H.B. 798 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 798 By: Farabee Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, veterans who have suffered less than a 60% service-connected disability and who could benefit from a disabled veteran license plate are not included in the group available to receive a disabled veterans license plate. In order to receive a disabled veterans license plate, a veteran must have suffered a 60% service-connected disability during military service or have suffered a 40% service-connected disability because of the amputation of a lower extremity. HB 798 amends Chapter 502 of the Transportation Code by lowering from 60% to 50% the disability rating needed to receive a disabled veterans license plate. 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. Amends the Transportation Code to include those veterans who have sustained a 50% percent service-connected disability to the group of veterans able to receive the disabled veterans license plate. SECTION 2.This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.