SRC-HRD S.B. 745 75(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 745 By: Carona Finance 3-12-97 As Filed DIGEST Currently, Texas law does not provide for the issuance of special license plates to a mother, or a spouse of a mother, of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces. The State of New York recently enacted such a law. This bill would provide for the issuance of specially designed license plates to spouses and mothers of persons who died while serving in the armed forces. The plates would include the words "Gold Star Mother." PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 745 requires the Department of Transportation to issue specially designed license plates to a mother, or spouse of a mother, of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces, provided that the mother or spouse applies to the department, pays an annual fee, and establishes eligibility. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.292, as follows: Sec. 502.292. GOLD STAR MOTHERS. Requires the Department of Transportation (department) to issue specially designed license plates for a passenger car or light truck owned by a mother, or a spouse of a mother, of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces. Requires license plates issued under this section to include the words "Gold Star Mother" and a gold star. Requires the department to issue license plates under this section to a person who is eligible, applies, and pays a certain fee. Requires the department to send 50 cents of each fee collected under this section to the county treasurer of the county in which the applicant resides. Requires the county treasurer to credit money received under this section to the general fund of the county to pay the costs of administering this section. Authorizes a person to be issued only one set of license plates under this section. Requires the owner, if the owner disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return the special license plates to the department. Authorizes the owner to then apply for issuance of those plates to another vehicle. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.