BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 269
87R550 TSS-F	By: Cortez; Lopez (Men�ndez)
	Transportation
	5/12/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) currently offers several different types of specialty license plates recognizing various professions. However, there are no specialty license plates currently available specifically for the public educators of Texas.

H.B. 269 amends the Transportation Code to require TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for classroom teachers with at least 15 years of service teaching public school students and for retired classroom teachers who were formerly employed as classroom teachers, are retirees of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas, and have at least 20 years of service teaching public school students. The license plates must include the words "Texas Teacher" or "Retired Texas Teacher," as applicable, and depict a Texas public education logo. The bill requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Education Agency and sets fees for the issuance of the license plates.

H.B. 269 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for classroom teachers and retired classroom teachers and imposes 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 Subchapter F, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Sections 504.517 and 504.518, as follows:

Sec. 504.517. CLASSROOM TEACHERS. (a) Defines "classroom teacher."

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for classroom teachers with at least 15 years of service teaching public school students. Requires that the license plates include the words "Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo. Requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Education Agency (TEA).

(c) Provides that the fee for issuance of the license plates is $10.

Sec. 504.518. RETIRED CLASSROOM TEACHERS. (a) Defines "retired classroom teacher."

(b) Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for retired classroom teachers with at least 20 years of service teaching public school students. Requires that the license plates include the words "Retired Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo. Requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with TEA.

(c) Provides that the fee for issuance of the license plates is $5.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.