By Kolkhorst                                          H.B. No. 1810
         77R6249 MTB-F                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the issuance of special license plates for members of
 1-3     the American Legion.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Section 502.2735 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 502.2735.  MEMBERS OF AMERICAN LEGION. (a)  The
 1-8     department shall issue specially designed license plates for
 1-9     passenger cars and light trucks owned by members of the American
1-10     Legion.
1-11           (b)  License plates issued under this section to members of
1-12     the American Legion must include the words "Still Serving America"
1-13     and the emblem of the American Legion.
1-14           (c)  The department shall design the license plate issued
1-15     under this section in consultation with the American Legion,
1-16     Department of Texas.
1-17           (d)  The department shall issue license plates under this
1-18     section to a person who:
1-19                 (1)  applies to the assessor-collector of the county in
1-20     which the person resides on a form provided by the department;
1-21                 (2)  pays an annual fee of $18, in addition to the fee
1-22     prescribed by Section 502.161 or Section 502.162 and, if
1-23     personalized prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the
1-24     fee prescribed by Section 502.251; and
 2-1                 (3)  submits proof that the person is eligible under
 2-2     this section.
 2-3           (e)  Of each fee collected under Subsection (d)(2), $8 shall
 2-4     be used by the department only to defray the cost of administering
 2-5     this section.  The department shall deposit the remainder of each
 2-6     fee collected to the credit of the American Legion, Department of
 2-7     Texas account in the state treasury. Money in the account may be
 2-8     used by the Texas Veterans Commission in making grants to the
 2-9     American Legion Endowment Fund for scholarships and youth programs
2-10     sponsored by the American Legion, Department of Texas.
2-11           (f)  If the owner of a vehicle for which license plates were
2-12     issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during a
2-13     registration year or ceases to be a member of the American Legion,
2-14     the owner shall return the special license plates to the
2-15     department.
2-16           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-17     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-18     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-19     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-20     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.