H.B. 3020 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 3020 By: Woolley Transportation Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law does not create a "God Bless Texas" or "God Bless America" license plate. In light of recent tragic events and the ever-increasing sense of patriotism for the United States and Texas, "God Bless Texas" and "God Bless America" license plates are a fitting tribute. The proceeds from these license plates would go to fund The Safe Routes to School Program, which is a federally and state funded program that create and improve pedestrian and bicycle routes. The purpose of The Safe Routes to School Program is to ensure the safety of our children in school zone area and around railway crossings. House Bill 3020 will raise money to help support these efforts and be a valuable public display of patriotism. 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 HB 3020 amends the Transportation Code to require that Texas Department of Transportation issue God Bless America and God Bless Texas license plates for passenger cars and light trucks, designed by the TXDOT, that bears the words "God Bless America" and "God Bless Texas." The bill sets forth provisions for the insurance of the plates, including fees, registration, and replacements of lost or mutilated license plates. The bill requires the person who is obtaining the license plates apply to the county assessorcollector of the county in which they live, pay an annual fee of $40 dollars in addition to the prescribed fee laid out in section 502.161. The money collected will be distributed by $32 deposited to the state highway fund and may only be used for Safe Routes to School Program, and $8 shall be deposited to the state highway fund to expense administering this section. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2003