HBA-CMT H.B. 3480 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3480
By: Eiland
Transportation
4/30/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network (TMMSN) is a non-profit volunteer
organization consisting of biologists, professionals, students, and animal
lovers.  Each volunteer plays a vital role in the recovery, rehabilitation,
and release of stranded dolphins along the Texas coast.  House Bill 3480
requires the Texas Department of Transportation in consultation with the
TMMSN to specially design and issue a "Dolphin Rescue Team" license plate
to help support the activities of TMMSN. 

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 3480 amends the Transportation Code to require the Texas
Department of Transportation (TxDOT) to issue specially designed "Dolphin
Rescue Team" license plates for passenger cars and light trucks.  The
plates must be of a color, quality, and design approved by TxDOT in
consultation with the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding Network and include the
words "Dolphin Rescue Team."  The bill sets forth provisions for the
issuance an return of the license plates.  The bill authorizes TxDOT to use
$5 of the $25 fee collected for the issuance of the specially designed
license plates to defray the cost of administering the license plates, and
provides that the remainder of the fee may be used by Texas A&M University
at Galveston to support the activities of the Texas Marine Mammal Stranding
Network in recovering, rehabilitating, and releasing stranded marine
mammals. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.