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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to certain offenses regarding parking privileges of |
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veterans with disabilities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsections (m), (n), and (o) to read as follows: |
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(m) Subsections (n) and (o) apply only to a person who |
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commits an offense under Subsection (b) when the vehicle: |
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(1) displays special license plates issued under |
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Section 504.202 other than special license plates issued under |
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Section 504.202(b-1); and |
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(2) does not display a disabled parking placard. |
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(n) Notwithstanding Subsections (g)-(k), an offense |
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described by Subsection (m) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of |
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not less than $25 or more than $200 or not more than 10 hours of |
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community service, except that: |
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(1) if the person has previously been convicted one |
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time of an offense described by Subsection (m) or received a |
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dismissal under Subsection (o), the offense is punishable by: |
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(A) a fine of not less than $200 or more than |
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$400; or |
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(B) not less than 10 hours or more than 20 hours |
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of community service; and |
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(2) if the person has previously been convicted two |
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times of an offense described by Subsection (m) or if the person has |
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previously received a dismissal under Subsection (o) and previously |
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been convicted one time of an offense described by Subsection (m), |
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the offense is punishable by: |
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(A) a fine of not less than $400 or more than |
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$750; or |
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(B) not less than 20 hours or more than 30 hours |
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of community service. |
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(o) The court shall dismiss a charge for an offense |
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described by Subsection (m) if the person: |
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(1) has not been previously convicted of an offense |
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described by that subsection; |
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(2) has not previously received a dismissal under this |
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subsection; and |
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(3) submits an application for a specialty license |
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plate that includes the symbol described by Section 504.201(f) |
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within six months after the date the person was charged with the |
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offense. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only |
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to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is |
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governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, |
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and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For |
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purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the |
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effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred |
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before that date. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |