SRC-AMY C.S.S.B. 1704 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 1704
By: Wentworth
Infrastructure Development and Security
4/25/2003
Committee Report (Substituted)

DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, Texas law allows for the creation of specialty license plates,
but new legislation is required to make each additional license plate
available to the public.  C.S.S.B. 1704 creates the process for requesting
new specialty license plates from the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) and for TxDOT to issue those plates.  This bill also authorizes
TxDOT to create new specialty license plates upon its own initiative. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Texas Transportation
Commission in SECTION 1 (Section 502.2515, Transportation Code) and in
SECTION 2 (Section 502.2524, Transportation Code) and to the Texas Board
of Health in SECTION 28 (Section 162.016, Health & Safety Code) of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2515, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2515.  CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE VENDOR.  (a) Authorizes the Texas
Transportation Commission (TTC) to authorize the Texas Department of
Transportation (TxDOT) to enter into a contract with the private vendor
whose proposal is most advantageous to the state as determined from
competitive sealed proposals for marketing personalized prestige license
plates or other specialized license plates. 

(b) Requires TTC to establish fees for the issuance or renewal of
personalized prestige license plates that are marketed and sold by the
private vendor, instead of the fees established by Section 502.251(c)
(Personalized Prestige License Plates), if TTC authorizes TxDOT to
contract with a private vendor under Subsection (a)(1) for the marketing
and sale of personalized prestige license plates, requires TTC by rule to
establish fees for the issuance or renewal of personalized prestige
license plates that are marketed and sold by the private vendor.  Requires
fees to be reasonable and not less than the greater of certain amounts. 

(c) Requires TTC to establish fees for the issuance or renewal of
specialized license plates that are marketed and sold by the private
vendor, if TTC authorizes TxDOT to contract with a private vendor under
Subsection (a)(2) for the marketing and sale of other specialized license
plates authorized by this subchapter, including specialized license plates
that may be personalized, requires TTC by rule to establish the fees for
the issuance or renewal of specialized license plates that are marketed
and sold by the private vendor.  Requires fees to be reasonable and not
less than the amounts necessary to allow TxDOT to recover certain costs.
Provides that a fee established under this subsection is in addition to
certain other fees.  

(d) Authorizes TTC, at any time, as necessary to comply with Subsection
(b) or (c), to increase or decrease the amount of a fee established under
the applicable subsection. 

 (e) Provides that a contract with a private vendor under Subsection
(a)(1) is payable only from amounts derived from the collection of the fee
established under Subsection (b).  Provides that a contract with a private
vendor under Subsection (a)(2) is payable only from amounts derived from
the collection of the fee established under Subsection (c).  

(f) Authorizes TxDOT to create new design and color combinations for
personalized prestige license plates that are marketed or sold by a
private vendor under a contract entered into under Subsection (a)(1).
Provides that each approved license plate design and color combination
remains the property of TxDOT. 

(g) Authorizes TxDOT to create new design and color combinations for
specialized plates, including specialized license plates that may be
personalized, that are marketed or sold by a private vendor under a
contract entered into under Subsection (a)(2).  Provides that each
approved license plate design and color combination remains the property
of TxDOT.  Provides that this subsection does not authorize certain
activities. 

(h) Authorizes TxDOT, in connection with a license plate that is marketed
or sold by a private vendor under contract, to cancel a license plate or
require the discontinuation of a license plate design or color combination
at any time if TxDOT determines that the cancellation or discontinuation
is in the best interest of this state or the motoring public. 

(i) Sets forth the requirements and authorizations of a contract entered
into by TxDOT with a private vendor under this section. 

(j) Requires TxDOT, from amounts received by TxDOT, to deposit to the
credit of the state highway fund an amount sufficient to enable TxDOT to
recover its administrative cost for all license plates issued under this
section, including any payments to the vendor under Subsection (a), and
any other amounts allocated to the state highway fund by another law.
Requires, to the extent that disposition of other amounts received from
the vendor are governed by another law, those amounts to be deposited in
accordance with the other law, and for each type of license plate, the
amount charged for the license plate may not be less than the amount in
effect on January 1, 2003.  Requires any additional amount received from
the vendor to be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund. 

