1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to license plates for persons with disabilities and
1-3 disabled veterans.
1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-5 SECTION 1. Section 502.2531, Transportation Code, is amended
1-6 to read as follows:
1-7 Sec. 502.2531. ISSUANCE OF DISABLED PLATES TO CERTAIN
1-8 INSTITUTIONS. (a) The department shall provide for the issuance of
1-9 the specially designed license plates under Section 502.253 or
1-10 502.254 for a van or bus operated by an institution, facility, or
1-11 residential retirement community for the elderly or for veterans in
1-12 which a person described by Section 502.253(b) or 502.254(a), as
1-13 applicable, resides, including an institution licensed under
1-14 Chapter 242, Health and Safety Code, and a facility licensed under
1-15 Chapter 246 or 247 of that code.
1-16 (b) The application for registration must be made in the
1-17 manner provided by Section 502.253(d) or 502.254(d), as applicable,
1-18 and be accompanied by a written statement signed by the
1-19 administrator or manager of the institution, facility, or
1-20 retirement community certifying to the department that the
1-21 institution or facility regularly transports, as a part of the
1-22 services that the institution, facility, or retirement community
1-23 provides, one or more persons described by Section 502.253(b) or
1-24 Section 502.254(a), as applicable, who reside in the institution,
2-1 facility, or retirement community. The department shall determine
2-2 the eligibility of the institution, facility, or retirement
2-3 community on the evidence the applicant provides.
2-4 SECTION 2. Sections 502.253(a) and (h), Transportation Code,
2-5 are amended to read as follows:
2-6 (a) The department shall provide for the issuance of
2-7 specially designed license plates for motor vehicles with a
2-8 manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two tons or less
2-9 [motorcycles, passenger cars, and light trucks] regularly operated
2-10 for noncommercial use by or for the transportation of a person with
2-11 a permanent disability.
2-12 (h) A person entitled to register a vehicle under this
2-13 section is entitled to a set of special license plates under this
2-14 section for each motor vehicle with a carrying capacity of two tons
2-15 or less [motorcycle, passenger car, or light truck] owned by the
2-16 person that is equipped with special equipment that:
2-17 (1) is designed to allow a person who has lost the use
2-18 of one or both of the person's legs to operate the vehicle; and
2-19 (2) is not standard equipment on that type of vehicle
2-20 for use by a person who has use of both of the person's legs.
2-21 SECTION 3. Section 502.254(a), Transportation Code, is
2-22 amended to read as follows:
2-23 (a) The department shall issue special license plates for
2-24 motor vehicles with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two
2-25 tons or less [passenger cars and light trucks] that are owned by
2-26 veterans of the United States armed forces. A veteran is entitled
2-27 to register, for the person's own use, two motor vehicles
3-1 [passenger cars or light trucks] under this section if the person:
3-2 (1) has suffered, as a result of military service:
3-3 (A) at least a 60 percent service-connected
3-4 disability; or
3-5 (B) a 40 percent service-connected disability
3-6 because of the amputation of a lower extremity; and
3-7 (2) receives compensation from the United States
3-8 because of the disability.
3-9 SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 15 was passed by the House on May 8,
2001, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 15 was passed by the Senate on May
22, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________________
Date
__________________________
Governor