H.B. No. 1315
AN ACT
relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and the
issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United
States armed forces exposed to open burn pits.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. This Act may be cited as the Le Roy and Rosie
Torres Act.
SECTION 2. Chapter 99, Health and Safety Code, 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 504.679, Transportation 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. Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code,
is amended by adding Section 504.679 to read as follows:
Sec. 504.679. VETERANS EXPOSED TO OPEN BURN PITS. (a) The
department shall issue specialty license plates to honor members of
the United States armed forces who were exposed to open burn pits
during their military service. The license plates must include:
(1) the words "Burn Pits 360 Veterans Organization";
and
(2) a depiction of the Burn Pits 360 nonprofit
organization logo.
(b) After deduction of the department's administrative
costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates
shall be deposited to the credit of the open burn pit registry fund
established under Section 99.008, Health and Safety Code.
(c) Section 504.702 does not apply to a specialty license
plate issued under this section.
SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1315 was passed by the House on April
5, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 138, Nays 9, 1 present, not
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
No. 1315 on May 10, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 128, Nays 11,
1 present, not voting.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.B. No. 1315 was passed by the Senate, with
amendments, on May 4, 2023, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: __________________
Date
__________________
Governor