BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

C.S.H.B. 3610

84R30638 JAM-F

By: Collier (West)

 

Transportation

 

5/18/2015

 

Committee Report (Substituted)

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

H.B. 3610 amends Chapter 504, Transportation Code, to design and issue a Texas Juneteenth specialty plate. Juneteenth is recognized as a holiday by African American Texans. On June 19, 1865, General Gordon Granger arrived in Galveston, Texas, where he read a general order to those gathered announcing the end of slavery in the United States.  The celebration of June 19 began the next year.  2015 marks 150 years.

 

Under H.B. 3610, after administrative fees are deducted by the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles, remaining funds will be deposited in the general revenue fund for use by the Texas Historical Commission to administer grants that would assist in promoting the celebration of Juneteenth. Unity Unlimited Inc., a Fort Worth-based entity, is a named recipient and a non-profit organization whose goal is to promote the celebration of Juneteenth in Texas. The holiday is celebrated in 14 states.  (Original Author’s / Sponsor’s Statement of Intent)

 

C.S.H.B. 3610 amends current law relating to the issuance of Texas Juneteenth speciality license plates.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

 

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, by adding Section 504.649, as follows:

 

Sec. 504.649.  TEXAS JUNETEENTH LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to issue Texas Juneteenth specialty license plates.  Requires TxDMV to design the license plates in consultation with Unity Unlimited Inc.

 

(b)  Requires that the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates, after deduction of TxDMV’s administrative costs, be deposited to the credit of the general revenue fund to be used only by the Texas Historical Commission in making grants to Unity Unlimited Inc. for the purpose of promoting the celebration of Juneteenth in this state, provided that verification is submitted to the Texas Historical Commission demonstrating that Unity Unlimited Inc. continues to maintain its nonprofit status.  Requires that the grant, if Unity Unlimited Inc. does not have nonprofit status at the time of the distribution of a grant, be distributed to another nonprofit organization for the purpose of promoting the celebration of Juneteenth in this state.

 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: January 1, 2016.