BILL ANALYSIS
By: Gattis
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Currently there is a specialty license plate for the Boy Scouts of America (Transportation Code Section 504.608); however, the statute clearly instructs that money collected from the sale of these plates is dedicated to Texas Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse (TCADA). For Fiscal Year 2004, a little over $ 7000.00 in revenue was generated from the sale of these plates. The money was deposited by the Comptroller in the General Revenue Fund; however, the monies were not requested by TCADA. TCADA has been merged into another agency, and thus, is no longer in existence.
Currently the nonprofit organization, Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), does not have a specialty license plate. MADD has educational programs aimed at preventing drunk driving.
House Bill 1480 would create a specialty license plate for MADD and allocate the money remaining, after administrative costs are paid, to educational programs sponsored by MADD. Additionally, House Bill 1480 would allocate the money remaining, after administrative costs, are paid for from the Boy Scout specialty license plate, already created, to the Higher Education Coordinating Board, to be used for grants that benefit educational programs sponsored by Boy Scout councils in Texas.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
SECTION BY SECTION
SECTION 1: Amends Section 504.608, Transportation Code, to create a Mothers Against Drunk Driving specialty license plate. After the deduction of administrative costs, the remainder of the fee for the license plate shall be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund and may be appropriated only to the Higher Education Coordinating Board in making grants to benefit educational programs sponsored by Mothers Against Drunk Driving.
SECTION 2: Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.6545 which creates a Boy Scout of America specialty license plate. After the deduction of administrative costs, the remainder of the fee for the license plate shall be deposited to the credit of the Boy Scout account in the general revenue fund. Money in the account may be used only by the Higher Education Coordinating Board in making grants to benefit educational programs sponsored by Boy Scout councils in this state.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2005.