BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 3394

By: Johnson, Jarvis

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Studies have demonstrated that raising awareness of lesser-known diseases, such as sickle cell disease, can lead to better prevention and a higher rate of screenings. H.B. 3394 seeks to raise awareness of sickle cell disease by providing for the issuance of sickle cell disease awareness specialty license plates.

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. 3394 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates designed by TxDMV in consultation with the Sickle Cell Association of Houston that include the words "Sickle Cell Matters" and an image of the burgundy sickle cell ribbon. The bill provides for the deposit of the license plate fees to the credit of a trust fund account created by the comptroller of public accounts outside the general revenue fund and restricts the use of money deposited to that account to grants made by Texas Southern University to a nonprofit organization that has a history of providing services to persons with sickle cell disease for the purpose of providing those services.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.