By:  Capelo                                                       H.B. No. 3165



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

Relating to the issuance of theme license plates.                             
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 502.2995 to read as follows:
	Sec. 502.2995.  THEME LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  The department 
shall issue specially designed license plates displaying themes of 
professional stock car auto racing, professional stock care auto 
racing drivers, and general automotive themes for passenger cars 
and light trucks.
	(b)  The department shall enter into an agreement with the 
supplier of theme license plates or supplier of the licensed marks 
necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.
	(c)  The distinctive theme license plates shall be of a 
design as the supplier of the plates or supplier of the licensed 
marks, in consultation with the department, may prescribe.
	(d)  The department shall issue license plates under this 
section to a person who:
		(1)  applies to the assessor-collector of the county in 
which the person resides on a form provided by the department; and
		(2)  pays an annual fee of $30, 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.
	(e)  Of each fee collected under Subsection (d)(2):                     
		(1)  $5.00 shall be deposited to the credit of the state 
highway fund to be used by the department only to defray the cost of 
administering this section:
		(2)  a portion of the fee shall be distributed to the 
supplier of the special theme plates or supplier of the licensed 
marks according to the terms of any agreement between TXDOT and the 
supplier of the theme plates.
		(3)  the remainder of the fee shall be deposited to the 
credit of the general revenue fund.
	(f)  If license plates issued under this section are lost, 
stolen, or mutilated, the owner of the vehicle for which the license 
plates were issued may obtain replacement license plates from the 
department by paying a replacement fee of $20.
	(g)  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.                           
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this 
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 
Act takes effect September 1, 2003.