SRC-HRD C.S.S.B. 745 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 745
By: Carona
Finance
3-21-97
Committee Report (Substituted)


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, C.S.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.  Requires the remainder of each
fee collected under this section to be deposited to the credit of the
state highway fund.  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.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1. 

Amends proposed Section 502.292, Transportation Code, to require the
remainder of each fee collected under this section to be deposited to the
credit of the state highway fund.