HBA-MSH H.B. 544 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 544 By: Williams Transportation 4/4/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, there are no special license plates for the personal vehicles of constables and deputy constables. Many counties require constables and deputy constables to use their own automobiles in an official capacity. Some people are unable to recognize these personal vehicles as law enforcement vehicles since they lack the exempt license plates of other law enforcement vehicles. House Bill 544 provides for the issuance of special license plates for the vehicles of a constables and deputy constables. 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 544 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design and provide for the issuance of special license plates for a passenger car or light truck that is owned by a constable or deputy constable. The bill requires the license plates to bear the words "Texas Constable"and sets forth requirements for the issuance of such license plates, including fees, registration, and the return of such license plates. The bill authorizes the owner of the vehicle for which the license plates were issued to obtain replacement plates from TxDOT for a replacement fee of $5, if the license plates are lost, stolen, or mutilated. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.