(k) Authorizes TTC to authorize TxDOT  to pay a licensing fee for the use
of a trademark in connection with the marketing and sale of a license
plate under this section. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Sections 502.2524 and 502.2527, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2524.  CREATION OF NEW SPECIALTY PLATES BY THE DEPARTMENT.  (a)
Authorizes TxDOT to create new specialty license plates, which may be
personalized, on its own initiative or on receipt of an application from a
potential sponsor.  Requires a new specialty plate created under this
section to meet the requirements of Section 502.2526, Transportation Code
(Specialized License Plates Authorized After January 1, 1999), unless it
is created at TxDOT's initiative.  Authorizes TxDOT to allow a new
specialty license plate to be personalized and issued for any
classification of vehicle. 

(b) Authorizes any person to sponsor a new specialty plate by submitting
an application.  Authorizes the application to nominate a state agency to
receive funds generated by the new specialty plate and identify uses to
which the funds should be appropriated. 
 
(c) Requires TxDOT to design each new specialty plate in consultation with
the sponsor, if any, that applies for creation of that specialty plate.
Requires the plate design be the exclusive property of TxDOT.  Authorizes
TxDOT to refuse to create a new specialty plate under certain
circumstances.  Provides that the determination rests in the sole
discretion of the executive director of TxDOT (director) and prohibits
overturning that determination in the absence of an abuse of that
discretion.  Authorizes TxDOT, at the request of the sponsor, to limit the
distribution of a specialty plate.  Requires the application for a
specialty plate to include satisfactory evidence to TxDOT that the
applicant and the applicant's vehicle are eligible, if distribution is
limited. 

(d) Requires the TxDOT to issue specialty plates created under this
section to a person who meets certain criteria. 

(e) Requires the county assessor-collector, of each fee collected under
Subsection (d), to retain 50 cents for deposit to the credit of the
general fund of the county to pay the costs of administering this section
by the county and send the remainder to TxDOT.  Sets forth the required
deposits from each $29.50 received by TxDOT. 

(f) Provides that Subchapter D, Chapter 316, Government Code
(Appropriation of Unobligated Fund Balances to General Revenue Fund), and
Section 403.095, Government Code (Use of Dedicated Revenue), do not apply
to fees collected under this section. 

(g) Authorizes TxDOT to report certain information to the legislature at
any time concerning implementation of this section. 

(h) Authorizes TxDOT to license a trademark for inclusion within the
design of the plates and pay a fee for the trademark license, if a sponsor
did not name a state agency to receive the funds or if there is no
sponsor. 

(i)  Authorizes the owner of the vehicle for which the plates were issued
to obtain replacement plates from TxDOT, if the plates are lost, stolen,
or mutilated, by paying the fee prescribed by Section 502.184(a)(2),
Transportation Code (Replacement of Lost, Stolen, or Mutilated License
Plate or Registration Insignia). Requires the owner of the vehicle to
return the specialty plates to TxDOT upon disposal of the vehicle during
the registration year.  Prohibits the owner of the vehicle for which the
plates were issued from transferring the license plates to another person
or vehicle unless TxDOT first approves the transfer. 

(j) Requires TTC to adopt rules and TxDOT to issue forms to implement this
section. 

(k) Authorizes TxDOT to prorate the fee for a specialty license plate
issued under this section on a monthly basis to align the license plate
fee to the registration period for the motor vehicle for which the license
plate was issued, and if a fee is prorated, requires the allocation of the
fee by this chapter to an account or fund to be prorated in proportion. 

(l) Authorizes the director to refuse to issue a specialty license plate
with a design or alphanumeric pattern that the director considers
potentially objectionable to one or more members of the public and
prohibits overturning the director's refusal in the absence of an abuse of
discretion. 

Sec. 502.2527.  SOUVENIR LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Authorizes TxDOT to issue a
souvenir version of any specialty license plate. 

(b) Provides that the fee for a single souvenir license plate is $10.
Provides that the cost of a personalized souvenir license plate is $30. 
 
(c) Prohibits the use of a souvenir license  plate on a motor vehicle and
provides that such a plate is not an insignia of registration for a motor
vehicle.  Requires each souvenir license plate to be identified by TxDOT
in a way that identifies it to law enforcement officers and others as a
souvenir license plate. 

