85R7516 AJZ-D
By: Neave H.B. No. 1729
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to establishing and funding a grant program for testing
evidence collected in relation to sexual assaults or other sex
offenses; authorizing voluntary contributions.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 521.012 to read as follows:
Sec. 521.012. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVIDENCE TESTING
GRANT PROGRAM. (a) When a person applies for an original or
renewal driver's license under this chapter, the person may
contribute $1 or more to the evidence testing grant program
established under Section 772.00715, Government Code.
(b) The department shall:
(1) include space on the first page of each
application for an original or renewal driver's license that allows
a person applying for an original or renewal driver's license to
indicate the amount that the person is voluntarily contributing to
the grant program; and
(2) provide an opportunity for the person to
contribute to the grant program during the application process for
an original or renewal driver's license on the department's
Internet website.
(c) The department shall send any contribution made under
this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the
evidence testing account established under Section 772.00716,
Government Code, not later than the 14th day of each month. Before
sending the money to the comptroller, the department may deduct
money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for administering
this section.
SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is
amended by adding Sections 772.00715 and 772.00716 to read as
follows:
Sec. 772.00715. EVIDENCE TESTING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In
this section:
(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" has the meaning
assigned by Section 420.003.
(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal
justice division established under Section 772.006.
(3) "Grant program" means the evidence testing grant
program established under this section.
(4) "Law enforcement agency" means:
(A) the police department of a municipality;
(B) the sheriff's office of a county; or
(C) a constable's office of a county.
(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and
administer a grant program and shall disperse funds to assist law
enforcement agencies in testing evidence collected in relation to a
sexual assault or other sex offense.
(c) Grant funds may be used only for the testing by an
accredited crime laboratory of evidence that was collected in
relation to a sexual assault or other sex offense.
(d) The criminal justice division:
(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for
grant applicants; and
(2) shall establish:
(A) grant application procedures;
(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and
(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications.
(e) The criminal justice division shall include in the
biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed
reporting of the results and performance of the grant program.
(f) The criminal justice division may use any revenue
available to the division to fund the grant program.
Sec. 772.00716. EVIDENCE TESTING ACCOUNT. (a) The
evidence testing account is created as a dedicated account in the
general revenue fund of the state treasury.
(b) Money in the account may be appropriated only to the
criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 for
purposes of the evidence testing grant program established under
Section 772.00715.
(c) Funds distributed under Section 772.00715 are subject
to audit by the comptroller.
SECTION 3. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to
a person who applies for an original or renewal driver's license on
or after January 1, 2018.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.