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.