SRC-ARR S.B. 639 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 639 76R4853 DWS-FBy: Bernsen Infrastructure 3/22/1999 As Filed DIGEST Currently, there is not 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 proposed, 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, the comptroller shall transmit $25 to the Texas Economic Development Corporation, 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.