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).