HBA-CMT H.B. 1871 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1871 By: Solis, Jim Transportation 4/5/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law does not provide justices of the peace with license plates that identify them as such. Other justices, such as district judges are eligible for specially designed license plates as are elected state officials. House Bill 1871 authorizes justices of the peace to receive specially designed license plates to identify their vehicles as belonging to a justice of the peace. 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 1871 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design and provide for the issuance of special license plates (plates) for passenger cars and light trucks owned by persons who are justices of the peace. The plates are required to include the words "Justice of the Peace." The bill provides that the fee for registration and issuance of a justice of the peace license plate is the same as the standard prescribed fee for registration of a vehicle and is valid for one year. If the person ceases to be a justice of the peace, the person is required to return the plates to TxDOT. The bill provides that if the owner of a vehicle for which plates are issued disposes of the vehicle during a registration year, the person is required to return the plates to TxDOT and is authorized to apply for those plates to be issued to another vehicle. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.