(d) Requires $10 of each fee collected under this section to be deposited
to the credit of the state highway fund. 

SECTION 3.  Amends Section 502.254(c), Transportation Code, to include in
the list of requirements under this section the word VETERAN, rather than
VET, and the words "U.S. Armed Forces" at the bottom of each plate.  Makes
nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 4.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2581, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2581.  AIRBORNE PARACHUTIST LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT
to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light
trucks owned by active, retired, or honorably discharged members of the
United States armed forces who meet certain criteria. 

(b) Require license plates issued under this section to include a likeness
of the parachutist badge authorized by the Department of the Army. 

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

(d) Sets forth the annual fees for issuance of license plates under this
section. 

(e)  Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT.  Authorizes the owner to apply for
issuance of those plates to another vehicle. 

(f) Requires fees collected to be deposited to the credit of the state
highway fund. 

SECTION 5. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2601, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2601.  DISTINGUISHED FLYING CROSS MEDAL RECIPIENTS.  (a) Requires
TxDOT to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and
light trucks owned by recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross medal. 

(b) Require license plates to bear a depiction of the Distinguished Flying
Cross medal and the words "Distinguished Flying Cross" at the bottom of
each plate. 

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

(d)  Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT.  Authorizes the owner to apply for
issuance of those plates to another vehicle. 

(e) Requires fees collected to be deposited to the credit of the state
highway fund. 

SECTION 6. Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2651, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2651.  ENDURING FREEDOM VETERANS.  (a) Requires TxDOT to issue
specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light trucks
owned by persons who service in the United States armed forces and
participated in Operation Enduring Freedom. 

(b) Require license plates to include the words "Enduring Freedom."

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

(d)  Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT.  Authorizes the owner to apply for
issuance of those plates to another vehicle. 

(e) Provides that Section 502.2526 (Specialized License Plates Authorized
After January 1, 1999) does not apply to this section. 

SECTION 7.  (a) Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2664, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2664.  UNITED WE STAND LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT to
issue specially designed patriotic license plates for passenger cars and
light trucks to support the  Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account. 

(b) Require license plates to bear the words "United We Stand" and use
only red, white, blue, and black. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(b) Provides that Subsection (a) of this section only takes effect if
another Act of the 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, creates the
Texas Military Preparedness Grant Account and becomes law and provides
that if that does not happen Subsection (a) has no effect. 

SECTION 8.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2705, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2705.  TEXAS PGA JUNIOR GOLF LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT
to issue specially designed "Texas PGA Junior Golf" license plates for
passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with Texas
PGA Junior Golf. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

SECTION 9.  Amends Sections 502.2732(a) and (d), Transportation Code, as
follows: 

(a) Includes motorcycles in the list of motor vehicles for which specially
designed license plates are issued.  Makes a nonsubstantive change. 

 (d) Decreases the fee for an original issuance of a license plate under
this section from $50 to $30, decreases the fee for a renewal from $40 to
$30, and includes a reference to Section 502.160 (Fee: Motorcycle). 

SECTION 10.  Amends Section 502.2734, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsections (a), (c), and (g) and adding Subsection (i), as follows: 

(a) Requires TxDOT to issue one or more specially designed conservation
license plates for certain vehicles, rather than solely passenger cars and
light trucks, to support Texas Parks and Wildlife Department activities. 

(c) Includes references to Sections 502.162 (Fee: Commercial Motor Vehicle
or TruckTractor), 502.163 (Fee: Commercial Motor Vehicle Primarily Used
for Farm Purposes; Offense), 502.166 (Fee: Trailer of Semitrailer), and
502.167 (Truck-Tractor or Commercial Motor Vehicle Combination). 

(g) Makes a conforming change.

(i) Authorizes TxDOT to vary the design of license plates issued under
this section according to the type of vehicle for which the license plates
are issued. 

SECTION 11.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2736, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2736.  AIR FORCE ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT
to issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light
trucks that bear the words "Air Force Association." 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Air Force Association of Texas. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle for which the special
plates were issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during the
registration year, to return the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 12.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2737, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2737.  TEXAS STATE RIFLE ASSOCIATION LICENSE PLATES.  (a)
Establishes a Texas State Rifle Association license plate issued by TxDOT
under Section 502.273 (Private Nonprofit Organizations).  Sets forth the
required deposits and uses of each fee collected under this section. 

