Specialty License Plate update: CALL TO ACTION!!!

[blueeyes_austin]

Here is the latest from Dale Shively::06:


Scott:

Sorry it has taken so long to respond. I have had staff chasing down some issues and have drafted a position statement for the Program. I will send it out once approved internally. The bottom line is that we as an agency will not be doing any additional specialty plates in the near future because of how the funds are deposited to TPWD and restrictions on how they can be used.

If an artificial reef program (dive theme) plate was brought to the legislature for approval by a private entity and the entity could locate a legislator to author the bill, it is possible to get one approved. A contingency rider would need to be placed on the bill to allow the reef program to accept the funds into our budget and authorization to spend all those funds. Long story, but that is not how things are setup presently.

There will be more information in the position statement. If you do not hear from me by the 15th, please remind me. I will be in a meeting all day Friday and preparing for it this week. As soon as my director ok's the statement, I will send it out.

Regards,


J. Dale Shively

Translation (from one who works for the Lege): No F'ing Way. Given the position they are taking, TPWD would almost certainly fight a rider placed on a bill directing them to take this action. A legislator would have to really believe in this, and likely call in some chits, to get the plate done. Even if you can find a legislator interested in taking this on, the Lege doesn't meet in general session until January next year...and the budget it passes won't take effect until fall 2007.

If you have any sway above Mr. Shively's level, I'd suggest making that communication NOW before the position statement is official.

(For what it is worth, TxDOT hates these specialty plates because many of them generate few to no net funds for the cause they are meant to support. You should also be aware that TPWD has been under significant budget pressure for years now and are increasingly unable to carry out elements of their core mission.)

 

[blueeyes_austin]

Here's an old TPR study on the plates. It's a bit old, but still illustrative.

http://www.window.state.tx.us/tpr/tpr5/4gg/gg04.html

 

[TwoBitTxn]

Sounds to me like we need a petition with at least 750 sigs on it, and the reincarnation of a Charitable organization.

TwoBit

 

[jsex]

at an informal meeting within the CHUM group last week, it was mentioned that if TPWD fell on their face (which iswhat is happening,) possibly the Gulf Reef Environmental Action Team (GREAT) could serve as the vehicle for applying for the plate and then seeing to it that the funds would get to some sort of artificial reef.

 

[blueeyes_austin]

at an informal meeting within the CHUM group last week, it was mentioned that if TPWD fell on their face (which iswhat is happening,) possibly the Gulf Reef Environmental Action Team (GREAT) could serve as the vehicle for applying for the plate and then seeing to it that the funds would get to some sort of artificial reef.

The problem is that the funds have to go through a Texas state agency...and TPWD has just said buzz off. (I don't THINK a local government entity will work for this, either.)

 

[jsex]

The problem is that the funds have to go through a Texas state agency...and TPWD has just said buzz off. (I don't THINK a local government entity will work for this, either.)

unless it is a chamber of commerce looking to increase the tourist dollar. i would think that galveston, freeport and corpus would all be interested. our cash and their political clout.

 

[ReefHound]

The problem is that the funds have to go through a Texas state agency...and TPWD has just said buzz off. (I don't THINK a local government entity will work for this, either.)

That's right, a Texas agency, any one of them, TPWD can buzz off. The vast majority of the 200 existing specialty plates do not go through TPWD and some, like Big Brothers Big Sisters, go through the AG office which simply re-issues them a check for the proceeds.

The time has perhaps come to start lobbying the legislature that TPWD is not only failing to fulfill their purpose to promote artificial reefs, but in fact doing everything they can to hold it back.

 

[ScubaTexan]

I would hate to think all of this has been for nothing... :frown:

 

[ReefHound]

I would hate to think all of this has been for nothing... :frown:

It's never all for nothing. Sometimes what looks like a turn for the worse ends up being for the best. Besides, what's the point of putting another $22/plate into a TPWD reef account for them to squander away like they have been doing for the past decade?

 

[ReefHound]

Sounds to me like we need a petition with at least 750 sigs on it, and the reincarnation of a Charitable organization.

TwoBit

That's 1998 data. The current FAQ online makes no mention of minimum membership or petitions. The legislature no longer approves them directly, they delegated that to TXDOT. Applications are reviewed each spring and fall.