SRC-MWN C.S.S.B. 1516 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1516
By: Lucio
Business & Commerce
4/22/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)
DIGEST AND PURPOSE
Currently, state officials are required to replace vehicle license plates
annually during their term of office. C.S.S.B. 1516 requires the Texas
Department of Transportation to issue elected officials multi-year license
plates for their vehicles, with the plate expiration coinciding with the
end of their term of office.
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
502.2521, as follows:
Sec. 502.2521. COUNTY ADMINISTRATION OF RENEWALS. (a) Requires renewals of
registrations under this subchapter to be administered by the county
assessor-collector of the county in which the vehicle is registered or in
which the owner of the vehicle resides.
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to take
certain actions.
SECTION 2. Amends Sections 502.254, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (d) and (g), redesignating existing Subsection (i) as
Subsection (j), and adding a new Subsection (i), to read as follows:
(d) Provides that an application for renewal of a registration under this
section is not required to be accompanied by evidence that the applicant
continues to be eligible to register under this section.
(g) Provides that there is no fee for issuance or renewal of the first set
of license plates under this section. Provides that the fee for issuance or
renewal of each additional set of license plates under this section is the
applicable annual fee prescribed by Section 502.161. Deletes text regarding
a certain fee for the first set of license plates.
(i) Provides that a person who registers one or more vehicles under this
section is entitled to only one exemption from the fee under Section
502.161.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 502.2555, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsection (c) and adding Subsection (h), as follows:
(c) Deletes text regarding an annual fee of a certain amount.
(h) Provides that an application for renewal of a registration under this
section is not required to be accompanied by the proof required by
Subsection (c)(2) or (3). Provides that there is no fee for the renewal of
a registration under this section.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 502.257(d), Transportation Code, to provide that
an application for renewal of a registration under this section is not
required to be accompanied by the proof of eligibility required under
Subsection (c). Provides that there is no fee for the renewal of a
registration under this section. Deletes text regarding a fee for issuance
of license plates.
SECTION 5. Amends Section 502.259, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection (g), as follows:
(c) Requires the department to issue license plates under this section to a
person who meets certain criteria. Deletes text regarding payment of an
annual fee.
(e) Provides that there is no fee for issuance of the first set of license
plates under this section. Provides that the fee for issuance or renewal of
each additional set of license plates under this section is the applicable
annual fee prescribed by Section 502.161.
(g) Provides that an application for renewal of a registration under this
section is not required to be accompanied by the proof required by
Subsection (c)(3).
SECTION 6. Amends Section 502.260, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (c) and (e) and adding Subsection (g), to make conforming
changes.
SECTION 7. Amends Sections 502.296(e)-(g), Transportation Code, as follows:
(e) Requires the department, on payment of the prescribed fee, to issue to
a state official a set of license plates or a device that, when attached to
the vehicle as prescribed by the department, is the registration insignia
for the period for which it was issued, except as provided by Subsections
(g) and (h). Deletes text regarding registration period.
(f) Requires the department, on application and payment of the prescribed
fee for a renewal of the registration of a vehicle under this section, to
issue a registration insignia for the validation of the license plates to
be attached as provided by Section 502.180(d).
(g) Provides that registration under this section expires when the owner of
the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a state
official. Requires the state official to return the special license plates
to the department.
SECTION 8. Amends Sections 502.2951(e)-(i), Transportation Code, as follows:
(e) Requires the department, on payment of the prescribed fee, to issue to
a county judge a set of license plates or device that, when attached to the
vehicle as prescribed by the department, is the registration insignia for
the period for which it was issued, except as provided by Subsections (g)
and (h). Deletes text regarding registration.
(f) Requires the department, on application and payment of the prescribed
fee under this section, to issue a registration from insignia for the
validation of the license plates to be attached as provided by Section
502.180(d).
(g) Creates subsection from text of existing Subsection (f).
(h) Redesignated from Subsection (g).
(i) Redesignated from (h).
(j) Redesginated from Subsection (i).
SECTION 9. Amends Sections 502.296(e) and (f), Transportation Code, as
follows:
(e) Requires the department, on payment of the prescribed fee, to issue to
a member of congress a set of license plates or device that, when attached
to the vehicle as prescribed by the department, is the registration
insignia for the period for which it was issued, except as provided by
Subsections (g) and (h).
(f) Makes a conforming change.
(g) Provides that a registration under this section expires when the owner
of the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a
member of congress. Requires the member of congress to return the special
license plates to the department.
SECTION 10. Amends Sections 502.297, Transportation Code, as follows:
(e) Provides that a registration under this section issued to a federal
judge is for a certain period.
(f) Requires the department, on payment of the prescribed fee, to issue to
a state judge a set of license plates or a device that, when attached to
the vehicle as prescribed by the department, is the registration insignia
for the period for which it was issued, except as provided by Subsections
(h) and (i).
(g) Requires the department, on application of the prescribed fee, to issue
to a state judge a set of license plates or a device that, when attached to
the vehicle as prescribed by the department, is the registration insignia
for the period for which it was issued, except as provided by Subsections
(h) and (i).
(h) Provides that registration under this section expires when the owner of
the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a state
or federal judge. Requires the judge to return the special license plates
to the department.
Redesignates Subsections (f) and (g) as Subsections (i) and (j).
SECTION 11. Repealer: Sections 502.2555(d), 502.259(d), and 502.260(d)
(Relating to the department sending 50 cents of each fee collected to the
county treasury of the county in which the applicant resides),
Transportation Code.
SECTION 12. Effective date: September 1, 2001.
Makes application of this Act prospective.
SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES
SECTION 2. Amends As Filed 1516, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
making a nonsubstantive change in Subsection (d), adding new proposed text
in existing Subsection (g) and adding Subsections (i) and (j).
SECTION 3. Adds new text to existing Subsection (h).
SECTION 4. Makes a conforming change.
SECTION 5. Adds new proposed text in existing Subsection (c) and adds new
proposed Subsection (e). Makes a conforming change in existing Subsection
(g).
SECTION 6. Makes conforming changes.
SECTION 11. Adds repealer.
SECTION 12. Redesignated from SECTION 11.