By Merritt H.B. No. 1070
76R2767 DWS-D
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to parking privileges of a disabled veteran.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. Section 681.008, Transportation Code, is amended
1-5 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 681.008. PARKING PRIVILEGES: VETERANS WITH
1-7 DISABILITIES; CONGRESSIONAL MEDAL OF HONOR RECIPIENTS. (a) A
1-8 vehicle may be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or
1-9 area that is designated specifically for persons with physical
1-10 disabilities if:
1-11 (1) the vehicle is being operated by or for the
1-12 transportation of:
1-13 (A) the person who registered the vehicle under
1-14 Section 502.254(a); or
1-15 (B) a person described by Section 502.254(b) if
1-16 the vehicle is registered under that subsection; and
1-17 (2) there are displayed on the vehicle special license
1-18 plates issued under Section 502.254.
1-19 (b) A vehicle on which license plates issued under Section
1-20 502.254 or 502.255 are displayed is exempt from the payment of a
1-21 parking fee, including a fee collected through a parking meter,
1-22 charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the
1-23 federal government, when being operated by or for the
1-24 transportation of:
2-1 (1) the person who registered the vehicle under
2-2 Section 502.254(a) or 502.255; or
2-3 (2) a person described in Section 502.254(b) if the
2-4 vehicle is registered under that subsection.
2-5 (c) This section does not permit a vehicle to be parked at a
2-6 time when or a place where parking is prohibited.
2-7 SECTION 2. Sections 681.011(a) and (b), Transportation Code,
2-8 are amended to read as follows:
2-9 (a) A person commits an offense if:
2-10 (1) the person parks a vehicle on which are displayed
2-11 license plates issued under Section 502.253 or 502.254 or a
2-12 disabled parking placard in a parking space or area designated
2-13 specifically for persons with disabilities by:
2-14 (A) a political subdivision; or
2-15 (B) a person who owns or controls private
2-16 property used for parking as to which a political subdivision has
2-17 provided for the application of this section under Subsection (f);
2-18 and
2-19 (2) the parking of the vehicle in that parking space
2-20 or area is not authorized by Section 681.006, 681.007, or 681.008
2-21 [person does not have a disability; and]
2-22 [(3) the person is not transporting a person with a
2-23 disability].
2-24 (b) A person commits an offense if the person parks a
2-25 vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 502.253 or
2-26 502.254 are not displayed and a disabled parking placard is not
2-27 displayed in a parking space or area designated specifically for
3-1 individuals with disabilities by:
3-2 (1) a political subdivision; or
3-3 (2) a person who owns or controls private property
3-4 used for parking as to which a political subdivision has provided
3-5 for the application of this section under Subsection (f).
3-6 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
3-7 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the
3-8 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
3-9 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
3-10 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
3-11 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.