BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 3859

By: Guillen

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) issues numerous specialty license plates for veterans in Texas who have received certain awards and medals. However, it has been noted that TxDMV does not issue specialty plates for Texas servicemen and women who have received Texas Military Department State Awards. C.S.H.B. 3859 seeks to remedy this situation by requiring TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of certain Texas military awards. 

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

C.S.H.B. 3859 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the following awards:

· Texas Legislative Medal of Honor;

· Lone Star Medal of Valor;

· Texas Purple Heart Medal;

· Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal;

· Texas Outstanding Service Medal;

· Texas Medal of Merit;

· Texas Combat Service Ribbon;

· Federal Service Medal;

· Texas Humanitarian Service Medal;

· Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal;

· Texas Superior Service Medal;

· Adjutant General's Individual Award;

· Commanding General's Individual Award;

· Texas State Guard Meritorious Service Ribbon;

· Texas State Guard Recruiting Ribbon;

· Texas Cold War Medal;

· Texas Cavalry Service Medal;

· Texas Faithful Service Medal;

· Texas State Guard Service Medal;

· Officer Professional Development Ribbon;

· NCO Professional Development Ribbon;

· Enlisted Personnel Basic Training Ribbon;

· Physical Fitness Ribbon;

· Texas Governor's Unit Citation;

· Meritorious Unit Award;

· Organizational Excellence Award;

· Texas State Guard Association Ribbon;

· State Guard Association of the United States Ribbon;

· State Guard Association of the United States Superior Unit Citation;

· State Guard Association of the United States Distinguished Service Ribbon;

· State Guard Association of the United States Meritorious Service Ribbon;

· State Guard Association of the United States Commendation Ribbon;

· State Guard Association of the United States Achievement Ribbon; and

· State Guard Association of the United States Service Ribbon.

C.S.H.B. 3859 requires the license plates issued under the bill's provisions to include the name and emblem of the award, as applicable, and authorizes the inclusion of one emblem from an applicable license plate issued under the bill's provisions to be included on license plates issued to a disabled veteran on request.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 3859 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

Whereas the original authorized TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for certain awards, the substitute includes additional awards for which TxDMV is required to issue an applicable specialty license plate and makes related changes to the authorization for a license plate issued to a disabled veteran to include on request one emblem associated with certain awards.