HBA- MPA S.B. 21 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 21
By: Zaffirini
Transportation
4/20/1999
Engrossed






BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law provides for the issuance of disabled placards to an
individual who meets the requirements of Section 502.253 (Persons With
Disabilities), Transportation Code.  Institutions and facilities such as
continuing care facilities, convalescent homes, retirement communities,
nursing homes, and personal care facilities are required to obtain a
placard for each individual they transport. This requires the institution
to submit a renewal form annually for each of the patients or residents who
qualifies.  This process can be a burden on the disabled Texan and the
facility.  Furthermore, the institutions must ensure that the placards in
their vehicles match the passengers they are transporting.  S.B. 21 eases
the burden on disabled individuals and the institutions that care for them
by providing for the issuance of specialty license plates for vehicles used
for the purpose of transporting individuals with disabilities.   

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. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2531, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2531.  ISSUANCE OF DISABLED PLATES TO CERTAIN INSTITUTIONS.
Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide for the
issuance of specially designed license plates for a van or bus owned by an
institution, facility, or residential retirement community including an
institution licensed as a convalescent or nursing home, continuing care
facility, or personal care facility, where one or more persons with a
disability as described in Section 502.253(b), Transportation Code,
resides.  Provides that the applicant use a form provided by TxDOT,
submitted to the assessor-collector of the county in which the facility is
located, and accompanied by the regular vehicle registration fee and a
written statement signed by the administrator or manager, certifying that
the institution, facility, or residential retirement community regularly
transports persons with the described disabilities.  Requires TxDOT to
determine eligibility of the institution,  facility, or residential
retirement community on the evidence the applicant provides. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 681, Transportation Code, by adding Section
681.0032, as follows: 

Sec. 681.0032. ISSUANCE OF DISABLED PARKING PLACARDS TO CERTAIN
INSTITUTIONS.  Requires TxDOT to provide for the issuance of a disabled
parking placard for a van or bus owned by an institution, facility, or
residential retirement community including an institution licensed as a
convalescent or nursing home, continuing care facility, or personal care
facility, where one or more persons with a disability as described in
Section 502.253(b), Transportation Code, resides.  Provides that the
applicant use a form provided by TxDOT, submitted to the assessor-collector
of the county in which the facility is located,  and accompanied by a $5
fee and a written statement signed by the administrator or manager
certifying that the institution, facility, or residential retirement
community regularly transports persons with the described disabilities.
Requires TxDOT to determine eligibility on the evidence the applicant
provides. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.