By: Lucio, et al. S.B. No. 1978
(Cyrier)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to a voluntary contribution to help feed hungry Texans
when a person applies for a hunting license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended
by adding Section 42.011 to read as follows:
Sec. 42.011. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO HELP FEED HUNGRY
TEXANS. (a) When a person applies for a hunting license of any
type under this chapter, the person may contribute $1 or more to a
nonprofit organization, designated by the commission, whose
purposes include the administration of a statewide program that
provides hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to
local food assistance providers. The program must include the
recruitment of meat processors who, for a nominal fee to cover
processing costs, process and package the venison and contact the
food assistance providers to pick up the venison.
(b) The department shall:
(1) include space on each application for a hunting
license that allows a person applying for the license to indicate
the amount that the person is voluntarily contributing to the
nonprofit organization; and
(2) provide an opportunity for a person to contribute
to the nonprofit organization during the application process for a
hunting license on the department's Internet website.
(c) After deducting the department's administrative costs,
the department shall hold in trust the remainder of the amount a
person contributes under this section to the nonprofit
organization. Not later than November 1 of each year, the
department shall send the money held in trust to the nonprofit
organization.
(d) Money received by the nonprofit organization under this
section may be used only to administer, operate, support, and
promote the program described by Subsection (a).
(e) The nonprofit organization shall submit an annual
report to the legislature and the department that includes the
total dollar amount of contributions received by the organization
under this section.
(f) The commission may adopt rules to implement this
section, including rules related to processes for the selection,
inspection, and periodic review of the nonprofit organization.
SECTION 2. The commission shall designate a nonprofit
organization to receive the donations under Section 42.011, Parks
and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than September
15, 2015.
SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2015.