1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to special license plates benefitting Big Bend National 1-3 Park. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 1-6 is amended by adding Section 502.295 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 502.295. BIG BEND NATIONAL PARK LICENSE PLATES. (a) 1-8 Except as provided by Subsection (b), the department shall issue 1-9 specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light 1-10 trucks to support the activities of a nonprofit organization 1-11 designated by the Parks and Wildlife Department that has as its 1-12 principal purpose the improvement or preservation of Big Bend 1-13 National Park. 1-14 (b) The department is not required to issue license plates 1-15 under this section unless the designated organization can establish 1-16 a commitment for the purchase of at least 1,000 sets of the license 1-17 plates. 1-18 (c) The license plates must bear one or more graphic images 1-19 of significant features of Big Bend National Park designed by the 1-20 Parks and Wildlife Department in consultation with the designated 1-21 organization. 1-22 (d) The department shall issue license plates under this 1-23 section to a person who: 1-24 (1) applies to the county assessor-collector of the 2-1 county in which the person resides on a form provided by the 2-2 department; and 2-3 (2) pays a fee of $50 for an original issuance of 2-4 license plates under this section or $40 for a renewal of issuance 2-5 of license plates under this section, in addition to the fee 2-6 prescribed by Section 502.161 or 502.162, and, if personalized 2-7 prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the fee 2-8 prescribed by Section 502.251. 2-9 (e) The fee for replacement of a lost, stolen, or mutilated 2-10 plate issued under this section is $35, in addition to the fee 2-11 prescribed by Section 502.184(a). 2-12 (f) Of each fee collected under this section, $5 may be used 2-13 to defray the cost of administering this section by the department 2-14 and the Parks and Wildlife Department. The department shall 2-15 deposit the remainder of each fee collected under this section to 2-16 the credit of the Big Bend National Park account in the state 2-17 treasury. Money in the account may be used only by the Parks and 2-18 Wildlife Department to support the activities of a designated 2-19 nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is the improvement or 2-20 preservation of Big Bend National Park. The Parks and Wildlife 2-21 Department shall establish reporting and other mechanisms necessary 2-22 to ensure that the money is expended for purposes for which it is 2-23 dedicated. 2-24 (g) If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section 2-25 disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner 2-26 shall return the special license plates to the department. 2-27 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 1997. 3-1 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 3-2 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 3-3 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 3-4 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 3-5 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2519 was passed by the House on April 25, 1997, by a non-record vote; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. No. 2519 on May 20, 1997, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.B. No. 2519 was passed by the Senate, with amendments, on May 16, 1997, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: _____________________ Date _____________________ Governor