HBA-DMH C.S.H.B. 428 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 428
By: Morrison
Transportation
4/24/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, recipients of the distinguished Purple Heart award are eligible
to obtain special license plates acknowledging their service and sacrifice
for our country. The charge for the first set of license plates is $3, and
each set for an additional vehicle is $15.  In addition, the first vehicle
registered with such license plates is exempt from the annual vehicle
registration fee. C.S.H.B. 428 provides an exemption from annual vehicle
registration fees for each vehicle with Purple Heart license plates and
sets forth a $3 charge for each set of license plates. 

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

C.S.H.B. 428 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department
of Transportation to issue Purple Heart license plates to a person who pays
an annual fee of $3 for each set, rather than the first set, of license
plates.  The bill deletes the required $15 annual charge for each
additional set of license plates. The bill provides an exemption from the
annual vehicle registration fee for each vehicle, rather than one vehicle,
for which Purple Heart license plates are issued. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 428 differs from the original bill by removing the increased
annual fee charged for each additional set of Purple Heart license plates.
The substitute requires the Texas Department of Transportation to charge $3
for each set, rather than the first set, of Purple Heart license plates.
The substitute provides that each vehicle being issued Purple Heart license
plates is exempt from the applicable annual vehicle registration fee,
rather than removing the exemption from the fee for vehicles being issued
the Purple Heart license plates.