SRC-SEW S.B. 614 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 614
77R2410 MTB-DBy: Van de Putte
State Affairs
2/26/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

When cancer strikes, it places many increased expenses on the patient and
his or her family, including transportation to and from doctor's offices;
co-payments and provider charges; over-the-counter medications and related
supplies; special non-prescription dietary foods and drinks; and various
supplies.  Currently, there are a number of Texas nonprofit organizations
trying to help patients with these needs.  As proposed, S.B. 614 creates a
"Texans Conquer Cancer" specialty license plate program in order to raise
funds for cancer support organizations in Texas.   

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Cancer Council in
SECTION 2 (Section 102.017, Health and Safety Code), of this bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section
502.2735, as follows: 

 Sec. 502.2735.  TEXANS CONQUER CANCER LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires the 
Texas Department of Transportation (department) to issue specially designed
license plates for passenger cars and light trucks that include the words
"Texans Conquer Cancer." 

(b) Requires the department to design the license plates in consultation
with the Texas Cancer Council. 

(c) Requires the department to issue license plates under this section to a
person who meets certain stated requirements. 

(d) Requires that $5 of each fee collected under Subsection (c)(2), be used
by the department only to defray the cost of administering this section.
Requires the department to deposit the remainder of each fee collected to
the credit of the Texans Conquer Cancer account established by Section
102.017, Health and Safety Code. 

(e) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle for which license plates
were issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during a
registration year, to return the special license plates to the department. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Chapter 102, Health and Safety Code, by adding Sections
102.017 and 102.018, as follows: 

Sec. 102.017.  TEXANS CONQUER CANCER ACCOUNT.  Provides that the Texans
Conquer Cancer account is a separate account in the general revenue fund.
Sets forth components of the account.  Provides that the Texas Cancer
Council (council) administers the account.  Authorizes the council to spend
money credited to the account only for certain stated purposes.  Authorizes
the council to accept gifts, donations, and grants from any source for the
benefit of the account.  Requires the council by rule to establish
guidelines for spending money credited to the account. 

Sec. 102.018.  TEXANS CONQUER CANCER ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  Requires the
council to appoint a seven-member Texans Conquer Cancer advisory committee.
Requires the committee to perform certain stated functions.  Provides that
members of the committee serve without compensation and are not entitled to
reimbursement for expenses.  Provides that each member serves a term of
four years, with the terms of three or four members expiring on January 31
of each odd-numbered year.  Provides that Section 2110.008 (Duration of
Advisory Committees), Government Code, does not apply to the committee. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.