1-1  By:  Hunter of Taylor, et al.                          H.B. No. 496
    1-2       (Senate Sponsor - Whitmire)
    1-3        (In the Senate - Received from the House May 15, 1995;
    1-4  May 16, 1995, read first time and referred to Committee on
    1-5  International Relations, Trade, and Technology; May 17, 1995,
    1-6  reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0;
    1-7  May 17, 1995, sent to printer.)
    1-8                         A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-9                                AN ACT
   1-10  relating to the issuance of special license plates for certain
   1-11  vehicles owned by certain foreign organizations.
   1-12        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
   1-13        SECTION 1.  Section 5e.4, Chapter 88, General Laws, Acts of
   1-14  the 41st Legislature, 2nd Called Session, 1929 (Article 6675a-5e.4,
   1-15  Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), is amended by adding Subsection
   1-16  (a-1) to read as follows:
   1-17        (a-1)  The department shall provide for the issuance of
   1-18  special license plates for passenger cars and light commercial
   1-19  motor vehicles having manufacturers' rated carrying capacities of
   1-20  one ton or less that are owned by an instrumentality established by
   1-21  a foreign government recognized by the United States before January
   1-22  1, 1979, that is without official representation or diplomatic
   1-23  relations with the United States.  The license plates shall bear
   1-24  the words "Foreign Organization."  A vehicle for which plates are
   1-25  issued under this subsection is exempt from the motor vehicle
   1-26  registration fee imposed by Section 5 of this Act and any
   1-27  additional county fee imposed under Sections 9a or 9b of this Act.
   1-28        SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1995.
   1-29        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
   1-30  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
   1-31  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
   1-32  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
   1-33  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
   1-34                               * * * * *