By: Ortega, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Blanco) H.B. No. 1633
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 17, 2023;
  April 18, 2023, read first time and referred to Committee on
  Veteran Affairs; May 10, 2023, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 10, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to certain offenses regarding parking privileges of
  veterans with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended
  by adding Subsections (m), (n), and (o) to read as follows:
         (m)  Subsections (n) and (o) apply only to a person who
  commits an offense under Subsection (b) when the vehicle:
               (1)  displays special license plates issued under
  Section 504.202 other than special license plates issued under
  Section 504.202(b-1); and
               (2)  does not display a disabled parking placard.
         (n)  Notwithstanding Subsections (g)-(k), an offense
  described by Subsection (m) is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of
  not less than $25 or more than $200 or not more than 10 hours of
  community service, except that:
               (1)  if the person has previously been convicted one
  time of an offense described by Subsection (m) or received a
  dismissal under Subsection (o), the offense is punishable by:
                     (A)  a fine of not less than $200 or more than
  $400; or
                     (B)  not less than 10 hours or more than 20 hours
  of community service; and
               (2)  if the person has previously been convicted two
  times of an offense described by Subsection (m) or if the person has
  previously received a dismissal under Subsection (o) and previously
  been convicted one time of an offense described by Subsection (m),
  the offense is punishable by: 
                     (A)  a fine of not less than $400 or more than
  $750; or
                     (B)  not less than 20 hours or more than 30 hours
  of community service.
         (o)  The court shall dismiss a charge for an offense
  described by Subsection (m) if the person:
               (1)  has not been previously convicted of an offense
  described by that subsection;
               (2)  has not previously received a dismissal under this
  subsection; and
               (3)  submits an application for a specialty license
  plate that includes the symbol described by Section 504.201(f)
  within six months after the date the person was charged with the
  offense.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act.
  An offense committed before the effective date of this Act is
  governed by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed,
  and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For
  purposes of this section, an offense was committed before the
  effective date of this Act if any element of the offense occurred
  before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
  * * * * *