1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the issuance of Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard
 1-3     of Hearing license plates.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 502.2735 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 502.2735.  TEXAS COMMISSION FOR THE DEAF AND HARD OF
 1-8     HEARING LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  The department shall issue specially
 1-9     designed Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing license
1-10     plates for passenger cars and light trucks.
1-11           (b)  The department shall design the license plates in
1-12     consultation with the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of
1-13     Hearing.
1-14           (c)  The department shall issue license plates under this
1-15     section to a person who:
1-16                 (1)  applies to the assessor-collector of the county in
1-17     which the person resides on a form provided by the department; and
1-18                 (2)  pays an annual fee of $25, in addition to the fee
1-19     prescribed by Section 502.161 or 502.162 and, if personalized
1-20     prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the fee
1-21     prescribed by Section 502.251.
1-22           (d)  Of each fee collected under Subsection (c)(2), $5 shall
1-23     be used by the department only to defray the cost of administering
1-24     this section.
1-25           (e)  The remainder of each fee collected shall be deposited
 2-1     to the credit of the general revenue fund and may be appropriated
 2-2     only to the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for
 2-3     direct services programs, training, and education.
 2-4           (f)  If the owner of a vehicle for which license plates were
 2-5     issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during a
 2-6     registration year, the owner shall return the special license
 2-7     plates to the department.
 2-8           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1563 passed the Senate on
         April 5, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, one
         present, not voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
               I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1563 passed the House on
         May 17, 2001, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                Chief Clerk of the House
         Approved:
         _______________________________
                      Date
         _______________________________
                    Governor