(b) Provides that Subsection (a) applies only to an annual fee for the
issuance of the Texas State Rifle Association license plate collected on
or after that date. 

SECTION 13.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2738, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2738.  URBAN FORESTRY LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT to
issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light
trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with any
organization described in Subsection (d). 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle for which the special
plates were issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during the
registration year, to return the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 14.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2739, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2739.  SHARE THE ROAD LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires 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 meets certain criteria. 

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

(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 the Texas Education Agency to establish reporting and other
reporting mechanisms necessary to ensure that the money collected under
this section is spent for purposes for which it is dedicated. 

(g) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 15.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2741, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2741.  SAN ANTONIO MISSIONS NATIONAL HISTORICAL PARK LICENSE
PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT to issue specially designed San Antonio
Missions National Historical Park license plates for passenger cars and
light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with Los
Compadres de San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the remainder of each fee collected under this section, after
deposit as provide by Subsection (d), to be deposited to the credit of the
state highway fund and used only to defray the costs of administering this
section. 
 
(f) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 16.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2742, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2742.  EL PASO MISSION VALLEY LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT
to issue specially designed El Paso Mission Valley license plates for
passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Socorro Mission Restoration Effort. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the remainder of each fee collected under this section, after
deposit as provide by Subsection (d), to be deposited to the credit of the
state highway fund and used only to defray the costs of administering this
section. 

(f) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 17.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2762, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2762.  COTTON BOLL LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires 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 to be designed by TxDOT in consultation with Texas Cotton Growers,
Incorporated. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

SECTION 18.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2934, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2934.  DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS LICENSE PLATES. (a)
Requires TxDOT to issue specially designed Daughters of the Republic of
Texas license plates for passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires the license plates to include the words "Native Texan" and be
of a color, quality, and design approved by the Daughters of the Republic
of Texas. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

 (e) Requires the remainder of each fee collected under this section,
after deposit as provide by Subsection (d), to be deposited to the credit
of the state highway fund and used only to defray the costs of
administering this section. 

(f) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 19.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2935, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2935.  KNIGHTS OF COLUMBUS.  (a) Requires TxDOT to issue
specially designed Knights of Columbus license plates for passenger cars
and light trucks. 

(b) Requires the license plates to include the emblem of the Order of the
Knights of Columbus and the words "Knights of Columbus." 

(c) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Knights of Columbus. 

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

(e)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(f) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 20.  Amends Sections 502.2951(a), (b), (c), and (e),
Transportation Code, as follows: 

(a)  Includes retired county judges of this state as eligible for certain
special license plates. 

(b) Deletes "to county judges."

(c) Makes a conforming change.

(e) Deletes a reference to Subsection (f) as an exception.

SECTION 21.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2952, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2952.  TEXAS CONSTABLE LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT to
design and issue specially designed license plates for a passenger car or
light truck owned by a person who is a constable or deputy constable of
this state. 

(b) Requires the license plates issued under this section to include the
words "Texas Constable." 

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

(d) Provides that the fee for registration under this section and issuance
of the special license plates is the fee otherwise prescribed by this
chapter for the vehicle. 

(e) Provides that registration under this section is valid for one year
and expires in  the same manner as do regular motor vehicle registrations,
except as provided by Subsection (f). 

(f)  Provides that registration under this section expires when the owner
of the vehicle for which the special plates were issued ceases to be a
constable or deputy constable.  Requires the owner to return the special
license plate to TxDOT. 

(g) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle for which plates are
issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during the registration
year, to return the special license plates to TxDOT and provides that the
person at that time may apply for issuance of those plates to another
vehicle. 

SECTION 22.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.2991, as follows: 

Sec. 502.2991.  TEXAS MUSIC.  (a) Requires TxDOT to issue specially
designed license plates for passenger cars and light trucks to support the
activities of the Austin Music Foundation, other Texas-based nonprofit
members of its Affiliates Program, and the Texas Music Office. 

(b) Requires the license plates to include the words "Texas Music" and be
of a color, design, appearance, and quality acceptable to and approved by
the Austin Music Foundation in consultation with TxDOT.  

