BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 559

By: Sheffield

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law provides for specialty license plates to be issued for Purple Heart recipients and Distinguished Flying Cross medal recipients. Bronze Star Medal recipients are considered to have demonstrated extraordinary service in the performance of exceptionally meritorious conduct and achievement. Such service may warrant recognition in the form of a specialty license plate similar to those provided to Purple Heart recipients and Distinguished Flying Cross medal recipients. However, Bronze Star Medal recipients are not included in provisions regarding military specialty license plates for extraordinary service.

C.S.H.B. 559 recognizes the exemplary service of Bronze Star Medal recipients by providing for the issuance of specialty license plates and other benefits.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 559 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Bronze Star Medal and requires the license plates to include the Bronze Star Medal emblem and, at the bottom of each plate, the words "Bronze Star Medal." The bill excludes the license plates from provisions relating to requirements for requesting the manufacture of specialty license plates authorized after January 1, 1999. The bill includes vehicles issued the license plates in a program providing free or discounted use for certain electronic toll collection customers.

C.S.H.B. 559 reenacts and amends Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 115 (H.B. 2020) and 319 (H.B. 618), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, to include vehicles displaying Bronze Star Medal specialty license plates in provisions relating to privileged parking for certain veterans and military award recipients.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 559 omits a provision in the original including Bronze Star Medal specialty license plates in provisions relating to fees for military specialty license plates.