SRC-BWC S.B. 1353 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1353
77R7520 DWS-DBy: Armbrister
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
3/27/2001
As Filed


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.  As proposed, 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.