BILL ANALYSIS


                                                         H.B. 496
                                        By: Hunter, B. (Whitmire)
                                   Int'l Relations, Trade & Tech.
                                                         05-17-95
                              Senate Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND

Currently Texas offers dignitaries from foreign countries special
license plates.  Dignitaries from the Republic of China on Taiwan,
specifically dignitaries from the Taipei Economic and Culture
Office, are issued Texas-exempt license plates when in Texas.  The
license plates, however, do not differ from those used by Texas
Department of Public Safety vehicles and have subsequently led to
confusion among law enforcement.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, H.B. 496 requires certain foreign government vehicles
to have special license plates, which identify them as foreign
dignitaries but distinguish them from vehicles containing persons
who are officially recognized as having diplomatic immunity or
official representation.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 5e.4, Article 6675a-5e.4, V.T.C.S., by
adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

     (a-1) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation
     (department) to provide for the issuance of special license
     plates for certain vehicles which are rated as carrying one
     ton or less and that are owned by a foreign government
     recognized by the United States before January 1, 1979,
     without official representation or diplomatic relations. 
     Requires the license plate to bear the words "foreign
     organization."
     
SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1995.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.