BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3610

By: Collier

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

As the Juneteenth holiday nears its 150th anniversary, the state will again celebrate the abolition of slavery in Texas. However, interested parties contend that Juneteenth is a Texas holiday deserving of further recognition across the state. H.B. 3610 seeks to provide this recognition in the form of a specialty license plate.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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

H.B. 3610 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue Texas Juneteenth specialty license plates designed in consultation with Unity Unlimited, Inc. The bill requires the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, to be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund to be used only by the Texas Historical Commission in making grants to Unity Unlimited, Inc., for the purpose of promoting the celebration of Juneteenth in Texas as long as Unity Unlimited, Inc., provides verification to the commission that the organization continues to maintain active nonprofit status with the comptroller of public accounts. The bill requires the grants, if Unity Unlimited, Inc., does not have active status at the time of the distribution of any grants, to be distributed to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of promoting the celebration of Juneteenth in Texas.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.