By Horn                                          H.B. No. 353

      75R2076 JD-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the number of license plates to be issued for and

 1-3     displayed on a motor vehicle.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,

 1-6     is amended by adding Section 502.009 to read as follows:

 1-7           Sec. 502.009.  ISSUANCE AND DISPLAY OF LICENSE PLATE.  (a)

 1-8     Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the contrary, including

 1-9     Section 502.180, the department shall issue only one license plate

1-10     for attachment at the rear of the vehicle for which the plate is

1-11     issued.

1-12           (b)  Notwithstanding anything in this chapter to the

1-13     contrary, including Section 502.404(a), a person is entitled to

1-14     operate on a public highway a vehicle that displays only one

1-15     license plate if the plate is attached at the rear of the vehicle.

1-16           (c)  In any provision of this chapter that relates to the

1-17     issuance or display of "license plates," "plates," or a "set of

1-18     plates," the term means only one license plate.

1-19           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.  The

1-20     change in law made by this Act  relating to the display of license

1-21     plates on a motor vehicle that is operated on a public highway

1-22     applies only to the operation of a motor vehicle on a public

1-23     highway on or after September 1, 1997.  The display of license

1-24     plates on a motor vehicle before September 1, 1997, is covered by

 2-1     the law in effect when the vehicle was operated and the former law

 2-2     is continued in effect for that purpose.

 2-3           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

 2-4     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

 2-5     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-6     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-7     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.