SRC-LBB, LBB S.B. 746 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 746 78R5592 DWS-FBy: Williams/Armbrister Infrastructure Development and Security 3/5/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there are no special license plates for the personal vehicles of constables and deputy constables. These personal vehicles are unrecognizable as law enforcement vehicles since they lack the exempt license plates of other law vehicles. As proposed, S.B. 746 provides for the issuance of special license plates for the vehicles of constables and deputy constables. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.2952, as follows: Sec. 502.2952. TEXAS CONSTABLE LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design and provide for the issuance of special license plates for a passenger car or light truck that is owned by a person who is a constable or deputy constable of this state. (b) Requires license plates issued under this section to bear the words "Texas Constable." (c) Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person who completes certain requirements. (d) Provides that the fee for registration under this section and issuance of the special license plates is the fee otherwise prescribed by this chapter for the vehicle. (e) Provides that registration under this section is valid for one year and expires in the same manner as do regular motor vehicle registrations, except as provided by Subsection (f). (f) Provides that registration under this section expires when the owner of the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a constable or deputy constable. Requires the owner to return the special license plates to TxDOT. (g) Requires an owner of a vehicle for which plates are issued under this section and who disposes of the vehicle during a registration year, to return the special plates to TxDOT and authorizes the owner to apply for issuance of those plates to another vehicle. (h) Authorizes an owner of a vehicle whose license plates issued under this section are lost, stolen, or mutilated, to obtain replacement plates from TxDOT by paying a replacement fee of $5. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.