The bill would amend Transportation Code, Chapter 504, to require the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue specialty license plates for classroom teachers and retired classroom teachers. The bill would establish a fee of $10.00 for issuance of the classroom teacher specialty plates and $5.00 for the retired classroom teacher specialty plates. The bill would amend Transportation Code, Section 681.008, to extend exemptions from payment of parking meter fees charged by a governmental authority for vehicles that display classroom teacher or retired classroom teacher specialty license plates. The bill would take effect on September 1, 2023.
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 in, with, or outside 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.
Based on the information provided by TxDMV, it is assumed any costs or duties associated with implementing the provisions of the bill could be absorbed within the department's existing resources.
Pursuant to Transportation Code, Section 504.002, revenue from the specialty license plate fees would be deposited to Texas Department of Motor Vehicles Fund 0010. Based on TxDMV's analysis regarding the estimated number of the new specialty plates that would be issued, it is assumed implementation of the bill would not result in a significant revenue gain to Fund 0010. Because the number of eligible specialty plate recipients that would utilize the parking privileges authorized by the bill, the length of time parked, and rate charged by governmental entities at parking meters for such parking is unknown, the impact to parking fee revenue cannot be determined. However, the potential negative impact to parking fee revenue is not anticipated to be significant.
No significant fiscal implication to units of local government is anticipated.