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.