Texas Senate Bill SB257

Texas 2011 - 82nd Regular

• Filed: 12/13/10
• Introduced: 12/13/10
• Out of Senate Committee: 3/7/11
• Voted on by Senate: 3/16/11
• Refer: 1/31/11
• Out of House Committee: 4/26/11
• Refer: 2/9/11
• Voted on by House: 5/4/11
• Governor Action: 5/17/11
• Refer: 3/29/11
• Report Pass: 4/18/11
• Enrolled: 5/4/11
• Passed: 5/17/11

Caption

Relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates and the creation of the Choose Life account in the general revenue fund.

Impact

The bill establishes the Choose Life account specifically designed to channel funds for the material needs of women in pregnancy situations. The account will be managed by the Texas Attorney General and governed by guidelines the office will create. Notably, the funds cannot be used for any organization that provides abortions or abortion-related services. This stipulation is critical in aligning the bill with certain ideological stances on reproductive rights, making it a subject of contention among different factions in the Texas legislature.

Summary

SB257 aims to establish 'Choose Life' license plates in Texas which would serve not only as a special vehicle registration option but also as a mechanism to fund support services for pregnant women considering adoption. The bill proposes that the fees collected from the issuance of these license plates after administrative costs would be directed to a newly created Choose Life account. This account is intended to provide financial backing to organizations that assist pregnant women considering placing their children for adoption, covering needs such as clothing, housing, and prenatal care.

Contention

Debates surrounding the bill primarily focus on its implications on reproductive rights and the extent to which such funding mechanisms favor specific ideologies. Proponents argue that the bill promotes life-affirming services and resources for women in tough situations, representing a needed change in support initiatives for adoption. Critics, however, are concerned that the bill effectively sidesteps comprehensive reproductive health support that includes abortion services, which they argue is essential for many women facing unplanned pregnancies. The bill's limitations on who can receive these funds are seen as exclusionary by opposition groups.