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.