BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 896

By: Estes

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) is required to issue a Gold Star specialty license plate to the mother, spouse, or immediate family member of a person who has died while serving in the United States armed forces, but does not include a specialty license plate for the father of such a person. 

S.B. 896 seeks to address this issue by adding a "Gold Star Father" specialty license plate to the Gold Star specialty plates issued by TxDMV.

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

S.B. 896 amends the Transportation Code to add the father of a person who died while serving in the United States armed forces to the person's immediate family members for whom the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles must issue a specialty license plate. The bill requires the license plate to include the words "Gold Star Father."

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.