HBA-NRS H.B. 15 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 15
By: Corte
Transportation
77/17/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

State law requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue
specially designed license plates for motorcycles, passenger cars, and
light trucks regularly operated for noncommercial use by or for the
transportation of a person with a permanent disability. The law defines a
light truck as having a weight of one ton or less. Previously, certain
vehicles such as recreational vehicles (RVs) were excluded from receiving
license plates for people with permanent disabilities because they weigh
more than one ton. Yet, there are permanently disabled persons who utilize
RVs for traveling. In addition, facilities, institutions, and residential
retirement communities that provide care and transportation for veterans
with disabilities were excluded from receiving such license plates for
their buses or vans. House Bill 15 requires TxDOT to provide for the
issuance of specially designed license plates for motor vehicles operated
for noncommercial use by or for the transportation of a person with a
permanent disability or a veteran with a disability. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 15 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide for the issuance of
specially designed license plates for a van or bus operated by an
institution, facility, or residential retirement community in which
veterans with disabilities  reside. The bill provides that the application
for registration must be accompanied by a written statement certifying that
the institution, facility, or residential retirement community regularly
transports one or more persons who are veterans with a disability. 

The bill provides for the issuance of specially designed license plates for
all motor vehicles with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two
tons or less that are regularly operated for noncommercial use by or for
the transportation of a person with a permanent disability. The bill also
provides that a person entitled to register such a vehicle is entitled to a
set of special license plates for each motor vehicle with a carrying
capacity of two tons or less owned by the person that is equipped with
certain special equipment. 

The bill requires TxDOT to issue specially designed license plates for all
motor vehicles with a manufacturer's rated carrying capacity of two tons or
less that are owned by veterans with disabilities. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.