HBA-MPM S.B. 175 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 175 By: Lindsay Transportation 4/27/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law exempts veterans with certain license plates from most state parking fees. Senate Bill 175 extends parking fee exemptions for disabled veterans, Congressional Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and Pearl Harbor survivors to include those charged by an institution of higher education. 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 Senate Bill 175 amends the Transportation Code to exempt a vehicle on which license plates issued to disabled veterans, Congressional Medal of Honor and Purple Heart recipients, former prisoners of war, and Pearl Harbor survivors are displayed from a parking fee charged by a governmental authority including an institution of higher education, but not including a parking fee charged by a branch of the federal government. The bill deletes provisions authorizing a governmental unit to provide by ordinance or order that this exemption also applies to payment of a fee or penalty imposed by the governmental unit for parking in a parking garage or lot or in a space with a limitation on the length of time for parking. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.