SRC-LBB S.B. 557 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 557
78R5159 JRJ-DBy: Madla
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/5/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Current Texas law allows specially designed license plates, benefitting an
organization whose principal purpose is the improvement or preservation of
Big Bend National Park, to be issued only for passenger cars and light
trucks.  In addition, the Texas Department of Transportation is not
authorized to release the names of those who order the license plates to
the Friends of the Big Bend Organization.  As proposed, S.B. 557 adds
motorcycle plates to the list of specialty plates for the Friends of Big
Bend and provides a method by which a purchaser can choose whether the
purchaser wants to be contacted by the Friends of Big Bend National Park. 

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 Section 502.2732, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (a) and (d) and adding Subsection (h), as follows: 

(a)  Includes motorcycles in the list of vehicles for which the Texas
Department of Transportation is required to issue specially designed
license plates to support a nonprofit organization designated by the Parks
and Wildlife Department as espousing the improvement or preservation of
Big Bend National Park. 

 (d)  Includes Section 502.160 in the list of sections relating to fees
for a license plate. 

(h)  Requires an application for license plates under this section to
include a printed box for the applicant to check if the applicant does not
consent to the release of his or her name and address.  Requires the
application to clearly specify that in not checking the box, the applicant
consents to the release of the information. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.