requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

(c)� Provides that the fee for issuance of the license plates is $10.

Sec. 504.518.� RETIRED CLASSROOM TEACHERS.� (a)� Defines "retired classroom teacher."

(b) Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for retired classroom teachers with at least 20 years of service teaching public school students.� Requires that the license plates include the words "Retired Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo.� Requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with TEA.

(c) Provides that the fee for issuance of the license plates is $5.

SECTION 2. Amends the heading to Section 681.008, Transportation Code, to read as follows:

Sec. 681.008.� PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN VETERANS, MILITARY AWARD RECIPIENTS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND RETIRED CLASSROOM TEACHERS.

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as follows:

(b)� Provides that a vehicle on which license plates described by Subsection (a)(2) or issued under certain sections, including Section 504.517 or 504.518, are displayed is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when being operated by or for the transportation of:

(1)� the person who registered the vehicle under certain sections, including Section 504.517 or 504.518; or

(2)-(3) makes no changes to these subdivisions.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2023.