SRC-JBJ S.B. 246 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 246
76R3459 DWS-DBy: Ellis
State Affairs
2/8/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, the state offers a non-standard license plate, called a
specialty plate, which indicates the bearer's special status or displays
artwork such as a college logo.  In 1998, over $3 million in fees were
generated from one percent of the 16 million registered vehicles in Texas
that carried a specialty plate. Although the Texas Department of
Transportation (TXDOT) does not promote special plates, the revenue
benefits the department and other state agencies.  S.B. 246 requires TXDOT
to promote the specialty plates by developing a brochure describing the
various licenses plates available and mailing the brochure to prospective
customers with license plate renewal forms. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 246 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to
promote specialty plates with a brochure. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 502B, Transportation Code, by adding Section
502.057, as follows: 

Sec. 502.057.  PROMOTION OF SPECIALIZED LICENSED PLATES.  Requires the
Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) to create a brochure describing
and promoting the available specialized state license plates.  Requires the
department to distribute the brochure to persons registering vehicles and
to include the brochure in each mailed registration renewal notice. 

SECTION 2.  Requires TXDOT to submit to the lieutenant governor and speaker
of the house of representatives an analysis on the effects the promotional
activities in Section 502.057, Transportation Code, had on the sale of
specialized license plates, and recommendations to improve the marketing of
specialized license plates. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4.  Emergency clause.