BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 4080
87R14427 DRS-D	By: Jetton (Zaffirini)
	Transportation
	5/12/2021
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

While the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) offers various specialty license plates recognizing specific causes, it does not issue plates specifically highlighting autism awareness. H.B. 4080 would require TxDMV to issue specialty license plates that include the words "Autism Awareness." This bill would also require the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas to create an account where the issuance fees of these license plates, after deducted administrative costs, are deposited. The trusteed programs within the governor's office would use this account to provide grants to non-profits to create awareness or support families living with autism spectrum disorder.

H.B. 4080 amends current law relating to issuance of autism awareness 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 504.675, as follows:

Sec. 504.675.� AUTISM AWARENESS LICENSE PLATES.� (a) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates that include the words "Autism Awareness." Requires TxDMV to design the plates in consultation with a representative of the Hope for Three nonprofit organization.

(b) Requires that, after deduction of TxDMV's administrative costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates be deposited to the credit of an account created by the Comptroller of Public Accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) in the manner provided by Section 604.6012(b) (relating to requiring that the portion of a fee payable that is designated for deposit to a dedicated account be paid instead to the credit of an account in a trust fund created by the comptroller). Authorizes money deposited to that account to be used only by the trusteed programs within the office of the governor to make grants to a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to create awareness about and provide support to families living with autism spectrum disorder, to be used by that organization for that purpose.

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2021.