AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Currently, if a veteran wishes to receive retired military license plates, they must have completed 20 or more years of satisfactory federal service. This provision eliminates a large portion of the population that is considered retired military, but might not have completed 20 years of service. C.S.H.B. 789 removes the 20-year requirement of service as the sole requirement, and adds that a retired military member must present his or her military identification card that deems them retired in order to receive retired military license plates.

 

C.S.H.B. 789 amends current law relating to license plates issued to retired members of the military.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1. Amends Sections 504.303(b) and (c), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(b) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to include the word "Retired" for license plates issued to retired members of the United States armed forces, rather than to retired members of the United States armed forces who have completed 20 or more years of satisfactory federal service.

 

(c) Authorizes satisfactory proof of eligibility for a license plate issued under this section to a retired member of the United States armed forces to be demonstrated by:

 

(1) a letter from any branch of the military under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense or the United States Department of Homeland Security stating that a retired member has 20 or more years of satisfactory federal service; or

 

(2) an identification card issued by any branch of the military under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Defense or the United States Department of Homeland Security indicating that the member is retired.

 

Deletes existing text providing that the letter reference in Subdivision (1) is satisfactory proof of eligibility.

 

Creates Subdivision (1) from existing text. Makes conforming changes.

 

SECTION 2. Amends Sections 504.305(a) and (c), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(a) Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for:

 

(1) active members of the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard;

 

(2) retired members of the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard; and

 

(3) members of a reserve component of the United States armed forces.

 

Deletes existing text requiring retired members of the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard to have completed 20 or more years of satisfactory federal service to be issued specialty license plates.

 

(c) Provides that satisfactory proof of eligibility for a license plate issued under this section to a retired member of the Texas National Guard or Texas State Guard may be demonstrated by:

 

(1) a letter from the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Department of the Air Force stating that a retired guard member has 20 or more years of satisfactory federal service; or

 

(2) an identification card issued by the United States Department of Defense, the Department of the Army, or the Department of the Air Force indicating that the member is retired.

 

Creates Subdivision (1) from existing text. Makes conforming changes.

 

SECTION 3. Effective date: January 1, 2016.