C.S.H.B. 528 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 528 By: Smith, Todd Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, Vietnam Veterans that own automobiles can purchase specially designed license plates, however, the plates are not available for motorcycles. House Bill 528 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to issue specially designed license plates for motorcycles owned by Vietnam Veterans. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the committee that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation to issue specially designed license plates for motorcycles owned by persons who served in the United States armed forces during the period beginning February 28, 1961 and ending May 7, 1975, in which a veteran served in the Republic of Vietnam or the period beginning August 5, 1964 and ending May 7, 1965, in all other cases. This bill requires the Texas Department of Transportation to issue the license plate to a person who pays the prescribed fee. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF SUBSTITUTE TO THE ORIGINAL The Committee Substitute modifies the original version of the bill in SECTION 1 by adding that TXDOT shall design the license plates and to require that a person pay a prescribed fee for issuance. The Substitute also states that if the license plates are lost, stolen or mutilated, the owner may obtain replacement plates by paying a fee.