HBA-DMD, MPA H.B. 2760 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2760
By: Moreno, Joe
Transportation
10/19/1999
Enrolled

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Subchapter F (Specialized License Plates; Exemptions for Privately Owned
Vehicles), Chapter 502, Transportation Code, permits the Texas Department
of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specialized license plates, some of
which commemorate groups that have made special contributions to the state
and nation.  Prior to the 76th Legislature, persons who had served in the
merchant marine of the United States had never been honored by the state of
Texas in this way.  The merchant marine has played an active role in the
United States wars and military conflicts, and a vital part in American and
Texas history.  H.B. 2760 authorizes TxDOT to issue specially designed
license plates honoring the merchant marine and sets forth procedures for
doing so. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2585, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2585.  PERSONS RETIRED FROM SERVICE IN MERCHANT MARINE OF THE
UNITED STATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)
to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light
trucks owned by persons who are retired from the merchant marine of the
United States. 

(b) Provides that license plates issued under this section must include the
words "merchant marine." 

(c) Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person
who applies on a form prescribed by TxDOT; pays an annual fee of $10 in
addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.161 (Fee:  Passenger Car,
Municipal Bus, Private Bus), Transportation Code, and, if personalized
prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the fee prescribed by
Section 502.251 (Personalized Prestige License Plates), Transportation
Code; and submits proof of eligibility. 

(d) Requires TxDOT 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.  

(e) Provides that a person may be issued only one set of license plates
under this section. 

(f) Requires the owner who disposes of a vehicle registered under this
section during the registration year to return the special license plates
to TxDOT.  Authorizes the owner to then apply for issuance of those plates
to another vehicle. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.  Emergency clause.