88R3577 DIO-F By: Cortez, et al. H.B. No. 108 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to privileged parking and the issuance of specialty license plates for certain classroom teachers and retired classroom teachers; imposing a fee. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Sections 504.517 and 504.518 to read as follows: Sec. 504.517. CLASSROOM TEACHERS. (a) In this section, "classroom teacher" has the meaning assigned by Section 5.001, Education Code. (b) The department shall issue specialty license plates for classroom teachers with at least 15 years of service teaching public school students. The license plates must include the words "Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo. The department shall design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Education Agency. (c) The fee for issuance of the license plates is $10. Sec. 504.518. RETIRED CLASSROOM TEACHERS. (a) In this section, "retired classroom teacher" means a person who: (1) was formerly employed as a classroom teacher, as that term is defined by Section 5.001, Education Code; and (2) is a retiree of the Teacher Retirement System of Texas. (b) The department shall issue specialty license plates for retired classroom teachers with at least 20 years of service teaching public school students. The license plates must include the words "Retired Texas Teacher" and depict a Texas public education logo. The department shall design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Education Agency. (c) The fee for issuance of the license plates is $5. SECTION 2. The heading to Section 681.008, Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: Sec. 681.008. PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN VETERANS, [AND] MILITARY AWARD RECIPIENTS, CLASSROOM TEACHERS, AND RETIRED CLASSROOM TEACHERS. SECTION 3. Section 681.008(b), Transportation Code, is amended to read as follows: (b) A vehicle on which license plates described by Subsection (a)(2) or issued under Section 504.202, 504.308, 504.310, 504.315, 504.316, [or] 504.319, 504.517, or 504.518 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), 504.308, 504.310, 504.315, 504.316, [or] 504.319, 504.517, or 504.518; (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 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.