BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 506

By: White

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

While the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles currently offers an abundance of different types of specialty license plates recognizing various cultural interests, it does not offer a license plate recognizing Polish Americans in Texas who wish to express their heritage. H.B. 506 seeks to remedy this situation by providing for the issuance of specialty license plates honoring Polish Americans in Texas.

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. 506 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates to honor Polish Americans in Texas and to design the license plates in consultation with the Texas Historical Commission. The bill requires the amount of the fee for issuance of the license plates that remains after the deduction of TxDMV 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 the account to the preservation of Polish American history in Texas by the commission.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2021.