By: Farias, et al. (Senate Sponsor - Zaffirini) H.B. No. 1584
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 4, 2015;
May 6, 2015, read first time and referred to Committee on
Agriculture, Water, and Rural Affairs; May 12, 2015, reported
favorably by the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 12, 2015, sent
to printer.)
COMMITTEE VOTE
YeaNayAbsentPNV
PerryX
ZaffiriniX
CreightonX
HallX
HinojosaX
KolkhorstX
RodrÃguezX
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a voluntary donation to the fund for veterans'
assistance when applying for a hunting or fishing license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 434.017(a), Government Code, is amended
to read as follows:
(a) The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in
the state treasury outside the general revenue fund. The fund is
composed of:
(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of
the legislature;
(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
(3) the earnings of the fund;
(4) money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the
lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to the
fund under Section 466.408(b);
(5) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 502.1746, Transportation Code; [and]
(6) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 521.008, Transportation Code; and
(7) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife
Code, is amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:
Sec. 12.007. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO FUND FOR VETERANS'
ASSISTANCE. (a) In this section, "veterans fund" means the fund for
veterans' assistance established under Section 434.017, Government
Code.
(b) When a person applies for a hunting or fishing license
of any type, including a combination hunting and fishing license,
under this code, the person may make a voluntary contribution of $1,
$5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund.
(c) The department shall:
(1) include space on the first page of each
application for a hunting or fishing license that allows a person
applying for the license to indicate that the person is voluntarily
contributing $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund; and
(2) provide an opportunity for the person to
contribute $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund during the
application process for a hunting or fishing license on the
department's Internet website.
(d) The department shall send any contribution made under
this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to
the credit of the fund for veterans' assistance not later than the
14th day of each month. Before sending the money to the veterans
fund, the department may deduct money equal to the amount of
reasonable expenses for developing and administering this section.
SECTION 3. (a) To implement Section 12.007, Parks and
Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, the Parks and Wildlife
Commission shall adopt rules as needed and the Parks and Wildlife
Department shall develop procedures to implement that section not
later than August 1, 2016.
(b) The Parks and Wildlife Department may consult with the
Department of Public Safety for assistance in developing procedures
to implement Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by
this Act.
SECTION 4. Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, as
added by this Act, applies only to a license purchased on or after
September 1, 2016.
SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.
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