77R12698 JD-D By Shields, Hill, Olivo, et al. H.B. No. 1257 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1257: By Alexander C.S.H.B. No. 1257 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the issuance of special "Choose Life" license plates. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, 1-5 is amended by adding Section 502.304 to read as follows: 1-6 Sec. 502.304. CHOOSE LIFE LICENSE PLATES. (a) The 1-7 department shall issue specially designed license plates for 1-8 passenger cars and light trucks that include the words "Choose 1-9 Life." 1-10 (b) The department shall issue license plates under this 1-11 section to a person who: 1-12 (1) applies to the county assessor-collector of the 1-13 county in which the person resides on a form provided by the 1-14 department; and 1-15 (2) pays an annual fee of $50, in addition to the fee 1-16 prescribed by Section 502.161 and, if personalized prestige license 1-17 plates are issued, in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 1-18 502.251. 1-19 (c) Of each fee collected under this section, the department 1-20 shall deposit $25 to the credit of the state highway fund and $25 1-21 in the state treasury to the credit of a separate account in the 1-22 general revenue fund. Money deposited in the account in the 1-23 general revenue fund under this section may be appropriated only to 1-24 the Department of Protective and Regulatory Services to support the 2-1 activities of nonprofit groups in this state whose services are 2-2 limited to counseling and meeting the physical needs of pregnant 2-3 women who are committed to placing their children for adoption. 2-4 The Department of Protective and Regulatory Services: 2-5 (1) may not use money appropriated to that agency 2-6 under this section for proabortion advertising or to support the 2-7 activities of an entity that: 2-8 (A) is involved or associated with abortion 2-9 activities, including counseling for or referrals to abortion 2-10 clinics or providing medical abortion-related procedures; or 2-11 (B) charges women for services provided by the 2-12 entity; and 2-13 (2) shall establish reporting and other mechanisms 2-14 necessary to ensure that the money is spent for those activities. 2-15 (d) If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section 2-16 disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner 2-17 shall return the special license plates to the department. 2-18 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.