AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Current law provides for the issuance of specialty license plates to recipients of various military awards and medals for the recipient to display the recipient's achievements. Interested parties note that recipients of the Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon are not currently eligible to receive such a license plate.  H.B. 1128 seeks to recognize these soldiers whose personal engagement with the enemy during combat operations resulted in the soldier's receipt of one of these awards by requiring that the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles issue a specialty license plate for recipients of the Combat Action Badge, Combat Action Medal, and Combat Action Ribbon.

 

H.B. 1128 amends current law relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for recipients of the Combat Action Badge, Medal, or Ribbon.

 

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 Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, to provide that license plates issued under this section, other than license plates issued under Subsection (h), may include, on request, one emblem from another license plate to which the person is entitled under Section 504.308 (Distinguished Flying Cross Medal Recipients), 504.315 (Military Specialty License Plates for Extraordinary Service), 504.316 (Legion of Merit Medal Recipients), 504.319 (Defense Superior Service Medal Recipients), or 504.320.

 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.320, as follows:

 

Sec. 504.320.  COMBAT ACTION BADGE, MEDAL, OR RIBBON RECIPIENTS.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Combat Action Badge.  Requires that license plates issued under this subsection include the Combat Action Badge Combat Infantryman emblem and include the words "Combat Action Badge" at the bottom of each plate.

 

(b)  Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Combat Action Medal.  Requires that license plates issued under this subsection include the Combat Action Medal emblem and include the words "Combat Action Medal" at the bottom of each plate.

 

(c)  Requires TxDMV to issue specialty license plates for recipients of the Combat Action Ribbon.  Requires that license plates issued under this subsection include the Combat Action Ribbon emblem and include the words "Combat Action Ribbon" at the bottom of each plate.

 

(d)  Requires TxDMV, for purposes of Subsections (a) and (c), if a branch of the United States armed forces awards a Combat Action Badge or Ribbon with a unique emblem for each award of the Combat Action Badge or Ribbon to a recipient, to only issue specialty license plates that include the unique emblem of the first award.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: January 1, 2016.