78R5592 DWS-F

By:  Williams                                                     S.B. No. 746



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to special Texas constable license plates.                           
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.   Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 502.2952 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.2952.  TEXAS CONSTABLE LICENSE PLATES. (a)  The 
department shall 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)  License plates issued under this section shall bear the 
words "Texas Constable."
	(c)  The department shall issue license plates under this 
section to a person who:
		(1)  applies to the county tax collector in the county 
of the person's residence on a form prescribed by the department;
		(2)  pays the fee prescribed by Subsection (d); and                    
		(3)  submits with the application proof that the person 
is a constable or deputy constable of this state.
	(d)  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)  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)  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.  The owner shall return the special 
license plates to the department.
	(g)  If the owner of a vehicle for which plates are issued 
under this section disposes of the vehicle during a registration 
year, the person shall return the special plates to the department 
and at that time may apply for issuance of those plates to another 
vehicle.
	(h)  If license plates issued under this section are lost, 
stolen, or mutilated, the owner of the vehicle for which the plates 
were issued may obtain replacement plates from the department by 
paying a replacement fee of $5.
	SECTION 2.   This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.