HBA-CMT, CCH, SEP C.S.H.B. 335 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 335
By: West, George "Buddy"
Public Safety
3/15/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

During its 60 years as the leading state law enforcement branch, the
Department of Public Safety (DPS) has served various functions, including
the protection of citizens from crime and the coordination of efforts to
avoid and minimize natural disasters.  Through the support of Texans and
its dedicated employees, DPS has become known nationally and
internationally as a premier law enforcement agency.  In an effort to
document and preserve the legacy of DPS, retired and active DPS employees
created the Texas Department of Public Safety Historical Museum and
Research Center (museum) in Austin, Texas in 1994. C.S.H.B. 335 authorizes
the Public Safety Commission to enter into a contract with the museum to
use DPS personnel and property to assist the museum. 
 
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

C.S.H.B. 335 amends the Government and Transportation codes to provide
support for the Texas Department of Public Safety Museum and Research
Center (museum).  The bill authorizes the Public Safety Commission
(commission) to establish a support staff in the Department of Public
Safety (DPS) to assist the museum, use DPS property to fulfill the purposes
of this bill, and enter into a contract with the museum. The bill
authorizes the public safety director (director) to appoint and assign
duties to DPS personnel to serve as paid support staff for the museum,
which may consist of a historian, librarian, and other personnel as needed
to administer the museum.  The bill authorizes the DPS to spend funds to
hire support staff.   

The bill creates the Department of Public Safety Historical Museum and
Research Center account (account) as a special account outside the state
treasury that is held at the DPS Credit Union, and used by the commission
in providing support for the museum.  The money in the account is composed
of a $1 fee collected from the issuance or renewal of a driver's license or
instruction permit, commercial driver's license or learner's permit, or a
personal identification card if a person chooses to pay the fee.  Any fees
collected are to be remitted to the comptroller of public accounts who is
required to deposit the funds in the account. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 335 modifies the original by providing that the optional fee
placed on the issuance or renewal of a driver's license or instruction
permit, commercial driver's license or learner's permit, or personal
identification card be used to provide support staff for an existing Texas
Department of Public Safety Historical Museum and Research Center (museum).
Whereas, the original bill funded the museum which  was to be established
by the Public Safety Commission (commission). Additionally, the substitute
authorizes the commission to enter into a contract with the museum to use
Department of Public Safety personnel and property to assist the museum.
The substitute makes the hiring or appointing of support staff for the
museum by the public safety director optional, while in the original bill
the hiring was a requirement.