BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 397
87R3467 CXP-D	By: Men�ndez
	Veteran Affairs & Border Security
	4/15/2021
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

Background:

The Borinqueneers unit of the United States Army was formed by Congress in 1898 and was composed of Puerto Rican and Latino men.  The Borinqueneers served on behalf of the United States during World War I, World War II, and the Korean War, despite racial prejudices.  Former President Barack Obama presented the Congressional Gold Medal to Puerto Rico's 65th Infantry Regiment, the Borinqueneers, on June 10, 2014.

The Borinqueneers' unique sacrifices to our country deserve to be recognized and commemorated. Providing these veterans with a specialty license plate is one way Texas can thank the Borinqueneers for their service.

Solution:

This bill would issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal. The license plates issued must include the words "Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

As proposed, S.B. 397 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal.

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 504.315, Transportation Code, by adding Subsection (r), as follows:

(r) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal. Requires that license plates issued under this subsection include the Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal emblem and the words "Borinqueneers Congressional Gold Medal" at the bottom of each plate. Requires that license plates issued under this subsection that are not personalized also include the letter "B" as a prefix or suffix to the numerals on each plate.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.