87R17967 MEW-D
By: Herrero H.B. No. 3953
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and a
voluntary contribution to that fund when applying for a handgun
license.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
amended by adding Section 411.1742 to read as follows:
Sec. 411.1742. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO OPEN BURN PIT
REGISTRY FUND. (a) When a person applies for an original or renewal
license to carry a handgun under this subchapter, the person may
make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the open burn pit
registry fund established by Section 99.008, Health and Safety
Code.
(b) The department shall:
(1) include space on the first page of each
application for an original or renewal license to carry a handgun
that allows a person applying for an original or renewal license to
carry a handgun to indicate the amount that the person is
voluntarily contributing to the fund; and
(2) provide an opportunity for the person to
contribute to the fund during the application process for an
original or renewal license to carry a handgun on the department's
Internet website.
(c) The department shall send any contribution made under
this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to
the credit of the open burn pit registry fund not later than the
14th day of each month. Before sending the money to the fund, the
department may deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable
expenses for administering this section.
SECTION 2. Chapter 99, Health and Safety Code, as added by
Chapter 153 (H.B. 306), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
Session, 2019, is amended by adding Section 99.008 to read as
follows:
Sec. 99.008. OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY FUND. (a) The open burn
pit registry fund 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; and
(4) money deposited to the credit of the fund under
Section 411.1742, Government Code.
(b) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the
department. The department may use the money only for the creation
and maintenance of the open burn pit registry established under
Section 99.003, except that the department may use the money for any
other purpose of the department consistent with legislative
appropriation of the money if the department finds that the
registry is adequately funded and contributions to the fund exceed
the amount necessary for the registry to be adequately funded.
SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date
of this Act, the Department of Public Safety shall modify the
application form for a license to carry a handgun to satisfy the
requirement of Section 411.1742, Government Code, as added by this
Act.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.