Bill Text: TX HB1273 | 2015-2016 | 84th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Relating to certain military specialty license plates.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 2-1)

Status: (Passed) 2015-06-17 - Effective on 9/1/15 [HB1273 Detail]

Download: Texas-2015-HB1273-Enrolled.html

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H.B. No. 1273

AN ACT
relating to certain military specialty license plates.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 504.202(e-1), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(e-1) Other than license plates issued under Subsection
(h), license plates issued under this section may include, on
request:
(1) the emblem of the veteran's branch of service; or
(2) one emblem from another license plate to which the
person is entitled under Section 504.308, 504.311, 504.312,
504.313, 504.3135, 504.314, 504.315, 504.316, 504.318, or 504.319.
SECTION 2. Section 504.3015(b), Transportation Code, is
amended to read as follows:
(b) The fee for the issuance of one set of specialty license
plates issued under Section 504.315(d) [504.315(c), (d),] or (g) is
$3. There is no additional fee for a specialty license plate
issued under another provision of this subchapter.
SECTION 3. Section 504.311, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 504.311. SERVICE IN KOREA [KOREAN WAR VETERANS]. (a)
The department shall issue specialty license plates for persons who
served in the United States armed forces:
(1) during the period beginning on June 27 [after June
26], 1950, and ending on July 27, 1954, and who received the
National Defense Service Medal;
(2) in a combat zone in Korea during the period
beginning on June 27, 1950, and ending on July 27, 1954, and who
received the Korean Service Medal; or
(3) in the Korean Demilitarized Zone beginning on July
28, 1954, and who received the Korean Defense Service Medal [before
February 1, 1955].
(b) License plates issued under this section must include
the words "Korea Veteran[.]" and bear a depiction of the
appropriate medal.
SECTION 4. Section 504.312, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 504.312. VIETNAM VETERANS. (a) The department shall
issue specialty license plates for persons who served in the United
States armed forces [during]:
(1) during the period beginning on January 1, 1961,
and ending on August 14, 1974, and who received the National Defense
Service Medal; or
(2) in a combat zone in the Republic of Vietnam
during the period beginning on July 1, 1958 [February 28, 1961],
and ending on March 28, 1973, and who received the Vietnam Service
Medal [May 7, 1975, in the case of a veteran who served in the
Republic of Vietnam during that period; or
[(2) the period beginning on August 5, 1964, and
ending on May 7, 1975, in all other cases].
(b) License plates issued under this section must include
the words "Vietnam Veteran[.]" and bear a depiction of the
appropriate medal.
SECTION 5. Section 504.313, Transportation Code, is amended
to read as follows:
Sec. 504.313. DESERT SHIELD OR DESERT STORM VETERANS. (a)
The department shall issue specialty license plates for persons who
served in the United States armed forces:
(1) during the period beginning on [after] August 2,
[1,] 1990, and ending on November 30, 1995, and who received the
National Defense Service Medal; or
(2) in a combat zone in support of Operation Desert
Shield or Desert Storm during the period beginning on August 2,
1990, and ending on November 30, 1995, and who received the
Southwest Asia Service Medal [before April 12, 1991].
(b) License plates issued under this section must include
the words "Desert Shield/Storm/Provide Comfort[.]" and bear a
depiction of the appropriate medal.
SECTION 6. Section 504.315, Transportation Code, is amended
by adding Subsection (j) to read as follows:
(j) The department shall issue specialty license plates for
recipients of the Prisoner of War Medal. License plates issued
under this subsection must include the Prisoner of War Medal emblem
and must include the words "Prisoner of War Medal" at the bottom of
each plate.
SECTION 7. Section 504.315(c), Transportation Code, is
repealed.
SECTION 8. The Texas Department of Motor Vehicles is not
required to issue specialty license plates under Sections 504.311,
504.312, 504.313, and 504.315, Transportation Code, as amended by
this Act, until January 1, 2016.
SECTION 9. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1273 was passed by the House on April
30, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 139, Nays 0, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1273 on May 26, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0,
2 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1273 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 23, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays
0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor