SRC-MSY S.B. 293 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 293
78R3476 JRJ-DBy: Shapiro
Infrastructure Development and Security
2/13/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, no law provides for a specialized motor vehicle license plate
to benefit and increase awareness of Texas trees.   As proposed, S.B. 293
creates a specialized license plate featuring the state tree of Texas and
appropriates funds for the Texas Forest Service from the $30 fee charged
for obtaining the special plates. 

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 Chapter 502F, Transportation Code, by adding Section
502.2935, as follows: 

Sec.  502.2935.  STATE TREE LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  Requires the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed State
Tree license plates for passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b)  Requires the license plates to include the words "Stand tall for
Texas trees," depict the state tree, and have a certain appearance
approved by the Texas Urban Forestry Council. 

(c)  Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person
who applies to his or her county assessor-collector on a form provided by
TxDOT and who pays an annual fee of $30 in addition to the fee prescribed
by Section 502.161, 502.162, or, if applicable, 502.251. 

(d)  Requires TxDOT to deposit $20 of each fee collected under this
section to the Texas Urban Forestry Council account in the state treasury.
Provides that the money in the account can only be used by the Texas
Forest Service to make grants to benefit the Texas Urban Forestry Council. 

(e)  Requires that the remainder of each fee collected under this section
be deposited to the state highway fund, and be used only to defray the
costs of administering this section. 

(f)  Requires the owner of a vehicle registered under this section to
return the special license plates to TxDOT if the owner disposes of the
vehicle during the registration year. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2003.