BILL ANALYSIS
By: Phillips
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Since 2002, the Texas Department of Transportation has issued specialty license plates to honor the Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA). In the 2003 legislative session, language was added to statute to dedicate revenue remaining after deduction of the department's administrative costs to the Texas A&M University System to supplement scholarship programs supported by TSRA and to provide grants to 4-H shooting sports programs to promote safety education.
Revenue from sale of Texas State Rifle Association specialty license plates fails to be used as intended. Funds are difficult to access and have been used to support only TSRA scholarship programs and not 4-H shooting sports programs. C.S.H.B. 2045 requires that all funds be appropriated to the Texas Cooperative Extension of Texas A&M University System and clarifies that 50% of the available funds go to 4-H shooting sports programs and 50% to TSRA-supported scholarship programs.
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 1 amends Section 504.631(b), Transportation Code, to allow the fees (after administrative costs are deducted) for Texas State Rifle Association (TSRA) specialty license plates to be appropriated to the Texas Cooperative Extension so the 50% of the money goes to scholarship programs supported by TSRA, and the other 50% of the money is forwarded through the Cooperative Extension to the Texas 4-H Foundation to support the Shooting Sports Program.
SECTION 2 provides that this Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
In the original, fees from the sale of the license plate were appropriated to the Texas A&M University System; in the substitute, the fees are appropriated to the Texas Cooperative Extension of the Texas A&M University System.