BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 614

By: Orr

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law does not contain explicit provisions allowing a disabled veteran license plate to also display the emblem of the military branch in which the disabled veteran served. Interested parties report that disabled veterans have requested the ability to display on their license plates not only the fact that they are disabled, but also the branch of the military in which they served.  H.B. 614 seeks to fulfill that request by authorizing the issuance of such a specialty license plate.

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

H.B. 614 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a specialty license plate issued to a disabled veteran, on request, to include the emblem of the veteran's branch of service or one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under provisions relating to the issuance of a specialty license plate for recipients of certain military medals, former prisoners of war, and Pearl Harbor survivors.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.