BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 193

By: Creighton

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that recipients of certain U.S. military medals are not currently honored by the State of Texas with a specialty license plate, a group that includes recipients of the Soldier's Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Coast Guard Medal, and the Airman's Medal, despite such recipients being honored in other states. The parties explain that the Soldier's Medal is awarded for acts of heroism that did not occur in conflict with an armed enemy, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal for acts of heroism that had a life-threatening risk, the Coast Guard Medal for acts of heroism that involved a great personal danger while not in conflict with an enemy, and the Airman's Medal for heroic acts in a noncombat situation. S.B. 193 seeks to honor recipients of these medals with specialty license plates.

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

S.B. 193 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Soldier's Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Medal, the Coast Guard Medal, or the Airman's Medal that include the respective medal's emblem and the name of each medal at the bottom of each plate.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.