SRC-AMY S.B. 1231 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1231 By: Estes/Van de Putte Infrastructure Development and Security 3/20/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE The United States Department of Defense will recommence its Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) process in 2005 and the state's $10 billion budget shortfall precludes the state from fully funding a concerted, centralized campaign to promote its military bases, thus avoiding base closures. There is also a rise in patriotic sentiment concomitant with the war in Iraq. A "United We Stand" license plate would provide a state sanctioned outlet for patriotic expression and provide a revenue stream for efforts to prevent the closures of military bases. As proposed, S.B. 1231 creates a "United We Stand" license plate using only red, white, blue, and black, the cost of which will cover administrative costs and of administering the license plate program and support the Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account 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 502.2664, as follows: Sec. 502.2664. UNITED WE STAND LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light trucks to support the Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account. (b) Requires the license to bear the words "United We Stand" and use only the colors red, white, blue, and black. (c) Requires TxDOT to issue the license plates to persons who meet certain criteria. (d) Requires TxDOT to deposit $20 of each fee collected under this section to the credit of the Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account in the general revenue fund. (e) Requires remainder of each fee collected under this section, after deposit as provided by Subsection (d), to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund and authorizes that revenue to be used only to defray the cost of administering this section. (f) Provides that the fee to replace a lost, stolen, or mutilated license plate issued under this section is $30, in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.184(a) (Replacement of Lost, Stolen, or Mutilated License Plate). SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003. SECTION 3. Provides that this Act takes effect only if another Act creates the Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account and becomes law; otherwise, this Act has no effect.