BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 1749
By: Bonnen (Hegar)
Transportation & Homeland Security
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Beginning in 1999, the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) was authorized to manufacture and sell specialty license plates with a design and name of the Coastal Conservation Association (CCA). Today, this "redfish plate" is on more than 1,000 passenger vehicles.
The original authorization for this plate was included in S.B. 1355, 73rd Legislature, Regular Session, 1993, relating to specialty license plates for certain nonprofit organizations. The bill required the fees for these plates to be deposited to the credit of the state highway fund.
H.B. 2971, 78th Legislature, Regular Session, 2003, authorized revenue from specified specialty plates to be designated to certain special funds for the benefit of the organizations sponsoring the plates. The marine conservation specialty license plates, however, were not specifically included in this authorization and do not appear in Chapter 504, Transportation Code, with the other specialty license plates currently being issued by TxDOT. The revenue from the sale of these plates continues to be deposited into the highway fund.
H.B. 1749 creates a new section in Chapter 504, Transportation Code, to require fees from the sale of marine conservation license plates to be deposited to the credit of an account in the treasury for use by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) once TxDOT's administrative costs have been deducted. Money in this account is to be used by TPWD to support the activities of Coastal Conservation Association Texas in the conservation of marine resources.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.660, as follows:
Sec. 504.660. MARINE CONSERVATION LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue marine conservation specialty license plates. Requires TxDOT to design the license plates in consultation with the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and Coastal Conservation Association Texas.
(b) Requires that the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDOT's administrative costs, be deposited to the credit of an account in the state treasury. Authorizes that money in the account be used only by TPWD to support the activities of Coastal Conservation Association Texas in the conservation of marine resources. Requires TPWD to establish reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure that the money is spent for purposes for which it is dedicated.
SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2009.