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.