HBA-NRS H.B. 1705 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1705
By: Smithee
Transportation
4/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 150,000-member Air Force Association is an independent, nonprofit,
civilian aerospace organization that promotes public understanding of
military aerospace power and national defense. In Texas, there are
approximately 16 local chapters and 19,000 members. House Bill 1705
requires the Texas Department of Transportation to issue license plates for
passenger cars and light trucks that bear the words "Air Force Association"
with a portion of the profits from the sale of the plates going to projects
of the Air Force Association of Texas. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 1705 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue license plates for passenger
cars and light trucks that bear the words "Air Force Association." The bill
requires TxDOT to design the plates in consultation with the Air Force
Association of Texas and requires TxDOT to issue the plates to a person who
completes the specified application and pays the prescribed fees. The bill
requires $5 of each fee collected for the  plates to be used by TxDOT only
to defray the cost of administering the plates and requires TxDOT to
deposit the remainder of each fee collected to the credit of the Air Force
Association of Texas account in the state treasury. The bill authorizes the
use of the account by the Texas Veterans Commission in making grants to
benefit projects sponsored by the Air Force Association of Texas. If the
owner of a vehicle for which plates were issued disposes of the vehicle
during a registration year, the bill requires the owner to return the
plates to TxDOT. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.