SRC-BWC S.B. 1445 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1445
By: Van de Putte
State Affairs
4/11/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas does not offer special license plates for county
officials.  However, many counties in Texas require county officials to use
their vehicle in an official capacity.  As proposed, S.B. 1445 allows for
the issuance of special license plates for county officials. 

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 Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section
502.2952, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2952.  COUNTY OFFICIALS.  Requires the Texas Department of
Transportation, (department) to design and provide for the issuance of
special license plates bearing the words "County Official" for passenger
cars and light trucks that are owned by persons who are county officials.
Requires the department to issue license plates under this section to a
person who performs certain requirements.  Provides that the fee for
registration under this section and issuance of the special license plates
is the fee otherwise prescribed by this chapter for the vehicle.  Provides
that registration under this section is valid for one year and expires in
the same manner as do regular motor vehicle registrations, except as
provided by this section. Provides that registration expires when the owner
of the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a
county official.  Requires the county official to return the special
license plates to the department.  Requires the owner of a vehicle for
which plates are issued to return the special plates to the department, and
authorizes the owner at the same time to apply for issuance of those plates
to another vehicle, if the person disposes of the vehicle during a
registration year.  Authorizes the owner of a vehicle for which the plates
were issued to obtain replacement plates from the department by paying a
replacement fee of $5, if the license plates are lost, stolen, or
mutilated.  Defines "county official." 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.