BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 618 81R7835 JAM-D By: Corte (Wentworth) Veteran Affairs & Military Installations 5/5/2009 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Under current law, a vehicle displaying disabled veteran license plates or license plates issued to honor former prisoners of war, Pearl Harbor survivors, and recipients of the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions. However, vehicles displaying plates to honor recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor, or the Legion of Merit medal are not included in this law. H.B. 618 includes vehicles displaying "Legion of Valor" or "Legion of Merit" license plates in the exemption from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions. H.B. 618 amends current law relating to privileged parking for certain veterans and military award recipients. 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 the heading to Section 681.008, Transportation Code, to read as follows: Sec. 681.008. PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN VETERANS AND MILITARY AWARD RECIPIENTS. SECTION 2. Amends Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as follows: (b) Provides that a vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.202 (Veterans with Disabilities), Section 504.315(c) (relating to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issuing specialty license plates for a person who was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States), (d) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor), (e) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates to a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor), (f) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor), or (g) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for recipients of the Purple Heart), or Section 504.316 (Legion of Merit Medal Recipients) are displayed is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when being operated by or for the transportation of the person who registered the vehicle under Section 504.202(a) (relating to a person entitled to specialty license plates), Section 504.315(c), (d), (e), (f), or (g), or Section 504.316; or a person described in Section 504.202(b) (relating to a veteran of the United States armed forces being entitled to register two vehicles under this section) if the vehicle is registered under that subsection. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.
BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 618
81R7835 JAM-D By: Corte (Wentworth)
Veteran Affairs & Military Installations
5/5/2009
Engrossed
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, a vehicle displaying disabled veteran license plates or license plates issued to honor former prisoners of war, Pearl Harbor survivors, and recipients of the Medal of Honor or Purple Heart is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions. However, vehicles displaying plates to honor recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, the Medal of Honor, or the Legion of Merit medal are not included in this law.
H.B. 618 includes vehicles displaying "Legion of Valor" or "Legion of Merit" license plates in the exemption from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, under certain conditions.
H.B. 618 amends current law relating to privileged parking for certain veterans and military award recipients.
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 the heading to Section 681.008, Transportation Code, to read as follows:
Sec. 681.008. PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN VETERANS AND MILITARY AWARD RECIPIENTS.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as follows:
(b) Provides that a vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.202 (Veterans with Disabilities), Section 504.315(c) (relating to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) issuing specialty license plates for a person who was captured and incarcerated by an enemy of the United States), (d) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for survivors of the attack on Pearl Harbor), (e) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates to a recipient of a Congressional Medal of Honor), (f) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal of Honor), or (g) (relating to TxDOT issuing specialty license plates for recipients of the Purple Heart), or Section 504.316 (Legion of Merit Medal Recipients) are displayed is exempt from the payment of a parking fee collected through a parking meter charged by a governmental authority other than a branch of the federal government, when being operated by or for the transportation of the person who registered the vehicle under Section 504.202(a) (relating to a person entitled to specialty license plates), Section 504.315(c), (d), (e), (f), or (g), or Section 504.316; or a person described in Section 504.202(b) (relating to a veteran of the United States armed forces being entitled to register two vehicles under this section) if the vehicle is registered under that subsection.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.