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BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

 

C.S.H.B. 612

By: Davis, Sarah

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates for various armed forces and military personnel, including disabled veterans. However, concerns have been raised that Texas does not recognize the population of disabled female veterans with a specialty license plate of their own. C.S.H.B. 612 seeks to honor and recognize these women who so bravely served our country.

 

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. 612 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to design a license plate to be available for distribution to female veterans of the U.S. armed forces who qualify for specialty license plates as a result of a service-connected disability. The bill requires the license plate to include the words "Woman Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of the license plate.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

September 1, 2015.

 

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

 

While C.S.H.B. 612 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 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsections (a-1) and (j) and amending Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(a-1)  The department shall design a license plate to be available for distribution to female veterans of the United States armed forces who qualify for a license plate under this section.

(e)  Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), license plates issued under this section must include:

(1)  the letters:

(A)  "DV" on the plate if the plate is issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; or

(B)  "WDV" on the plate if the plate is issued under Subsection (a-1) for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; and

(2)  the words:

(A)  "Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate; or

(B)  "Woman Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate issued under Subsection (a-1).

(j)  A license plate with the letters "WDV" may be personalized with up to three characters.

 

SECTION 1.  Section 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a-1) and amending Subsection (e) to read as follows:

(a-1)  The department shall design a license plate to be available for distribution to female veterans of the United States armed forces who qualify for a license plate under this section.

(e)  Other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), license plates issued under this section must include:

(1)  the letters "DV" on the plate if the plate is issued for a vehicle other than a motorcycle; and

 

 

 

(2)  the words:

(A)  "Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate; or

(B)  "Woman Disabled Veteran" and "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each license plate issued under Subsection (a-1).

 

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.

 

SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.