TWT H.B. 2519 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION H.B. 2519 By: Gallego 4-16-97 Committee Report (Amended) BACKGROUND Big Bend National Park is the oldest, largest and most popular national park in Texas. Though located in far West Texas, the park is used by people from all across the state. Over the last few years, visitation at Big Bend has continued to increase. Though Big Bend is a federal park, many Texas residents would like to find a way to actively and directly contribute to the well-being of the park. Other states allow their residents to be a part of the preservation of the park through the purchase of special license plates. In California, license plates commemorating Yosemite National Park are among the state's most popular license plates. The funds raised through sale of the license plates go to towards preserving and protecting the park for future generations. PURPOSE HB 2519 would authorize the Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to issue specially designed license plates honoring Big Bend National Park. The funds generated would then be transferred to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TP&WD) which would, in turn, give the money in the form of a grant to a designated non-profit organization whose primary function is the improvement and preservation of Big Bend National Park. 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. However, in Section 1, in Sec. 502.292 (f), the TP&WD is required to establish reporting and other mechanisms to ensure money is spent for its intended purpose. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.292. (a) Allows the TXDOT to issue specially designed license plates to support activities of a designated non-profit organization whose primary purpose it to improve and preserve Big Bend National Park. (b) Requires the organization have enough buyers to sell 1,000 plates before the TXDOT is required to issue the license plates. (c) Requires at least one significant feature of Big Bend to appear on the license plates designed by the TP&WD in consultation with the designated organization. (d) The TXDOT shall issue plates to someone who: (1) applies to the county tax assessorcollector; and (2) pays $50 for an original set of plates or $40 for renewal of plates, in addition to the fee required by law. Personalized prestige plates are an additional fee. (e) Establishes the fee for replacement of a lost or damaged plate at $35 plus the fee prescribed by law. (f) Allows five dollars of the fees collected under this section for administration costs. The remaining money is to be deposited in the state treasury in Big Bend National Park account. Only TP&WD can use the funds to support the activities of the designated organization. Requires TP&WD to establish reporting and other mechanisms to make sure the money is spent for its intended purpose. (g) Requires the return of the license plates to the TXDOT, should the owner of a registered vehicle dispose of the vehicle during the registration year. SECTION 2. Effective Date -- September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency Clause. EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS Committee Amendment #1 amends Subsection (f), of Sec. 502.292, Transportation Code, by clarifying that the the Parks and Wildlife Department can only use funds deposited in the Big Bend National Park account to support the activities of a designated non-profit organization whose primary purpose is the improvement or preservation of Big Bend National Park. The bill as filed did not specify in Subsection (f) that the designated organization had to have as its primary purpose the improvement or preservation of Big Bend National Park.