BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 2466

By: Farias

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the specialty license plates issued to veterans of the Vietnam War could be enhanced by including the image of the Vietnam Service Medal for certain veterans who received either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal or the Vietnam Service Medal during their military service. The U.S. Department of Defense awarded the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal in the early years of the Vietnam War; however, interested parties report that the department later instructed veterans who received the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal to return the medal and instead receive the Vietnam Service Medal. Because a number of veterans failed to return their Armed Forces Expeditionary Medals, such parties contend that the specialty license plate containing the image of the Vietnam Service Medal should be awarded to the recipients of either medal. Additionally, interested parties note that specialty license plates issued to certain veterans of the Vietnam War who received the National Defense Service Medal could be enhanced by including an image of the medal on their license plates.

H.B. 2466 seeks to implement enhancements to the specialty license plates issued by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to veterans of the Vietnam War.

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. 2466 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the Vietnam Service Medal image to a veteran who served in the U.S. military in the Republic of Vietnam or waters contiguous to the Republic of Vietnam during the period beginning on February 28, 1961, and ending on May 7, 1975, and whose U.S. Department of Defense Form DD-214 lists either the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal. The bill requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates that include the National Defense Service Medal image to a veteran who served in the U.S. military during the period beginning on August 5, 1964, and ending on May 7, 1975, and whose U.S. Department of Defense Form DD-214 lists the National Defense Service Medal but not the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (Vietnam) or the Vietnam Service Medal. The bill puts these requirements in place of previous requirements to issue specialty license plates for persons who served in the U.S. military during those periods that did not specify the images to be included, service in the waters contiguous to the Republic of Vietnam, or the medals listed.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2013.