SRC-LBB S.B. 1270 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center S.B. 1270 78R6540 DWS-DBy: Armbrister Infrastructure Development and Security 3/24/2003 As Filed DIGEST AND PURPOSE During the 76th Texas Legislative Session H.B. 2641 was enacted, authorized the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue Waterfowl and Wetland Conservation specialty license plates. In conjunction with the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the Waterfowl and Wetland Conservation "Texas Ducks Unlimited" (TDU) license plate was created. As directed by the legislation, TxDOT charges a special plate fee of $50 for the DU license plate. TxDOT offers specialty plates for various other organizations. However, most of those have a specialty plate fee of either $25 or $30. As proposed, S.B. 1270 reduces the specialty license fee for the TDU plates $25 and the renewal rate from $40 to $25. It is the hope of TDU that this reduction in cost will increase the number of license plates bought and renewed. 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 Sections 502.303(c) and (d), Transportation Code, as follows: (c) Decreases from $50 to $25 the fee for an original issuance or renewal of issuance of license plates under this section by the Texas Department of Transportation. (d) Decreases from $35 to $25 the fee for the replacement of a lost, stolen, or mutilated plate issued under this section. Deletes SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2003.