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.