BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3343

By: Wilson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

It has been noted that state and local law enforcement agencies may award a Purple Heart to officers or personnel who are wounded or killed in the line of duty. There have been calls to honor these recipients with a specialty license plate. H.B. 3343 seeks to recognize the selfless service of these individuals by providing for the issuance of a specialty license plate for certain Purple Heart recipients.

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. 3343 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of a Purple Heart awarded by the Department of Public Safety or another law enforcement agency in Texas. The bill sets the fee for issuance of one set of license plates at $3 and requires a person issued the plates to be issued one set of license plates without payment of the requisite vehicle registration fee.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.