BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2928

By: Farias

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The military's third-highest decoration, the Silver Star Medal is awarded to anyone in the armed forces who displays extraordinary heroism in action against an enemy while engaged in military operations involving conflict with an opposing foreign force or while serving with friendly foreign forces engaged in armed conflict against an opposing armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party.  Despite their valor in service to their country, Silver Star Medal recipients are not currently eligible for privileged parking in state-maintained parking lots and at state-maintained parking meters.  C.S.H.B. 2928 would grant to Silver Star Medal recipients the same parking privileges that other military heroes enjoy under Texas law.

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. 2928 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 exempt a vehicle issued and displaying Silver Star Medal specialty license plates from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government when the vehicle is being operated by or for the transportation of the recipient of the Silver Star Medal specialty license plates.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 2928 differs from the original in nonsubstantive ways reflective of certain bill drafting conventions.