SRC-BWC S.B. 1353 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1353 By: Armbrister Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 5/30/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Legion of Valor members are allowed only one special-issue license plate while Purple Heart recipients are limited only by the number of registered vehicles. S.B. 1353 allows Legion of Valor members (recipients of the Medal of Honor and Service Crosses) to obtain special license plates under the same criteria as Purple Heart recipients. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Sections 502.2555(c) and (e) - (g), Transportation Code, to require the Department of Transportation (department) to issue license plates under this section to a person who pays an annual fee of $3 for the first set of license plates, and $15 for each additional set of license plates. Provides that a person who registers one or more vehicles under this section is entitled to only one exemption, rather than a vehicle for which license plates are issued under this section is exempt, from the fee under Section 502.161. Deletes text that provides that a person may be issued only one set of license plates under this section. SECTION 2. Amends Section 502.257, Transportation Code, to provide that a person is entitled to register under this section, for the person's own use, passenger cars and light trucks, rather than one passenger car or light truck without payment of a registration fee, if the person meets certain requirements. Requires the owner of a vehicle to return special license plates to the department, if the owner disposes of the vehicle during the registration year. Authorizes the owner to then apply for issuance of those plates to another vehicle, rather than register another vehicle without charge. Provides that a person who registers one or more vehicles is entitled to only one exemption from the fee under Section 502.161. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 2001.