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.