1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to issuance of special license plates for a vehicle used

 1-3     to transport a person with a disability.

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

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 502.253, Transportation Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows:

 1-7           (h)  A person entitled to register a vehicle under this

 1-8     section is entitled to a set of special license plates under this

 1-9     section for each motorcycle, passenger car, or light truck owned by

1-10     the person that is equipped with special equipment that:

1-11                 (1)  is designed to allow a person who has lost the use

1-12     of one or both of the person's legs to operate the vehicle; and

1-13                 (2)  is not standard equipment on that type of vehicle

1-14     for use by a person who has use of both of the person's legs.

1-15           SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only

1-16     to a registration period beginning on or after the effective date

1-17     of this Act.  A registration period beginning before the effective

1-18     date of this Act is governed by the law in effect when the

1-19     registration period began, and the former law is continued in

1-20     effect for that purpose.

1-21           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

1-22           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

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

         _______________________________     _______________________________

             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 685 was passed by the House on May 7,

         1997, by a non-record vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Chief Clerk of the House

               I certify that H.B. No. 685 was passed by the Senate on May

         21, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.

                                             _______________________________

                                                 Secretary of the Senate

         APPROVED:  _____________________

                            Date

                    _____________________

                          Governor