HBA-MSH H.B. 811 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 811 By: McReynolds Transportation 7/18/2001 Enrolled BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Special Olympics is the world's largest program of year-round sports training and competition for persons with mental retardation and other developmental disabilities. In Texas, more than 24,000 athletes participate in 167 competitions annually on area, regional, and state levels, with the help of 23,000 volunteers. Special Olympics provides participants with opportunities to develop physical fitness and build self-esteem. Special Olympics Texas could do more with increased resources. House Bill 811 provides for the issuance of a special license plate, the proceeds from which would go into the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Special Olympics Texas account for the benefit of Special Olympics Texas. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS House Bill 811 amends Health and Safety Code to create the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation Special Olympics Texas account (account) as a separate account in the general revenue fund. The bill requires the Texas Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation to distribute the money in the account to Special Olympics Texas. The bill amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to provide for the issuance of a special license plate for passenger cars and light trucks, designed in consultation with Special Olympics Texas, that bear the words, "Special Olympics Texas." The bill sets forth provisions for the issuance of the plates, including fees, registration, and replacement of lost or mutilated license plates. The bill requires TxDOT to deposit fees collected for the license plates into the Special Olympics Texas account, minus five dollars per vehicle to be used by TxDOT to defray the administrative costs of issuing the plates. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.