TWT H.B. 685 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 685 By: Turner, Bob 4-25-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND A person who is disabled as defined by Sec. 502.253, Transportation Code, is entitled to receive two (2) disabled person identification placards, or one (1) set of Disabled Person License Plates and one (1) placard. This arrangement allows the disabled person to attach the placard to the rear view mirror of any vehicle in which he or she is a passenger. Some disabled individuals have specially equipped vehicles so they can drive themselves wherever they want to go. Some own more than one such vehicle. Under current law, however, only one vehicle may bear the special license plates. PURPOSE The purpose of this legislation is to allow a person who owns a specially equipped vehicle to apply for and receive special license plates for each such vehicle. 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 Section 502.253, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (h) which entitles a person to receive a set of special license plates for each vehicle the person owns which has been specially equipped to accommodate a driver who has lost the use of one or both legs. SECTION 2. The change in the law applies only to a registration period beginning on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.