| TO: | Honorable Mike Krusee, Chair, House Committee on Transportation |
| FROM: | John S. O'Brien, Deputy Director, Legislative Budget Board |
| IN RE: | HB851 by Brown, Betty (Relating to Texas Historical Commission specialty license plates.), As Introduced |
The bill would amend the Transportation Code and require the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to design and issue a new specialty license plate with the words "Texas Historical Commission." The bill would require TxDOT to design the plates in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission.
The bill would require TxDOT to recover the administrative costs from the issuance of the specialty license plates and that the remainder of the fee be deposited to the credit of a dedicated account for the history museum and county historical commission in the General Revenue Fund. Based on the information provided by TxDOT, it is assumed that the provisions of the bill could be implemented using existing resources.
Based on the analysis of the Comptroller, it is assumed that annual revenue gains would have no significant fiscal impact. License plates issued for similar entities, like "Texas Commission on the Arts" and "Texas Aerospace Commission" experienced initial plate issuances of approximately 150 to 230.
The bill would create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either with or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. Therefore, the fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.
Although the bill would not make an appropriation, it would establish the basis for an appropriation.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2005.
| Source Agencies: | 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts, 601 Department of Transportation, 808 Historical Commission
|
| LBB Staff: | JOB, SR, MW, BC
|