BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 742

By: Ellis

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, the state is allowed to create and sell specialty license plates the proceeds from which support institutions and causes important to Texas citizens. Interested parties point to the significance of the Texas Medical Center, with numerous hospitals, support organizations, research institutions, and medical schools. These parties note that as a pioneer in patient care, research, education, and prevention, the Texas Medical Center deserves recognition in the form of a specialty license plate to help further important causes in the medical field. S.B. 742 seeks to provide this recognition.

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

S.B. 742 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue Texas Medical Center specialty license plates designed in consultation with the Texas Medical Center. The bill requires the portion of the fee for issuance of the license plates that remains after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs to be deposited to the credit of an account in a trust fund created by the comptroller of public accounts outside the general revenue fund. The bill restricts the use of money deposited to that account to use by the comptroller to provide grants benefiting the Texas Medical Center and member institutions of the Texas Medical Center.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.