SRC-ARR S.B. 639 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 639
By: Bernsen
Infrastructure
7/22/1999
Enrolled


DIGEST 

Currently, there is no specific license plate to be issued for the Texas
Department of Economic Development similar to that of the Texas Commission
on the Arts. S.B. 639 requires the Texas Department of Transportation to
create a special license plate to raise funds for tourism and marketing of
Texas.  

PURPOSE

As enrolled, S.B. 639 authorizes the issuance of a special license plate to
benefit the Texas Economic Development Corporation. 

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 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section
502.2733, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2733. TEXAS. IT'S LIKE A WHOLE OTHER COUNTRY LICENSE PLATES.
Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (department) to issue a
specially designed "Texas. It's Like A Whole Other Country" license plate
for passenger cars and light trucks. Requires the plate to include the
trademarked Texas patch and the words "Texas. It's Like A Whole Other
Country" and be of a color, quality, and design approved by the Texas
Department of Economic Development. Requires the department to issue the
license plates under this section to certain persons. Provides that of each
fee collected under this section, $25 shall be deposited to the credit of
the tourism account in the general revenue fund to finance the Texas
Department of Economic Development's tourism activities, and $5 shall be
deposited to the state highway fund. Requires the owner to return the
special license plates to the department, if the owner of a vehicle
registered under this section disposes of the vehicle during the
registration year.  

SECTION 2. Requires the comptroller to determine the total amount collected
under Section 502.2733(d)(1), Transportation Code, as added by this Act,
before January 1, 2004, and to submit the determination to the secretary of
state for publication in the Texas Register, before September 1, 2003.
Provides that Section 502.2733, Transportation Code, as added by this Act,
expires January 1, 2004, if the amount of the comptroller's determination
is less than $100,000. 

SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 4. Emergency clause.