LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              April 10, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
               Transportation
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB3480  by Eiland (Relating to special license plates to
               aid the recovery, rehabilitation, and release of stranded
               marine mammals.), As Introduced
  
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*  No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.        *
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The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation to issue specially designed license plates
for passenger cars and light trucks and to create a new dedicated account
in the General Revenue Fund.  The bill would require TxDOT to design the
license plates in consultation with Texas Marine Mammal Stranding
Network and that the words "Dolphin Rescue Team" be included on the
plate.  The bill would require an annual registration fee of $25 in
addition to any other registration fees for the specially designed
license plates; that $5 from each fee collected be deposited in the State
Highway Fund to defray the costs of providing the plates; and that all
remaining proceeds be deposited in the new dedicated account.  The bill
would also require funds in the new dedicated account to be appropriated
to the Texas A&M University at Galveston for the purpose of supporting
the activities of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network in
recovering, rehabilitating, and releasing stranded marine mammals.

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated due to the
estimated number of license plate issuances.

The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   601   Texas Department of Transportation, 304
                   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, MW