The bill would amend Chapter 99 of the Health and Safety Code, as added by the enactment of House Bill 306, Eighty-sixth Legislature, Regular Session, to create the Open Burn Pit Registry Fund in the state treasury outside the General Revenue Fund. The new fund would be composed of money transferred to the fund by the Legislature, contributions of gifts and grants to the fund, and earnings of the fund, and money transferred to the fund from certain specialty license plate fees. The bill would authorize money in the fund to be appropriated only to the Department of State Health Services (DSHS) for the purpose of creating and maintaining the open burn pit registry. The bill would amend Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates to honor members of the United States Armed forces who were exposed to open burn pits during their military service. The bill would stipulate that the fee for issuance of the plates, after deduction for TxDMV administrative costs, is to be deposited to the Open Burn Pit Registry Fund. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2021.

Based on the information provided by TxDMV and DSHS, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the agencies' existing resources. The fee for issuance of a specialty license plate under Subchapter G, Chapter 504 of the Transportation Code is $30.00. Out of this amount $7.50 would be deposited to the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund for TxDMV administrative costs, $0.50 would be allocated to the counties for administrative costs, and the remaining $22.00 would be deposited to the Open Burn Pit Registry Fund for use by DSHS as authorized by the bill. Based on the information and analysis provided by TxDMV, it is assumed the issuance of the new specialty plate would not result in a significant fiscal impact to the State.

Note: This legislation would do one or more of the following: create or recreate a dedicated account in the General Revenue Fund, create or recreate a special or trust fund either with or outside of the Treasury, or create a dedicated revenue source. The fund, account, or revenue dedication included in this bill would be subject to funds consolidation review by the current Legislature.

LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 87TH LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION


April 26, 2021

TO:	Honorable Richard Peña Raymond, Chair, House Committee on Defense & Veterans' Affairs

FROM:	Jerry McGinty, Director, Legislative Budget Board

IN RE:	HB3957 by Herrero (relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and the issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United States armed forces exposed to open burn pits.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted