By: Sheffield, Miller of Erath, Aycock H.B. No. 559 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to Bronze Star Medal and Bronze Star Medal with Valor specialty license plates. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 504.315, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Subsection (a) to read as follows: (a) The department shall issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Bronze Star Medal and Bronze Star Medal with Valor. License plates issued under this subsection must include the Bronze Star Medal emblem and must include the words "Bronze Star Medal" at the bottom of each plate. License plates issued under this subsection to recipients of the Bronze Star Medal with Valor that are not personalized must also include the letter "V" as a prefix or suffix to the numerals on each plate. Section 504.702 does not apply to license plates authorized by this subsection. SECTION 2. Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, as amended by Chapters 115 (H.B. 2020) and 319 (H.B. 618), Acts of the 81st Legislature, Regular Session, 2009, is reenacted and amended to read as follows: (b) A vehicle on which license plates described by Subsection (a)(2) or issued under Section 504.202, Section 504.315(a), (c) [504.315(c)], (d), (e), (f), or (g), or Section 504.316 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: (1) the person who registered the vehicle under Section 504.202(a), Section 504.315(a), (c) [504.315(c)], (d), (e), (f), or (g), or Section 504.316; (2) a person described in Section 504.202(b) if the vehicle is registered under that subsection; or (3) the owner or operator of a vehicle displaying license plates described by Subsection (a)(2). SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.