C.S.H.B. 1622 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1622 By: Flores Defense Affairs and State-Federal Relations Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Under current law, the Texas Department of Transportation issues a number of special license plates to different groups of people. Disabled veterans of the United States armed forces are issued plates that bear the words "Disabled Vet," a colloquialism that has become dated, and perhaps inappropriate. The modern practice is to avoid the shortened form and use the term "Disabled Veteran." HB 1622 changes the phrase on the license plates to "Disabled Veteran" and adds "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each 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. HB 1622 amends the Transportation Code to provide that the special license plates for vehicles owned by disabled veterans of the United States armed forces must bear the words "DISABLED VETERAN" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each plate. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect on September 1, 2003. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute modifies the original version of the bill in that it is a Legislative Council Draft.