BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 1123 By: Herrero Defense & Veterans' Affairs Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Only a small number of veterans currently benefit from a program for free or discounted use of toll roads in Texas. Interested parties contend that veterans in Texas often must travel a considerable distance to receive care from facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and, as a result, may incur a significant financial burden while traveling. C.S.H.B. 1123 seeks to honor veterans by expanding the categories of veterans to be included in a discount program that is established by a toll project entity. 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. 1123 amends the Transportation Code, in provisions authorizing a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers that must include free or discounted use of the project by certain customers, to require the inclusion of such use by a customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of 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, in addition to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans with disabilities or recipients of the Purple Heart. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1123 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill. INTRODUCED HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered: (1) under Section 504.202; (2) under Section 504.315(g); or (3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor. SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[: [(1)] under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g)[; [(2) under Section 504.315(g); or [(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor]. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
C.S.H.B. 1123
By: Herrero
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)
C.S.H.B. 1123
By: Herrero
Defense & Veterans' Affairs
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Only a small number of veterans currently benefit from a program for free or discounted use of toll roads in Texas. Interested parties contend that veterans in Texas often must travel a considerable distance to receive care from facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and, as a result, may incur a significant financial burden while traveling. C.S.H.B. 1123 seeks to honor veterans by expanding the categories of veterans to be included in a discount program that is established by a toll project entity.
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. 1123 amends the Transportation Code, in provisions authorizing a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers that must include free or discounted use of the project by certain customers, to require the inclusion of such use by a customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of 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, in addition to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans with disabilities or recipients of the Purple Heart.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2013.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE While C.S.H.B. 1123 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
INTRODUCED HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered: (1) under Section 504.202; (2) under Section 504.315(g); or (3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor. SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[: [(1)] under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g)[; [(2) under Section 504.315(g); or [(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor]. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. SECTION 2. Same as introduced version. INTRODUCED HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered: (1) under Section 504.202; (2) under Section 504.315(g); or (3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor. SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[: [(1)] under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g)[; [(2) under Section 504.315(g); or [(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor]. SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
INTRODUCED HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered: (1) under Section 504.202; (2) under Section 504.315(g); or (3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor. SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[: [(1)] under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g)[; [(2) under Section 504.315(g); or [(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Only a small number of veterans currently benefit from a program for free or discounted use of toll roads in Texas. Interested parties contend that veterans in Texas often must travel a considerable distance to receive care from facilities operated by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and, as a result, may incur a significant financial burden while traveling. C.S.H.B. 1123 seeks to honor veterans by expanding the categories of veterans to be included in a discount program that is established by a toll project entity.
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. 1123 amends the Transportation Code, in provisions authorizing a toll project entity to establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers that must include free or discounted use of the project by certain customers, to require the inclusion of such use by a customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of 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, in addition to a vehicle registered under statutory provisions governing the issuance of specialty license plates for veterans with disabilities or recipients of the Purple Heart.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2013.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE
While C.S.H.B. 1123 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and highlighted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.
INTRODUCED HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered: (1) under Section 504.202; (2) under Section 504.315(g); or (3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor. SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[: [(1)] under Section 504.202 or 504.315(f) or (g)[; [(2) under Section 504.315(g); or [(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.
INTRODUCED
HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A toll project entity shall [may] establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered:
(1) under Section 504.202;
(2) under Section 504.315(g); or
(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor.
SECTION 1. Section 372.053(a), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows:
(a) A toll project entity may establish a discount program for electronic toll collection customers. The program must include free or discounted use of the entity's toll project by an electronic toll collection customer whose account relates to a vehicle registered[:
[(1)] under Section 504.202
or 504.315(f) or (g)[;
[(2) under Section 504.315(g); or
[(3) by a person who has received the Medal of Honor].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.