LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                               May 19, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Clyde Alexander, Chair, House Committee on
               Transportation
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  SB1353  by Armbrister (Relating to the issuance of
               certain veterans license plates.), Committee Report 2nd
               House, as amended
  
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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 provide for the purchase
of additional "Legion of Valor" and "Former Prisoner of War" license
plates.  The bill would authorize the purchase of second and subsequent
plates by recipients of the Air Force Cross or Distinguished Service
Cross, the Army Distinguished Service Cross, the Navy Cross, or the Medal
of Honor.  The bill would also authorize the purchase of second and
subsequent plates by persons who were honorably discharged former
prisoners of war.  The bill would require $3 for the first set of plates
and $15 for each additional set of plates plus the regular registration
fees. The bill would eliminate the requirement that a person is allowed
only one set of these types of license plates.  The bill would require
that the license plates of any vehicles disposed of during the
registration year would be returned to the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT).

The bill would also amend the Transportation Code to require TxDOT to
issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light
trucks owned by members or alumnae of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.
The bill would also amend the Education Code to create a new dedicated
account in the General Revenue Fund.  The bill would require an annual
registration fee of $25 in addition to any other registration fees for
the specially designed license plates; that $8 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 Education Agency for
the purpose of making grants to benefit programs sponsored by the El Paso
alumnae Chapter of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority.

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

The bill would take effect upon receiving a two-thirds majority vote of
the members in both houses; otherwise, the bill would take effect
September 1, 2001.
  
Local Government Impact
  
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is
anticipated.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601   Texas
                   Department of Transportation, 701   Texas Education
                   Agency
LBB Staff:         JK, JO, RT, MW