78R7669 T
By: Madden H.B. No. 1600
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of special license plates for members of
the American Legion.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 502.2735 to read as follows:
Sec. 502.2735. MEMBERS OF AMERICAN LEGION. (a) The
department shall issue specially designed license plates for
passenger cars and light trucks owned by members of the American
Legion.
(b) License plates issued under this section to members of
the American Legion must include the words "Still Serving America"
and the emblem of the American Legion.
(c) The department shall design the license plate issued
under this section in consultation with the American Legion,
Department of Texas.
(d) The department shall issue license plates under this
section to a person who:
(1) applies to the assessor-collector of the county in
which the person resides on a form provided by the department;
(2) pays an annual fee of $18, in addition to the fee
prescribed by Section 502.161 or Section 502.162 and, if
personalized prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the
fee prescribed by Section 502.251; and
(3) submits proof that the person is eligible under
this section.
(e) Of each fee collected under Subsection (d)(2), $8 shall
be used by the department only to defray the cost of administering
this section. The department shall deposit the remainder of each
fee collected to the credit of the American Legion, Department of
Texas account in the state treasury. Money in the account may be
used by the Texas Veterans Commission in making grants to the
American Legion Endowment Fund for scholarships and youth programs
sponsored by the American Legion, Department of Texas.
(f) If the owner of a vehicle for which license plates were
issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during a
registration year or ceases to be a member of the American Legion,
the owner shall return the special license plates to the
department.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.