79R6885 JD-D

By:  Shapleigh                                                    S.B. No. 850



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to an exemption from the required payment of a motor 
vehicle registration renewal fee for certain military personnel.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 502.189 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.189.  RENEWAL FEE EXEMPTION: CERTAIN MEMBERS OF 
TEXAS NATIONAL GUARD, TEXAS STATE GUARD, OR MILITARY RESERVE ON 
ACTIVE MILITARY DUTY.  (a)  This section applies only to a member of 
the Texas National Guard, the Texas State Guard, or a military 
reserve unit in this state who:
		(1)  is or was the registered owner of a motor vehicle 
registered in this state on the date the member receives or received 
orders to report to active military duty in a combat theater of 
operations outside the United States in support of a worldwide 
contingency operation of the United States armed forces; and
		(2)  reports or reported to active duty as ordered.                    
	(b)  A person described by Subsection (a) who is in the 
combat theater of operations at the end of the registration year for 
the vehicle is entitled to renew the registration of one motor 
vehicle without payment of the applicable fees for renewal, 
including the renewal fee for a vehicle issued specialty or 
personalized license plates, and including any additional or 
optional fee authorized or imposed by this chapter, if the person or 
a personal representative presents evidence satisfactory to the 
department that the person and the motor vehicle meet the 
requirements of this section.  If the person is the registered owner 
of two or more vehicles, the person is entitled to renew the 
registration of only one of those vehicles without payment of the 
renewal fee.
	(c)  A person entitled to an exemption under this section who 
pays or paid the registration fee for the motor vehicle is not 
entitled to a refund of the fee but may require the department to 
apply the registration fee paid to the next or a subsequent 
registration year of the vehicle, as applicable.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.