BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 263

By: Lozano

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note recent attacks against law enforcement and call for increased public awareness of these incidents and a strong show of support for law enforcement throughout Texas. H.B. 263 seeks to provide for some of this awareness and support through the issuance of specialty license plates that include the words "Back the Blue."  

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. 263 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include a thin blue line and the words "Back the Blue." The bill requires the fee for issuance of the license plates, 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 Employees Retirement System of Texas to provide financial assistance to survivors of certain peace officers who died as a result of a personal injury sustained in the line of duty.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.