SRC-JEC H.B. 2107 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 2107
78R13639 DWS-DBy: Hope (Staples)
Infrastructure Development and Security
5/20/2003
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Frequently, the families of homicide victims need extra support.  H.B.
2107 establishes a specialized mother-child survivors license plate, the
proceeds of which will establish a scholarship to help with educational
expenses for the children of homicide victims.  
  
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to
a state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2923, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2923.  MOTHER-CHILD SURVIVORS EDUCATIONAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) to issue specially designed mother-child survivors educational
scholarship fund  license plates for passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b)  Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with
Texans for Equal Justice. 

(c)  Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person
who: 

(1)  applies to the county assessor-collector of the county in which the
person resides on a form provided by TxDOT; and 
(2)  pays an annual fee of $30, in addition to the fee prescribed by
Section 502.161 or 502.162, and, if personalized prestige license plates
are issued, in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.251. 

(d)  Provides that of each fee collected under this section, TxDOT is
required to deposit $22 to the credit of the general revenue fund and $8
to the credit of the state highway fund. 

(e)  Provides that money deposited to the credit of the general revenue
fund under Subsection (d) may be appropriated only to the attorney general
and used only to support the Texans for Equal Justice mother-child
survivors educational scholarship fund for educational scholarships to: 

(1)  surviving spouses of homicide victims who have one or more minor
children and who need further education to adequately support the family;
and 
(2)  surviving children of homicide victims entering an institution of
higher education or vocational school for the first time. 
 
(f)  Requires the owner of a vehicle registered under this section, if the
owner disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return the
special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.