SRC-JBJ S.B. 1358 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1358
By: Barrientos
Criminal Justice
4/19/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas does not offer special license plates for emergency
medical services personnel.  The public could benefit if the personal
vehicle of emergency medical services personnel could be easily
identifiable by specially designated license plates in the event of an
emergency.  S.B. 1358 would require the Texas Department of Transportation
to issue a special license plate to emergency medical services personnel
who apply and are certified or licensed by the Texas Department of Health. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1358  requires the issuance of special license plates for
emergency medical services personnel. 

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
502.298, as follows: 

Sec. 502.298.  EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES PERSONNEL.  Requires the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed license
plates for passenger cars and light trucks owned by emergency medical
services personnel certified or licensed by the Texas Department of Health
(TDH).  Requires the plates to include "Emergency Medical Services" and to
display a blue reflective Star of Life.  Authorizes a person to apply to
TxDOT for registration through the county assessor-collector of county in
which the person lives.  Requires TxDOT to prescribe the form of the
application and to require the applicant to submit proof of eligibility.
Provides that the application fee is the fee prescribed for the vehicle by
this chapter plus an additional fee of $4.   Requires the county
assessor-collector to send the additional fee to TxDOT to defray the cost
of providing the special license plates.  Provides that the registration is
valid for one year.  Authorizes a person to register for only one vehicle.
Requires the registered owner to return the plate if the owner disposes of
the vehicle during the registration year, prior to registering another
vehicle.  Requires the owner to return the plate if TDH takes action that
removes the certification or license of the owner. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3.Emergency clause.