SRC-LBB S.B. 1495 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1495
78R5886 JTS-DBy: Madla
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/26/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) has a specialty
plate for the "Army."  As proposed, S.B. 1495 authorizes TxDOT to create
special license plates for active, retired, and honorably discharged
members of the U.S. Army Airborne Division. 

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
502.2581, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2581.  AIRBORNE PARACHUTIST LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  Requires the
Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT)  to issue specially designed
license plates for passenger cars and light trucks owned by active,
retired, or honorably discharged members of the United States armed forces
who have satisfactorily completed the prescribed proficiency tests while
assigned or attached to an airborne unit or the Airborne Department of the
United States Army Infantry School or participated in at least one combat
parachute jump. 

(b)  Requires license plates issued under this section to include a
likeness of the parachutist badge authorized by the Department of the
Army. 

(c)  Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person
who applies to TxDOT on a form prescribed by TxDOT, pays the annual fee
prescribed by Subsection (e), in addition to the fee prescribed by Section
502.161, and, if personalized prestige license plates are issued, in
addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.251 and  submits proof that
the person is eligible under this section. 

(d)  Requires TxDOT to send 50 cents of each fee collected under this
section to the county treasurer of the county in which the applicant
resides.  Requires the county treasurer to credit money received under
this section to the general fund of the county to pay the costs of
administering this section. 

(e)  Provides the amount of the annual fee for issuance of license plates
under this section. 
 
(f)  Requires the owner to return the special license plates to TxDOT, if
the owner of a vehicle registered under this section disposes of the
vehicle during the registration year.  Authorizes the owner to then apply
for issuance of those plates to another vehicle. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.