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.