BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4099

By: Fletcher

Transportation

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that only a limited number of law enforcement agencies in Texas have the financial resources to support a K9 unit. K9s4COPs, a foundation formed to address the need for funding the purchase of K9s for these agencies, has placed numerous K9s in multiple agencies and school districts across several states. C.S.H.B. 4099 seeks to raise awareness of the work being done by K9s4COPs.

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

C.S.H.B. 4099 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue K9s4COPs specialty license plates to be designed in consultation with K9s4COPs. 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 Department of Public Safety in making grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of funding the purchase of police dogs by law enforcement agencies.

EFFECTIVE DATE

January 1, 2016.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 4099 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 504.650 to read as follows: Sec. 504.650.  K9s4Cops License Plates  (a)  The department shall issue K9s4Cops specialty license plates. The department shall design the license plates in consultation with K9s4Cops.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 504.649 to read as follows: Sec. 504.649. K9S4COPS LICENSE PLATES. (a) The department shall issue K9s4COPs specialty license plates.    The department shall design the license plates in consultation with K9s4COPs. (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 general revenue fund to be used only by the Department of Public Safety in making grants to nonprofit organizations for the purpose of funding the purchase of police dogs by law enforcement agencies.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect January 1, 2016.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.