78R2955 DWS-F

By:  Eiland                                                       H.B. No. 923



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to special license plates to aid the recovery, 
rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine mammals.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 502.3031 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.3031.  MARINE MAMMAL RECOVERY LICENSE PLATES. (a)  
The department shall issue specially designed license plates for 
passenger cars and light trucks to support the activities of the 
Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
	(b)  The license plates must bear one or more graphic images 
designed by the Parks and Wildlife Department in consultation with 
the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network.
	(c)  The department shall issue license plates under this 
section to a person who:
		(1)  applies to the county assessor-collector of the 
county in which the person resides on a form provided by the 
department; and
		(2)  pays an annual fee of $25, in addition to the fee 
prescribed by Section 502.161 or 502.162, and, if personalized 
prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the fee 
prescribed by Section 502.251.
	(d)  The fee for replacement of a lost, stolen, or mutilated 
plate issued under this section is $25, in addition to the fee 
prescribed by Section 502.184(a).
	(e)  Of each fee collected under this section, $5 may be used 
to defray the cost of administering this section by the department 
and the Parks and Wildlife Department.  The department shall 
deposit the remainder of each fee collected under this section to 
the credit of an account in the state treasury.  Money in the 
account may be used only by the Parks and Wildlife Department to 
support the activities of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network 
in the recovery, rehabilitation, and release of stranded marine 
mammals.  The Parks and Wildlife Department shall establish 
reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure that the money 
is spent for purposes for which it is dedicated.
	(f)  If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section 
disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner 
shall return the special license plates to the department.
	SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.