SRC-LBB S.B. 960 78(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 960
78R6159 JRJ-FBy: Duncan
Infrastructure Development and Security
3/19/2003
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the Transportation Code allows the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) to issue certain specialty license plates.  The
Texas economy benefits from contributions of the cotton industry. As
proposed, S.B. 960 authorizes TxDOT to issue cotton boll license plates.
This bill provides for proceeds from the sale of the license plates to
benefit Texas Cotton Producers, Inc, for the sole purpose of providing
scholarships to students in an agricultural field related to the cotton
industry. 

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
502.2762, as follows: 

Sec.  502.2762.  COTTON BOLL LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  Requires the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed cotton
boll license plates for certain vehicles. 

(b)  Requires the license plates to depict a graphic image of a cotton
boll and be designed by TxDOT in consultation with Texas Cotton Producers,
Inc. 

(c)  Requires TxDOT to issue license plates under this section to a person
who meets certain requirements. 

(d)  Requires a certain portion of each fee collected under this section
to be deposited in certain funds. 

(e)  Authorizes the owner of the vehicle for which the license plates were
issued to obtain replacement plates from TxDOT for a fee of $5, if license
plates are lost, stolen, or mutilated.  Requires the owner of a vehicle
registered under this section who disposes of the vehicle during the
registration year to return the special plates to TxDOT. 
  
SECTION 2.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.