S.B. No. 792
AN ACT
relating to specialty license plates and parking placards for
vehicles of certain disabled veterans.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 502.410(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) Subsection (a) does not apply to a statement or
application filed or given under Section 502.060, 502.092, 502.093,
502.094, 502.095, 504.201, 504.202(b-1), 504.508, or 504.515.
SECTION 2. Section 504.202, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsections (b-1), (b-2), and (k) and amending
Subsections (g) and (j) to read as follows:
(b-1) A person described by Subsection (b) who is eligible
to receive license plates under Section 504.201 may elect to
receive license plates under this section that include the symbol
described by Section 504.201(f). The initial application for
license plates under this subsection must be accompanied by:
(1) the written statement required by Section
504.201(d), unless the applicant is an organization described by
Subsection (b-2); and
(2) any other information required for an application
under this section.
(b-2) An organization that registers a motor vehicle under
Subsection (c) may elect to receive license plates under Subsection
(b-1) if the vehicle regularly transports veterans who are eligible
to receive license plates under Subsection (b-1). The department
shall adopt rules prescribing satisfactory proof of eligibility
under this subsection.
(g) A person who receives license plates under Subsection
(b-1) [this section] may receive a disabled parking placard under
Section 681.004 for each set of license plates [without providing
additional documentation].
(j) A person entitled to license plates under this section
may instead use, for a vehicle that meets the requirements of
Section 504.501 or 504.502, disabled veteran license plates issued
by this state that [are]:
(1) are embossed with an alphanumeric pattern;
(2) are of a plate design that was issued in the same
year as the model year of the vehicle; [and]
(3) are approved for use by the department; and
(4) include the symbol described by Section
504.201(f), if the person satisfies the requirements for the
issuance of license plates under Subsection (b-1) and elects to
include the symbol on the plates.
(k) A reference in law to license plates issued under
Subsection (b-1) includes disabled veteran license plates
described by Subsection (j)(4).
SECTION 3. Section 681.004(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A person with a permanent disability may receive:
(1) two disabled parking placards, if the person does
not receive a set of special license plates under Section 504.201;
(2) one disabled parking placard, if the person
receives a set of special license plates under Section 504.201; or
(3) two disabled parking placards, if the person
receives two sets of special license plates under Section
504.202(b-1) [504.202].
SECTION 4. Section 681.008(a), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(a) A vehicle may be parked for an unlimited period in a
parking space or area that is designated specifically for persons
with physical disabilities if [the vehicle]:
(1) the vehicle [is being operated by or for the
transportation of]:
(A) [the person who registered the vehicle under
Section 504.202(a) or a person described by Section 504.202(b) if
the vehicle is registered under that subsection; and
[(B)] displays special license plates issued
under Section 504.202(b-1) [504.202]; and
(B) is being operated by or for the
transportation of the person to whom the plates were issued; or
(2) the vehicle displays license plates issued by
another state of the United States that indicate on the face of the
license plates that the owner or operator of the vehicle is a
disabled veteran of the United States armed forces.
SECTION 5. Section 681.009(e), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e) Parking spaces or areas designated for the exclusive use
of vehicles transporting persons with disabilities may be used by
vehicles displaying a white on blue shield disabled parking
placard, license plates issued under Section 504.201 or
504.202(b-1) [504.202], or a white on red shield disabled parking
placard.
SECTION 6. Sections 681.011(a), (b), and (l),
Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows:
(a) A person commits an offense if:
(1) the person stands a vehicle on which are displayed
license plates issued under Section 504.201 or 504.202(b-1)
[504.202] or a disabled parking placard in a parking space or area
designated specifically for persons with disabilities by:
(A) a political subdivision; or
(B) a person who owns or controls private
property used for parking as to which a political subdivision has
provided for the application of this section under Subsection (f);
and
(2) the standing of the vehicle in that parking space
or area is not authorized by Section 681.006, 681.007, or 681.008.
(b) A person commits an offense if the person stands a
vehicle on which license plates issued under Section 504.201 or
504.202(b-1) [504.202] are not displayed and a disabled parking
placard is not displayed in a parking space or area designated
specifically for individuals with disabilities by:
(1) a political subdivision; or
(2) a person who owns or controls private property
used for parking as to which a political subdivision has provided
for the application of this section under Subsection (f).
(l) A person commits an offense if the person:
(1) stands a vehicle on which are displayed license
plates issued under Section 504.201 or 504.202(b-1) or a disabled
parking placard in a parking space or area for which this chapter
creates an exemption from payment of a fee or penalty imposed by a
governmental unit;
(2) does not have a disability;
(3) is not transporting a person with disability; and
(4) does not pay any applicable fee related to
standing in the space or area imposed by a governmental unit or
exceeds a limitation on the length of time for standing in the space
or area.
SECTION 7. Not later than December 1, 2021, the Texas
Department of Motor Vehicles shall adopt rules for issuing
specialty license plates under Section 504.202(b-1),
Transportation Code, as added by this Act.
SECTION 8. The changes in law made by this Act apply 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 9. (a) Except as provided by Subsection (b) of this
section, this Act takes effect January 1, 2022.
(b) Section 7 of this Act takes effect September 1, 2021.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 792 passed the Senate on
April 8, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 792 passed the House on
May 8, 2021, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 1, two present
not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor