| |
| |
| |
|
|
AN ACT
|
|
|
relating to the issuance of specialty license plates for persons |
|
|
who are deaf or hard of hearing and to deaf or hard of hearing driver |
|
|
training for peace officers; authorizing a fee. |
|
|
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
|
|
SECTION 1. Subchapter C, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, |
|
|
is amended by adding Section 504.204 to read as follows: |
|
|
Sec. 504.204. PERSONS WHO ARE DEAF OR HARD OF HEARING. |
|
|
(a) In this section, "deaf" and "hard of hearing" have the |
|
|
meanings assigned by Section 81.001, Human Resources Code. |
|
|
(b) The department shall design and issue specialty license |
|
|
plates for a motor vehicle that is regularly operated by a person |
|
|
who is deaf or hard of hearing. A license plate issued under this |
|
|
section must include an emblem indicating that the person operating |
|
|
the vehicle is deaf or hard of hearing. |
|
|
(c) The initial application for specialty license plates |
|
|
under this section must be accompanied by a written statement from a |
|
|
physician who is licensed to practice medicine in this state or in a |
|
|
state adjacent to this state or who is authorized by applicable law |
|
|
to practice medicine in a hospital or other health facility of the |
|
|
Department of Veterans Affairs. The statement must certify that |
|
|
the person making the application is deaf or hard of hearing. |
|
|
(d) The fee for a set of license plates issued under this |
|
|
section is $8. |
|
|
SECTION 2. Section 1701.253, Occupations Code, is amended |
|
|
by adding Subsection (l) to read as follows: |
|
|
(l) As part of the minimum curriculum requirements, the |
|
|
commission shall establish a statewide comprehensive education and |
|
|
training program on procedures for interacting with drivers who are |
|
|
deaf or hard of hearing, as defined by Section 81.001, Human |
|
|
Resources Code, including identifying specialty license plates |
|
|
issued to individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing under Section |
|
|
504.204, Transportation Code. An officer shall complete a program |
|
|
established under this subsection not later than the second |
|
|
anniversary of the date the officer is licensed under this chapter |
|
|
or the date the officer applies for an intermediate proficiency |
|
|
certificate, whichever date is earlier. |
|
|
SECTION 3. Not later than March 1, 2016, the Texas |
|
|
Commission on Law Enforcement shall establish the deaf or hard of |
|
|
hearing driver training program as required by Section 1701.253(l), |
|
|
Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
|
|
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2016. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
| |
| |
______________________________ |
______________________________ |
| |
President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1987 passed the Senate on |
|
|
May 5, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Secretary of the Senate |
| |
|
|
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1987 passed the House on |
|
|
May 22, 2015, by the following vote: Yeas 134, Nays 6, two |
|
|
present not voting. |
|
|
|
| |
| |
______________________________ |
| |
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |
|
|
|
| |
|
|
Approved: |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Date |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Governor |