BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 127

By: McClendon

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that although the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles issues a large number of specialty license plates recognizing military service, there is no specialty license plate that recognizes recipients of the Commendation Medal issued by each branch of the United States armed forces. C.S.H.B. 127 seeks to remedy this situation.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

C.S.H.B. 127 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Commendation Medal for each branch of the military and for joint service. The bill requires the specialty license plates to include the emblem of the appropriate medal and the name of the medal at the bottom of each plate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2016.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 127 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Section 504.315, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows: (j)  The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Commendation Medal for each branch of the military.  License plates issued under this subsection must include the emblem of the appropriate medal and must include the name of the medal at the bottom of each plate.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 504.320 to read as follows: Sec. 504.320.  COMMENDATION MEDAL RECIPIENTS.  The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Commendation Medal for each branch of the military and for joint service.  License plates issued under this section must include the emblem of the appropriate medal and must include the name of the medal at the bottom of each plate.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.