AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
It is our duty as a nation to properly care for those who volunteer to protect us. As such, properly caring for veterans in some cases means catering to needs as basic as limited physical mobility.
Section 681.008, Transportation Code, allows disabled veterans displaying a specialized plate to park in spaces designated specifically to persons with physical disabilities. S.B. 1061 clarifies that institutions of higher education must allow access to those designated parking spaces regardless of the institution's parking permit requirements if the vehicle displays the appropriate license plates.
S.B. 1061 allows vehicles with disabled veteran license plates to access parking spaces designated for people with physical disabilities at an institution of higher education.
S.B. 1061 amends current law relating to parking privileges of disabled veterans on the property of institutions of higher education.
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 681.008, Transportation Code, by adding Subsections (a-1) and (a-2), as follows:
(a-1) Authorizes a vehicle described by Subsection (a) (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 meets certain conditions) to be parked for an unlimited period in a parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of an institution of higher education, as defined by Section 61.003 (Definitions), Education Code, regardless of whether a permit is generally required for the use of the space or area. Authorizes an institution of higher education to require a vehicle described by Subsection (a) to display a parking permit issued by the institution specifically for the purpose of implementing this subsection, but may not charge a fee for the permit. Provides that this subsection does not entitle a person to park a vehicle described by Subsection (a) in a parking space or area that has not been designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of the institution if the vehicle has not been granted or assigned a parking permit required by the institution.
(a-2) Provides that Subsection (a-1) does not apply to a parking space or area located in:
(1) a controlled access parking facility if at least 50 percent of the number of parking spaces or areas designated specifically for persons with physical disabilities on the property of the institution of higher education are located outside a controlled access parking facility;
(2) an area temporarily designated for special event parking; or
(3) an area where parking is temporarily prohibited for health or safety concerns.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2013.