AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Only a small number of veterans currently benefit from a program for free or discounted use of toll roads in Texas.  Interested parties contend that veterans in Texas often must travel a considerable distance to receive care from facilities operated by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs and, as a result, may incur a significant financial burden while traveling.

 

H.B. 1123 amends the Transportation Code, authorizing a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers that must include free or discounted use of the project by certain customers whose accounts relate to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor.  Vehicles registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of specialty plates for veterans with disabilities or recipients of the Purple Heart would also be included.

 

H.B. 1123 amends current law relating to discount programs for certain veterans provided by toll project entities.

 

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 372.053(a), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(a) Authorizes a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers.  Requires that the program include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered under Section 504.202 (Veterans with Disabilities) or 504.315(f) (relating to requiring the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor) or (g) (relating to requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Purple Heart), rather than under Section 504.315(g) or by a person who has received the Medal of Honor.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2013.