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.