HBA-JEK H.B. 2254 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2254
By: Naishtat
Transportation
4/5/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing (TCDHH) works to
eliminate communication barriers for people who are deaf or hard of hearing
to enable them to express their freedoms, participate in society to reach
their individual potential, and reduce their isolation.  TCDHH regularly
provides educational services and special projects such as Camp SIGN which
is a week-long summer program for children.  The availability of special
projects is limited by TCDHH's financial resources.  House Bill 2254
creates the TCDHH speciality license plate and directs the proceeds from
the license plates to TCDHH for direct services programs, training, and
education. 

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 2254 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed Texas
Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing license plates for passenger
cars and light trucks (license plates).  The bill requires TxDOT to design
the license plates in consultation with the Texas Commission for the Deaf
and Hard of Hearing. 

The bill provides that the annual fee for the license plates is $25 in
addition to any applicable personalized prestige license plates fees.  The
bill requires $5 of the $25 fee to be used by TxDOT to defray the cost of
administering the issuance of the license plates and requires the rest of
the fee to be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund for
appropriation to the Texas Commission for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing for
direct services programs, training, and education.   

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.