BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 282

By: Swanson

Defense & Veterans' Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

A constituent and retired Texas Military Serviceman, Joseph Ferguson, brought this legislation to State Representative Swanson's office. Unlike United States Military service awards, there are no specialty license plates that are available for members of the Texas Military who have achieved medals of merit. Texas servicemen dedicate years of their life in service to our state, and are awarded medals to showcase their bravery, valor, and commitment to Texas. C.S.H.B. 282 supports distinguished retirees of the Texas Military Department by providing for the issuances of specialty license plates for those who have earned the Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal, Texas Outstanding Service Medal, Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal, Texas Medal of Merit, or Texas Superior Service Medal.

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. 282 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the following Texas military awards that include the respective medal's emblem and the medal's name at the bottom of each plate:

· Lone Star Distinguished Service Medal;

· Texas Outstanding Service Medal;

· Texas Medal of Merit;

· Texas Homeland Defense Service Medal; and

· Texas Superior Service Medal.           

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2023.

COMPARISON OF INTRODUCED AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 282 may differ from the introduced in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following summarizes the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

The substitute includes recipients of the Texas Superior Service Medal among those who are eligible for a specialty license plate under the introduced version's provisions providing for the issuance of such plates for certain Texas military awards.