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle for which plates are
issued under this section disposes of the vehicle during the registration
year, to return the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 23.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.300, as follows: 

Sec. 502.300.  SPACE SHUTTLE COLUMBIA LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT
to issue specially designed "Space Shuttle Columbia" license plates for
passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Aviation and Space Foundation of Texas. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and required uses of each fee
collected under this section. 

(e) Authorizes the owner of a vehicle for which the license plates were
issued under this section, if license plates issued under this section are
lost, stolen, or mutilated, to obtain replacement plates from TxDOT by
paying a $5 replacement fee.  Requires the owner, if the owner of a
vehicle registered under this section disposes of the vehicle during the
registration year, to return the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 24.  Amends Section 502.303(c), Transportation Code, to decrease
from $50 to $25 the fee for an original issuance of license plates under
this section.  Provides that the fee for  renewal under this section is
$25.  Deletes text referring to a $40 renewal fee. 

SECTION 25.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.305, as follows: 

Sec. 502.305.  "BE A BLOOD DONOR" LICENSE PLATES.  (a) Requires TxDOT to
issue specially designed "Be a Blood Donor" license plates for passenger
cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Gulf Coast Regional Blood Center in Houston. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

(e) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 26.  Amends Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by
adding Section 502.310, as follows: 

Sec. 502.310.  TEXAS COUNTY CHILD WELFARE BOARDS.  (a) Requires TxDOT to
issue specially designed Texas County Child Welfare Board license plates
for passenger cars and light trucks. 

(b) Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the
Texas Council of Child Welfare Boards, Incorporated. 

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

(d)  Sets forth the required deposits and authorized and required uses of
each fee collected under this section. 

(e) Requires money deposited to the credit of the Department of Protective
and Regulatory Services special account to be used only by that department
to fund programs and services supporting abuse and neglected children
pursuant to Section 264.004 (Allocation of State Funds), Family Code. 

(f) Requires the owner, if the owner of a vehicle registered under this
section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, to return
the special license plates to TxDOT. 

SECTION 27.  Amends Subchapter B, Chapter 7, Education Code, by adding
Section 7.026, as follows: 

Sec. 7.026.  AUSTIN MUSIC FOUNDATION ACCOUNT. (a) Provides that the Austin
Music Foundation account is established as a separate account in the
general revenue fund.  Provides that the account is composed of money
deposited to the credit of the account under Section 502.2991,
Transportation Code.  Authorizes money in that account to be used only for
the purposes of this section. 

(b) Requires the Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office in the
governor's office to administer the account.  Authorizes the Texas
Education Agency to spend money credited to the account only to make
grants to benefit the  educational and community programs sponsored by the
Austin Music Foundation and other Texas-based nonprofit members of its
Affiliates Program.  Requires a fee of $5 per plate to be retained by the
Music, Film, Television, and Multimedia Office for performance of
administrative duties. 

SECTION 28.  Amends Chapter 162, Health and Safety Code, by adding Section
162.016 and 162.017, as follows: 

Sec 162.016.  BE A BLOOD DONOR ACCOUNT.  (a) Provides that the be a blood
donor account is a separate account in the general revenue fund composed
of certain funding streams. 

(b) Authorizes the Texas Department of Health, which administers the
account, to spend money credited to the account only for certain
expenditures. 

(c) Authorizes the Texas Board of Health (board) to accept gifts, grants,
and donations from any source for the benefit of the account. Requires the
board to establish, by rule,  guidelines for spending money credited to
the account. 

Sec. 162.017.  BE A BLOOD DONOR ADVISORY COMMITTEE.  (a) Requires the
commissioner of public health (commissioner) to appoint a five-member Be a
Blood Donor Advisory Committee composed of certain persons. 

(b) Requires the commissioner to designate one member as presiding officer
of the committee. 

(c) Requires the committee to perform certain functions.

(d) Provides that members of the committee serve without compensation and
are not entitled to reimbursement for expenses.  Provide that members of
the committee serve staggered four-year terms, with the terms of as near
one-half as possible of the members expiring on January 31 of each even
numbered year. 

SECTION 29.  Repealer: Sections 502.2951(f) (County Judges) and 502.303(d)
(Waterfowl and Wetland Conservation License Plates), Transportation Code. 

SECTION 30.  Effective date:  September 1, 2003.