BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 123
By: Leedom (Willis)
05-03-95
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND

The Legion of Valor of the United States is an organization founded
in April of 1890.  Individuals who receive one of the nation's two
highest medals, the Medal of Honor or any of the three individual
service crosses, automatically receive membership to the legion. 
The legion has 37 members.  Current law provides for the issuance
of special license plates for motor vehicles owned by different
groups of current or former members of the military, but no special
license plates exist for legion members.

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 123 provides a special license plate for veterans
who were decorated with certain medals.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Sections 5k(a), (b), (d), (f), (g), and (l),
Article 6675a-5k, V.T.C.S., as follows:

     (a)(10)  Requires the Department of Highways and Public
     Transportation to design and provide special license plates
     depicting the state capitol for vehicles owned by persons who
     are, among others, recipients of the Air Force Cross or
     distinguished-service cross, the Army distinguished-service
     cross, the Navy cross, or the medal of honor.
     
     (b)  Requires license plates issued under this section to
     recipients of certain medals to bear the words "Legion of
     Valor."
     
     (d)  Requires a person to submit proof that the person has
     received a medal and has been honorably discharged from the
     United States armed forces in order to receive the "Legion of
     Valor" license plates.
     
     (f)-(l)  Make conforming changes.
     
     SECTION 2.     Emergency clause.
           Effective date: upon passage.    

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION

Pursuant to a public notice posted on April 28, 1995, at 4:58 p.m.,
the House Committee on Transportation met in a public hearing on
Wednesday, May 3, 1995, at 2:00 p.m., or upon adjournment, in Room
E1.014 of the Capitol Extension and was called to order at 5:53
p.m. by the Chair, Representative Clyde Alexander.  The five day
posting rule was suspended from the House floor to take up and
consider S.C.R 78, in addition to the regular order of business. 
The Chair laid out S.B. 123 and recognized Representative Alexander
to explain S.B. 123.  There were no witnesses testifying in support
of, or in opposition to S.B. 123.  The Chair recognized the
following person who testified, but was neutral on S.B. 123:  Jim
Bisson, Texas Department of Transportation.  Representative
Alexander moved that the Committee report S.B. 123, without
amendments, to the full House with the recommendation that it do
pass.  The motion prevailed by the following vote: Ayes (5), Nayes
(0), Absent (4), Present not voting (0).