SRC-JXG S.B. 206 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 206
76R1861 GCH-DBy: Moncrief
Human Services
2/15/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, Texas law does not provide a general revenue account for donated
funds from the Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program
(BESTP). S.B. 1403, 75th Legislature, created BESTP to be funded through a
voluntary $1 checkoff at the time a person applies for or renews a state
driver's license; however, S.B. 1403 did not create a dedicated account to
serve as a destination for donated funds. This bill would create a general
revenue account for donated funds for BESTP.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 206 creates a general revenue account for donated funds
from the Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, by amending
Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d), to require the Texas Commission
for the Blind (commission) to implement the Blindness Education, Screening,
and Treatment Program (BESTP) program from the BESTP account, rather than
Section 521.421(f), Transportation Code. Provides that the BESTP account is
in the general revenue fund. Provides that the account consists of fees
collected, and gifts and grants given to the commission from any source for
the purpose of the program. Authorizes money in the account to be
appropriated only to the commission for the purpose of administering the
program. 

SECTION 2. Amends Section 521.421(f), Transportation Code, as added by
Chapter 510, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997,  to
require the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to remit fees collected to
the Comptroller of Public Accounts for deposit to the credit of the BESTP
account.  

SECTION 3. Amends Section 521.422(b), Transportation Code, to require the
DPS to remit fees collected to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of
the BESTP account.  

SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 5. Emergency clause.