BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 979 85R11115 JRR-D By: Kacal (Birdwell) Transportation 5/8/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Interested parties contend that a specialty license plate for recipients of the Star of Texas Award would serve to honor and pay respect to the peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who have been seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. H.B. 979 seeks to recognize Star of Texas Award recipients and their service by providing for the issuance of such a specialty license plate. H.B. 979 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates that include the Star of Texas Award emblem and the words "Star of Texas" for persons who are recipients of a Star of Texas Award. H.B. 979 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Star of Texas Award. 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 Subchapter E, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.416, as follows: Sec. 504.416. STAR OF TEXAS AWARD RECIPIENTS. Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who are recipients of a Star of Texas Award under Chapter 3106 (Star of Texas Awards), Government Code. Requires that the license plates include the Star of Texas Award emblem and the words "Star of Texas." SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017. BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 979 85R11115 JRR-D By: Kacal (Birdwell) Transportation 5/8/2017 Engrossed Senate Research Center H.B. 979 85R11115 JRR-D By: Kacal (Birdwell) Transportation 5/8/2017 Engrossed AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT Interested parties contend that a specialty license plate for recipients of the Star of Texas Award would serve to honor and pay respect to the peace officers, firefighters, and emergency medical first responders who have been seriously injured or killed in the line of duty. H.B. 979 seeks to recognize Star of Texas Award recipients and their service by providing for the issuance of such a specialty license plate. H.B. 979 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates that include the Star of Texas Award emblem and the words "Star of Texas" for persons who are recipients of a Star of Texas Award. H.B. 979 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Star of Texas Award. 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 Subchapter E, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.416, as follows: Sec. 504.416. STAR OF TEXAS AWARD RECIPIENTS. Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles to issue specialty license plates for persons who are recipients of a Star of Texas Award under Chapter 3106 (Star of Texas Awards), Government Code. Requires that the license plates include the Star of Texas Award emblem and the words "Star of Texas." SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.