C.S.H.B. 2129 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 2129 By: Chisum Transportation Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE C.S.H.B. 2129 78(R) On February 1, 2003, the Space Shuttle Columbia self-destructed in the skies over Texas. All those aboard the aircraft perished and an investigation continues at the time of this bill's writing. The purpose of CSHB 2129 is to allow the Texas Department of Transportation to issue commemorative license plates for the benefit of the Aviation and Space Foundation of Texas. 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 The Texas Department of Transportation shall issue Columbia license plates for cars and trucks. The plates will be designed in consultation with the Aviation and Space Foundation of Texas. The plates may be issued to a person who applies to his/her county assessor-collector on a form provided by the Department and who pays an annual fee of $30 (in addition to the already required annual registration fee for vehicle plates and/or the fee for personal prestige license plates). From the fee, $22 shall be deposited to the general revenue fund only to be used by the Texas Aerospace Commission (or successor agency) in making grants to benefit the Aviation and Space Foundation of Texas for furthering aviation and Columbia memorial scholarships for students. Of the $30 fee, the remaining $8 not used for the general revenue shall be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund to defray administrative costs. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003 COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE The substitute differs from the original in that the substitute removes the section from the original bill that dealt with lost or damaged plates.