SRC-LBB S.B. 715 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 715 78R4473 MTB-FBy: Lindsay Infrastructure Development and Security 3/5/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, there is not a license plate designed especially for the Texas Bicycle Coalition. As proposed, S.B. 715 creates a license plate for the Texas Bicycle Coalition. Portions of the fee charged for obtaining the plate would be deposited to the state highway fund, to the Texas Education Agency to promote awareness of bicycle safety, and to the share the road account in the state treasury. 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 502.2737, as follows: Sec. 502.2737. SHARE THE ROAD LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDot) to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light trucks that include the words "Share The Road" and an image of a bicycle or a bicycle with a rider. (b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Bicycle Coalition Education Fund. (c) Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person who follows certain requirements. (d) Requires the fees collected under Subsection (c)(2) to be deposited as follows: (1) Requires $8 to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund to be used by TxDOT only to defray the cost of administering this section and any bicycle-related programs of TxDOT. (2) Requires $5 to be deposited to the credit of an account in the general revenue fund that may be appropriated only to the Texas Education Agency (TEA) to promote motorist awareness of bicyclists in driver and traffic safety education. (3) Requires $22 to be deposited to the credit of the share the road account in the state treasury to be used by TEA to support the activities of a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to promote bicyclist safety, education, and access through education and awareness programs and training, workshops, educational materials, and media events. (e) Authorizes up to 25 percent of the amount in Subsection (d)(3) to be used to support the activities of the nonprofit organization in marketing and promoting the share the road concept and license plates. (f) Authorizes TEA to establish reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure that the money collected under this section is spent for purposes for which it is dedicated. (g) Authorizes an owner of a vehicle whose license plates issued under this section are lost, stolen, or mutilated, to obtain replacement license plates from TxDOT by paying a replacement fee of $5. (h) 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.