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.