BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 4080

By: Jetton

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles offers a variety of specialty license plates recognizing certain causes, it does not issue plates specifically highlighting autism awareness. There have been calls to raise autism awareness in Texas through the issuance of these plates, which could also help inform fellow drivers and first responders that autistic individuals may be traveling in the car. H.B. 4080 provides for the issuance of autism awareness license plates.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 4080 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the words "Autism Awareness." The bill requires TxDMV to design the plates in consultation with a representative of the Hope for Three nonprofit organization. The bill requires the amount of the fee for issuance of the license plates remaining after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs to be deposited to the credit of an account created by the comptroller of public accounts outside the general revenue fund. Money deposited to that account may be used only by the trusteed programs within the office of the governor to make grants to a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to create awareness about and provide support to families living with autism spectrum disorder, to be used by that organization for that purpose.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.