The bill would amend Subchapter D, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for active and former members of the United States Armed forces who were exposed to open burn pits during their military service. 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 bill would require TxDMV to send any fee for the issuance of the specialty plates to the Comptroller for deposit to the new fund created by the bill. 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. 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 not establish a fee for the issuance of the new specialty license plate. A person applying for a set of the new specialty license plates would pay the regular registration fee required under Chapter 502 of the Transportation Code. Therefore, it is assumed issuance of the new specialty license plate would impact State revenue. 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.
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.
No fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.