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.