H.B. 510 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 510
By: Woolley
Transportation
         Committee  Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Current law establishes who is included in the definition of federal judge
for the purposes of issuing specially designed U.S. Judge license plates.
This definition was added to the Transportation Code in 1997 by SB 1630,
prior to this, Federal Administrative Law Judges had been included in this
definition.  Administrative Law Judges were routinely issued plates for at
least four years before the 1997 change.  In order for federal
administrative law judges to obtain a specially designed U.S. Judge
license plate, they must first be included in the definition of federal
judge. A U.S. Judge license plate issued by the state would contribute to
the safety of federal administrative law judges and their families by
allowing police and the FBI to readily identify federal administrative law
judges in the event of an emergency. House Bill 510 provides that federal
administrative law judges are eligible to receive U.S. Judge license
plates by expanding the definition of federal judge to include federal
administrative law judges.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

Section 1 House Bill 510 amends the Transportation Code to provide that
federal administrative law judges are eligible to receive U.S. Judge
license plates by expanding the definition of federal judge to include
federal administrative law judges.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.