By Naishtat                                            H.B. No. 984
         76R1861 GCH-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to funding for the Blindness Education, Screening, and
 1-3     Treatment Program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, is amended
 1-6     by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read as
 1-7     follows:
 1-8           (b)  The commission shall implement the program only to the
 1-9     extent that funds are available from the blindness education,
1-10     screening, and treatment program account [under Section 521.421(f),
1-11     Transportation Code].  The program  shall include:
1-12                 (1)  public education about blindness and other eye
1-13     conditions;
1-14                 (2)  screenings and eye examinations to identify
1-15     conditions that may cause blindness; and
1-16                 (3)  treatment procedures necessary to prevent
1-17     blindness.
1-18           (d)  The blindness education, screening, and treatment
1-19     program account is in the general revenue fund.  The account
1-20     consists of fees collected  under Section 521.421(f),
1-21     Transportation Code, as added by Chapter 510, Acts of the 75th
1-22     Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, and Section 521.422(b),
1-23     Transportation Code, and gifts and grants given to the commission
1-24     from any source for the purpose of the program.  Money in the
 2-1     account may be appropriated only to the commission for the purpose
 2-2     of administering the program.
 2-3           SECTION 2.  Section 521.421(f), Transportation Code, as added
 2-4     by Chapter 510, Acts of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session,
 2-5     1997, is amended  to read as follows:
 2-6           (f)  The department shall collect an additional fee of $1 for
 2-7     the issuance or renewal of a license to fund the Blindness
 2-8     Education, Screening, and Treatment Program established under
 2-9     Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, if the person applying for or
2-10     renewing a license opts to pay the additional fee.  The department
2-11     shall remit fees collected under this subsection to the comptroller
2-12     for deposit to the credit of the  blindness education, screening,
2-13     and treatment program account.
2-14           SECTION 3.  Section 521.422(b), Transportation Code, is
2-15     amended to read as follows:
2-16           (b)  The department shall collect an additional fee of $1 for
2-17     the issuance or renewal of a personal identification card to fund
2-18     the Blindness Education, Screening, and Treatment Program
2-19     established under Section 91.027, Human Resources Code, if the
2-20     person applying for or renewing a personal identification card opts
2-21     to pay the additional fee.  The department shall remit fees
2-22     collected under this subsection to the comptroller  for deposit to
2-23     the credit of the blindness education, screening, and treatment
2-24     program account.
2-25           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1999.
2-26           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-27     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 3-1     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 3-2     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 3-3     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.