TWT S.B. 460 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS TRANSPORTATION S.B. 460 By: Shapiro (Cuellar) 4-16-97 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Currently, the Texas Family Code authorizes the attorney general to contract with one statewide organization whose individuals have the expertise in the dynamics of child abuse and neglect and experience in operating volunteer advocate programs to provide training, technical assistance, and evaluation services for the benefit of local volunteer advocate programs. PURPOSE As proposed, S.B. 460 requires the Department of Transportation to issue a specially designed volunteer advocate program license plate to persons who apply and pay applicable fees. 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. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by adding Sec. 502.292. Sec. 502.292. VOLUNTEER ADVOCATE PROGRAM LICENSE PLATES. Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department), in recognition of children, to issue specially designed volunteer advocate program license plates for passenger cars and light trucks. Requires the license plates to be of a color, quality, and design approved by the attorney general in consultation with the department. Requires the department to issue license plates under this section to a person who follows certain procedures. Sets forth provisions regarding fees, allocation of fees collected, and use of fees deposited. Requires the owner of a vehicle registered under this section to return the special license plates to the department if the owner disposes of the vehicle. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997. SECTION 3. Emergency clause.