BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center	H.B. 263
85R1544 BEE-D	By: Lozano (Zaffirini)
	Transportation
	5/8/2017
	Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Recent attacks against law enforcement call for increased public awareness and a strong show of support for law enforcement throughout Texas. H.B. 263 helps provide some of this awareness and support through the issuance of specialty license plates that include the words "Back the Blue."�

 

H.B. 263 amends current law relating to the issuance of "Back the Blue" specialty license plates.

 

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 504.668, as follows:

 

Sec. 504.668.� BACK THE BLUE LICENSE PLATES. (a) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include a thin blue line and the words "Back the Blue."

 

(b) Requires that the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, be deposited to the credit of an account created by the Texas comptroller of public accounts (comptroller) in the manner provided by Section 504.6012(b) (relating to a certain fee being paid to a trust fund outside of the general revenue fund created and administered by the comptroller). Authorizes money deposited to that account to be used only by the Employees Retirement System of Texas to provide financial assistance to survivors of peace officers under Chapter 615 (Financial Assistance to Survivors of Certain Law Enforcement Officers, Fire Fighters, and Others), Government Code.

 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2017.