By: Chisum, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Williams) H.B. No. 2105

(In the Senate - Received from the House April 16, 2007; April 17, 2007, read first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and Military Installations; April 26, 2007, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 26, 2007, sent to printer.)

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the issuance of disabled parking placards to and the registration of vehicles by certain veterans with disabilities.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Section 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsections (b) and (d) and adding Subsection (g) to read as follows:

(b) [The department shall issue a specialty license plate for a motor vehicle that has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two tons or less and that is owned by a veteran of the United States armed forces.] A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled to register, for the person's own use, two motor vehicles under this section if [the person]:

(1) the person has suffered, as a result of military service:

(A) at least a 50 percent service-connected disability; or

(B) a 40 percent service-connected disability because of the amputation of a lower extremity; [and]

(2) the person receives compensation from the United States because of the disability; and

(3) the motor vehicle:

(A) is owned by the person; and

(B) has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two tons or less.

(d) A statement by the veterans county service officer of the county in which a vehicle described by Subsection (c) [(b)] is registered or by the Department of Veterans Affairs that a vehicle is used exclusively to transport veterans with disabilities without charge is satisfactory proof of eligibility for an organization.

(g) A person who receives two sets of license plates under this section may receive two disabled parking placards under Section 681.004 without providing additional documentation.

SECTION 2. Section 681.004(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:

(a) A person with a permanent disability may receive:

(1) two disabled parking placards, if the person does not receive a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; [or]

(2) one disabled parking placard, if the person receives a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; or

(3) two disabled parking placards, if the person receives two sets of special license plates under Section 504.202.

SECTION 3. 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, 2007.

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