H.B. No. 3139
 
 
 
 
AN ACT
  relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll
  project entities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 371, Transportation Code, as added by
  Chapters 103 (H.B. 570) and 258 (S.B. 11), Acts of the 80th
  Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, is reenacted, redesignated as
  Chapter 372, Transportation Code, and amended to read as follows:
  CHAPTER 372 [371].  PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF
  TOLL PROJECT
  SUBCHAPTER A. GENERAL PROVISIONS
         Sec. 372.001 [371.001]. DEFINITIONS. In this chapter:
               (1)  "Toll project" means a toll project described by
  Section 201.001(b), regardless of whether the toll project:
                     (A)  is a part of the state highway system; or
                     (B)  is subject to the jurisdiction of the
  department.
               (2)  "Toll project entity" means an entity authorized
  by law to acquire, design, construct, finance, operate, and
  maintain a toll project, including:
                     (A)  the department under Chapter 227 or 228;
                     (B)  a regional tollway authority under Chapter
  366;
                     (C)  a regional mobility authority under Chapter
  370; or
                     (D)  a county under Chapter 284.
  SUBCHAPTER B. TOLL PROJECT OPERATION
         Sec. 372.051 [371.051].  USE OF MOTOR VEHICLE REGISTRATION
  OR LICENSE PLATE INFORMATION. (a) A toll project entity may not
  use motor vehicle registration or other information derived from a
  license plate on a vehicle using a toll project, including
  information obtained by the use of automated enforcement technology
  described by Section 228.058, for purposes other than those related
  to:
               (1)  toll collection and toll collection enforcement;
  and
               (2)  law enforcement purposes on request by a law
  enforcement agency[, subject to Section 228.058(d)].
         (b)  If a toll project entity enters into an agreement with
  an entity in another state that involves the exchange of motor
  vehicle registration or license plate information for toll
  collection or toll collection enforcement purposes, the agreement
  must provide that the information may not be used for purposes other
  than those described in Subsection (a).
         Sec. 372.052 [371.001].  VEHICLES USED BY NONPROFIT
  DISASTER RELIEF ORGANIZATIONS. [(a) In this section:
               [(1)     "Toll project" means a toll project described by
  Section 201.001(b), regardless of whether the toll project is:
                     [(A)  a part of the state highway system; or
                     [(B)     subject to the jurisdiction of the
  department.
               [(2)     "Toll project entity" means an entity authorized
  by law to acquire, design, construct, finance, operate, and
  maintain a toll project, including:
                     [(A)  the department under Chapter 227 or 228;
                     [(B)     a regional tollway authority under Chapter
  366;
                     [(C)     a regional mobility authority under Chapter
  370; or
                     [(D)  a county under Chapter 284.
         [(b)]  A toll project entity may not require a vehicle
  registered under Section 502.203 to pay a toll for the use of a toll
  project.
         Sec. 372.053.  VETERAN DISCOUNT PROGRAM.  (a)  A toll project
  entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll
  collection customers.  The program must include free or discounted
  use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection
  customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered:
               (1)  under Section 504.202;
               (2)  under Section 504.315(g); or
               (3)  by a person who has received the Medal of Honor.
         (b)  The legislature may appropriate funds from the general
  revenue fund to a toll project entity to defray the cost of
  providing free or discounted use of the entity's toll project under
  this section.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3139 was passed by the House on April
  28, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 149, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 3139 was passed by the Senate on May
  21, 2009, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate    
  APPROVED:  _____________________
                     Date          
   
            _____________________
                   Governor