HBA-DMH H.B. 770 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 770
By: Naishtat
Transportation
4/4/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

When an individual is diagnosed with cancer, there are many expenses
associated with treatment and care that can put a financial strain on the
individual or the individual's family.  There are community organizations
and agencies that assist with these expenses, but those resources are
limited.  House Bill 770 directs the Texas Department of Transportation to
create a "Texans Conquer Cancer" license plate that raises money to be
awarded to Texas nonprofit organizations that provide support services for
cancer patients and their families. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that rulemaking
authority is expressly granted to the Texas Cancer Council in SECTION 2
(Section 102.017, Health and Safety Code) of this bill. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 770 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (department) to issue specially designed
license plates for certain vehicles, designed in consultation with the
Texas Cancer Council (council), that include the words "Texans Conquer
Cancer."  The bill requires the department to issue the license plates to a
person that completes the specified application process and pays the
prescribed fees.  The bill requires an owner of a vehicle with "Texans
Conquer Cancer" license plates to return the license plates to the
department if the owner disposes of the vehicle during a registration year.
The bill requires the department to use $5 of the fee collected for the
license plates for administration costs only and to deposit the remainder
of the collected fees to the credit of the Texans Conquer Cancer account. 

The bill amends the Health and Safety Code to create the Texans Conquer
Cancer account within the general revenue fund and sets forth provisions
for the fund's use and administration. The bill requires the council to
establish, by rule, guidelines for spending money credited to the account.
The bill requires the council to appoint a seven-member Texans Conquer
Cancer advisory committee, establishes the duties of the committee, and
sets forth the terms of service of the committee members. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

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