BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 225
86R2883 TSS-D	By: Flores
	Transportation
	3/4/2019
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The purpose of this legislation is to create a new military license plate within the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles for veterans who have received the Army of Occupation medal. The Army of Occupation Medal emblem and words "Army of Occupation Medal" will be displayed on the license plate. One set of these license plates shall be issued to the medal recipient exempt of the registration fee.

Currently, the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles does not offer the Army of Occupation Medal for World War II veterans who have this medal. The Army Occupation Medal was established by War Department Circular 102, dated April 5, 1946, and was awarded until October 2, 1990.

We do not anticipate any opposition to this legislation, as creation of military license plates has been an integral part of further demonstrating our support of our military personnel. 

As proposed, S.B. 225 amends current law relating to the issuance of Army of Occupation Medal specialty license plates and provides an exemption from a fee.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 504.202 (e-1), Transportation Code, as follows:

(e-1) Authorizes license plates under this section, other than license plates issued under Subsection (h) (relating to authority to elect to receive other license plates) to include, on request, one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled, including by entitlement under Section 504.310(b) or Section 504.323, as added by Chapter 1085 (H.B. 3567), Acts of the 85th Legislature, Regular Session, 2017.

SECTION 2. Amends Section 504.3015(a), Transportation Code, as follows:

(a) Requires a person applying for a set of license plates under this subchapter to pay the registration fee required under Chapter 502 (Registration of Vehicles) and the applicable special plate fee required under this section, except that one set of license plates is required to be issued without payment of the registration fee under:

(1) makes no changes to this subdivision;

(2) Section 504.310(b); and

(3)��(4) makes nonsubstantive changes.

SECTION 3. Amends Section 504.310, Transportation Code, as follows:

Sec. 504.310. New heading: WORLD WAR II VETERANS AND CERTAIN MEDAL RECIPIENTS. (a) Creates this subsection from existing text. Requires license plates issued under this subsection to include the words "WWII Veteran."

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Army of Occupation Medal. Requires license plates issued under this subsection to include the Army of Occupation Medal emblem and include the words "Army of Occupation Medal" at the bottom of the plate.

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2019.��