By Moncrief S.B. No. 206
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.