HBA-CMT H.B. 2110 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2110
By: Pickett
Transportation
4/6/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, United States veterans are allowed to purchase specialized
license plates for their automobiles that indicate their status as veterans
of the armed forces.  However, current law does not include specialized
license plates for motorcycles.  House Bill 2110 requires the Texas
Department of Transportation to issue specially-designed license plates for
motorcycles owned by retired or honorably discharged members of the United
States armed forces.   

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 2110 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (department) to issue specially designed
license plates for motorcycles owned by retired or honorably discharged
members of the United States armed forces.  The plates must include the
words "U.S. Veteran." The bill sets forth procedures for the issuance of
the special plates.   

The bill requires the department to send 50 cents of each fee collected
from the issuance of the special plates to the county treasurer of the
county in which the applicant resides.  The county treasurer is required to
credit the money received to the general fund of the county to pay the
costs of administering the issuance of the special plates.     

If an owner of a motorcycle disposes of the motorcycle during a
registration year, the owner is required to return the special plates to
the department.  The owner is authorized to apply for issuance of the
plates to another motorcycle. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.