| TO: | Honorable Kenny Marchant, Chair, House Committee on State Affairs |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB1655 by Wohlgemuth (Relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates and to the creation of the Choose Life account in the general revenue fund.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed patriotic license plates for passenger cars and light trucks bearing the words "Choose Life". The bill would require the plates to be designed in consultation with the Attorney General and applicants to submit a $30 annual fee in addition to other registration fees. The bill would require $5 to be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund and $25 to be deposited to the credit of a newly created General Revenue dedicated account to be used only by the Attorney General for the purposes of making grants to eligible organizations and to defray the cost of administering the account. The bill would provide for lost, stolen or mutilated license plates to be replaced for a fee and require owners disposing of a vehicle during the registration year to return the plates to TxDOT.
The bill would define an "eligible organization"; establish the new dedicated account and the Choose Life advisory committee; and require the Attorney General to establish rules and guidelines for expending funds from the account and implementing the provisions of the bill. The bill would also require advisory committee members to serve without compensation or reimbursement of expenses for four-year terms.
No significant fiscal implication is anticipated due to the estimated number of license plate issuances. Also, the analysis provided by TxDOT and the Office of the Attorney General indicate that duties and responsibilities associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be accomplished by utilizing existing resources.
Because the legislation would create a dedicated revenue account in the General Revenue Fund, the account included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current legislature.
| Source Agencies: | 302 Office of the Attorney General, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation
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| LBB Staff: | JK, RR, MW
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