BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 643

By: Raney

County Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that many Texans have caretaking responsibilities for a person with a disability and that, in many cases, caretakers often travel long distances through multiple counties in providing that care. Concerns have been raised regarding the statutory requirement that a disabled parking placard be obtained in the county in which the person with the disability resides and regarding the resulting burden that the requirement places on a caretaker. H.B. 643 seeks to address this issue by revising provisions relating to the location at which an application for a disabled parking placard may be made.

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

H.B. 643 amends the Transportation Code to replace the option for an application for a disabled parking placard to be submitted to the county assessor-collector of the county in which the applicant is seeking medical treatment if the applicant is not a Texas resident with an option for such an application to be submitted to the county assessor-collector of the county in which the person with the disability is seeking medical treatment.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.