HBA-NIK S.B. 416 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 416 By: Lindsay Transportation 5/8/1999 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Currently, exemption from parking meter fees is granted to disabled veterans and recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. Former prisoners of war and Purple Heart recipients, though granted exemption from parking meter fees and time limitations by the Austin City Council, are not granted special parking exemptions by Texas state law. Pearl Harbor survivors are not exempt either. According to 1998 registration data for this state, there are 17,945 Purple Heart recipients and 319 Pearl Harbor survivors. This tends to create confusion for both the exempted groups and enforcement officials. S.B. 416 grants exemptions from parking fees to vehicles with license plates issued under certain sections of the Transportation Code. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 681.008, Transportation Code, as follows: Sec. 681.008. New title: PARKING PRIVILEGES: CERTAIN VETERANS. Adds vehicles displaying license plates issued under Sections 502.257 (Former Prisoners of War), 502.259 (Pearl Harbor Survivors), and 502.260 (Purple Heart Recipients), Transportation Code, to the list of those which are exempt from the payment of a certain parking fee. Makes a conforming change. SECTION 2. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.