| TO: | Honorable Steve Ogden, Chair, Senate Committee on Infrastructure Development and Security |
| FROM: | John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | SB960 by Duncan (Relating to the issuance of cotton boll license plates to benefit the scholarship program of Texas Cotton Producers, Inc.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT ) to issue specially designed cotton boll license plates for farm vehicles, including farm tractors, farm trailers, and farm semi-trailers; passenger cars and light trucks; and truck-tractors, semi-trailers, and other commercial motor vehicles. The bill would require the plates to be designed by TxDOT in consultation with Texas Cotton Producers, Inc. and have certain features. The bill would also require applicants to submit a $30 annual fee in addition to other registration fees; that $8 of this fee be deposited to the credit of the State Highway Fund; and $22 to be deposited to the credit of the General Revenue Fund to be used by the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for the purpose of providing scholarships to students pursuing a degree in an agricultural field related to the cotton industry while enrolled in an institution of higher education. The bill would provide for lost, stolen or mutilated license plates to be replaced for $5; and require owners disposing of a vehicle during the registration year to return the plates to TxDOT.
No significant fiscal implication is anticipated due to the estimated number of license plate issuances.
Because the legislation would create dedicated revenue accounts in the General Revenue Fund, the accounts included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current legislature.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation, 781 Higher Education Coordinating Board
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| LBB Staff: | JK, RR, MW
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