By: Ellis  S.B. No. 1451
         (In the Senate - Filed March 8, 2007; March 20, 2007, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland
  Security; April 20, 2007, reported favorably by the following
  vote:  Yeas 9, Nays 0; April 20, 2007, sent to printer.)
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the Safe Routes to School Program.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 504.648, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 504.648.  GOD BLESS TEXAS AND GOD BLESS AMERICA LICENSE
  PLATES.  (a)  The department shall issue specialty license plates
  that include the words "God Bless Texas" and "God Bless America."
         (b)  After deduction of the department's administrative
  costs, the remainder of the fee [for issuance of the license plates]
  shall be deposited to the credit of the share the road account in
  the state treasury [state highway fund] and may only be used by the
  Texas Education Agency to support [for] the Safe Routes to School
  Program of a designated statewide nonprofit organization whose
  primary purpose is to promote bicyclist safety, education, and
  access through:
               (1)  education and awareness programs; and
               (2)  training, workshops, educational materials, and
  media events;
         (c)  Up to 25 percent of the amount in Subsection (b) may be
  used to support the activities of the nonprofit organization in
  marketing and promoting the Safe Routes to School Program and
  license plates.
         (d)[(c)]  The fee for the license plates is $40.
         (e)  The funds may be used as a funding match for federal safe
  routes to school and obesity prevention programs.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
  a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
  provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
  Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
  Act takes effect September 1, 2007.
 
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