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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to disabled veteran license plates. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (h) to read as follows: |
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Sec. 504.202. VETERANS WITH DISABILITIES. (a) A person |
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entitled to specialty license plates under this section may |
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register, for the person's own use, one vehicle without payment of |
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any fee paid for or at the time of registration except the fee for |
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the license plates. Registration under this section is valid for |
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one year. |
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(b) A veteran of the United States armed forces is entitled |
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to register, for the person's own use, two motor vehicles under this |
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section if: |
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(1) the person has suffered, as a result of military |
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service: |
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(A) at least a 50 percent service-connected |
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disability; or |
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(B) a 40 percent service-connected disability |
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because of the amputation of a lower extremity; |
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(2) the person receives compensation from the United |
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States because of the disability; and |
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(3) the motor vehicle: |
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(A) is owned by the person; and |
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(B) has a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity |
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of two tons or less. |
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(c) An organization may register a motor vehicle under this |
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section if: |
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(1) the vehicle is used exclusively to transport |
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veterans of the United States armed forces who have suffered, as a |
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result of military service, a service-connected disability; and |
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(2) the veterans are not charged for the |
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transportation. |
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(d) A statement by the veterans county service officer of |
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the county in which a vehicle described by Subsection (c) is |
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registered or by the Department of Veterans Affairs that a vehicle |
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is used exclusively to transport veterans with disabilities without |
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charge is satisfactory proof of eligibility for an organization. |
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(e) License plates issued under this section must include: |
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(1) the letters "DV" as a prefix or suffix to any |
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numeral on the plate; and |
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(2) the words "Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed |
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Forces" at the bottom of each license plate. |
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(f) The fee for the first set of license plates is $3. There |
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is no fee for each additional set of license plates. If a license |
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plate is lost, stolen, or mutilated, on payment of a $1 fee the |
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department shall issue a set of replacement plates. |
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(g) A person who receives two sets of license plates under |
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this section may receive two disabled parking placards under |
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Section 681.004 without providing additional documentation. |
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(h) A person who qualifies for a disabled veteran license |
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plate under this section may choose a standard issue plate instead |
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of the disabled veteran license plate at the same cost. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2009. |