H.B. 499 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 499
By: Kuempel
Transportation
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Texas trees are not just beautiful. They reduce air and water pollution
and lower energy use and costs. They provide shade and shelter for native
wildlife. And they are dwindling in number in our urban areas. Trees are
not, however, the recipient of great funding from the state for their
preservation or continued protection. House Bill 499 provides for the
issuance of a special license plate, the proceeds from which would be used
by the Texas Forest Service to make grants to support the activities of
any statewide nonprofit organization located in Texas that protect and
preserve trees in urban areas and communities. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 499 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation to issue a license plate for passenger cars
and light trucks to be designed in consultation with the Texas Forest
Service and nonprofit organizations that qualify for funding under the
bill. The bill sets forth the procedure for issuing the license plates and
the required fee of $30. All fees from the license plates are deposited in
the urban forestry account in the state treasury less an $8 fee per
vehicle to be used by TxDOT to defray the administrative cost of issuing
the license. The Forest Service will distribute the funds as grants to
support the activities of a statewide nonprofit organization within the
state whose primary purpose is to sponsor projects for urban tree
planting, preservation and education programs. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

The Act takes effect September 1, 2003.