SRC-JXG S.B. 21 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 21
By: Zaffirini
State Affairs
6/25/1999
Enrolled
    

DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not provide an institution, facility, or
retirement community that transports people with disabilities a special
license plate or parking placard. An institution, facility, or retirement
community is required to display a placard for each resident being
transported.  S.B. 21 will allow certain institutions, facilities, or
retirement communities that transport persons with disabilities to apply
for a specialty license plate or disabled parking placard. 

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 21 issues specialty license plates or disabled parking
placards to certain institutions, facilities, or retirement communities
that transport persons with disabilities.  

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
502.2531, as follows:  

Sec. 502.2531. ISSUANCE OF DISABLED PLATES TO CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.
Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide for the
issuance of specially designed license plates under Section 502.253 for a
van or bus operated by an institution, facility, or residential retirement
community for the elderly in which a person described by Section 502.253(b)
resides. Requires the application for registration to be made in the manner
provided by Section 502.253(d) and be accompanied by a written statement
signed by the administrator or manager of the institution, facility, or
retirement community certifying that the institution, facility, or
retirement community regularly transports persons described  by Section
502.253(b). Requires TXDOT to determine eligibility of the institution,
facility, or retirement community on the evidence provided. 

SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 681, Transportation Code, by adding Section
681.0032, as follows:  

Sec. 681.0032. ISSUANCE OF DISABLED PARKING PLACARDS TO CERTAIN
INSTITUTIONS. Requires TxDOT to provide for the issuance of disabled
parking placards described by Section 681.002 for a van or bus operated by
an institution, facility, or residential retirement community for the
elderly in which a person described by Section 502.253(b) resides. Requires
the application for a disabled parking placard to be made in the manner
provided by Section 681.003(b) and be accompanied by a written statement
signed by the administrator or manager of the institution, facility, or
retirement community to certify to TxDOT that the institution, facility, or
retirement community transports persons described by Section 502.253(b).
Requires TXDOT to determine eligibility of the institution, facility, or
retirement community on the evidence provided. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999. 

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.