BILL ANALYSIS
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AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of various military awards and medals. The Defense Superior Service Medal is a prestigious honor awarded to certain members of the United States military under circumstances relating to the member having performed superior meritorious service in a position of significant responsibility. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, however, does not recognize the Defense Superior Service Medal as a specialty license plate.
H.B. 120 recognizes the exemplary service of Defense Superior Service Medal recipients by providing for the issuance of certain benefits and specialty license plates relating to the medal for those recipients.
H.B. 120 amends current law relating to the issuance of military specialty license plates, and provides an exemption from a fee.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, to authorize license plates issued under this section to a person also entitled to license plates issued under Section 504.308 (Distinguished Flying Cross Medal Recipients), 504.315, 504.316 (Legion of Merit Medal Recipients), or 504.319, other than license plates issued under Subsection (h) (relating to authorizing a person entitled to license plates under this section to elect to receive certain license plates), to, at the request of the person, include one emblem from the other license plates to which the person is entitled.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.301, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (c) to provide that Section 504.702 (Specialty License Plates Authorized After January 1, 1999) does not apply to a specialty license plate issued under this subchapter.
SECTION 3. Amends Section 504.3015(a), Transportation Code, to require a person applying for a set of license plates under this subchapter to pay the registration fee required under Chapter 502 (Registration of Vehicles) and the applicable special plate fee required under this section, except that one set of license plates is required to be issued under Section 504.308, 504.315, or 504.319 without the payment of the registration fee.
SECTION 4. Amends Section 504.315(a), Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 709 (H.B. 559), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, to delete existing text providing that Section 504.702 does not apply to license plates authorized by this subsection (relating to issuance of Bronze Star Medal and Bronze Star Medal with Valor license plates).
SECTION 5. Redesignates Section 504.315(a), Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 460 (S.B. 1755), Acts of the 82nd Legislature, Regular Session, 2011, as Section 504.315(b), Transportation Code, and amends it to delete existing text providing that Section 504.702 does not apply to license plates authorized by this subsection (relating to issuance of Distinguished Service Medal license plates).
SECTION 6. Amends Section 504.315(h), Transportation Code, to delete existing text providing that Section 504.702 does not apply to license plates authorized by this subsection (relating to issuance of Silver Star Medal license plates).
SECTION 7. Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.319, as follows:
Sec. 504.319. DEFENSE SUPERIOR SERVICE MEDAL RECIPIENTS. Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Defense Superior Service Medal. Requires that license plates issued under this section include the words "Defense Superior Service Medal" at the bottom of each plate.
SECTION 8. Amends Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as follows:
(b) Provides that a vehicle on which license plates described by Subsection (a)(2) (relating to authorizing a vehicle to be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities if the vehicle displays certain license plates) or issued under Section 504.202, 504.315, 504.316, or 504.319, rather than Section 504.315(a), (c) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for a person who was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States during a period of armed conflict with the United States), (d) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for the survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941), (e) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates to a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor), (f) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates to a recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor), (g) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates to a recipient of the Purple Heart), or (h), are displayed is exempt 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 being operated by or for the transportation of:
(1) the person who registered the vehicle under Section 504.202(a), 504.315, 504.316, or 504.319, rather than Section 504.315(a), (c), (d), (e), (f), (g), or (h); or
(2)-(3) Makes no change to these subdivisions.
SECTION 9. Effective date: September 1, 2013.