78R4862 JD-F

By:  Wohlgemuth                                                   H.B. No. 1655


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates and to the creation of the Choose Life account in the general revenue fund. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subchapter F, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 502.304 to read as follows: Sec. 502.304. CHOOSE LIFE LICENSE PLATES. (a) The department shall issue specially designed license plates for passenger cars and light trucks that include the words "Choose Life." (b) The department shall design the license plates in consultation with the attorney general. (c) The department shall issue license plates under this section to a person who: (1) applies to the county assessor-collector of the county in which the person resides on a form provided by the department; and (2) pays an annual fee of $30, in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.161 and, if personalized prestige license plates are issued, in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 502.251. (d) Of each fee collected under this section, the department shall deposit $5 to the credit of the state highway fund and $25 in the state treasury to the credit of the Choose Life account established by Section 402.031, Government Code. (e) If the owner of a vehicle registered under this section disposes of the vehicle during the registration year, the owner shall return the special license plates to the department. (f) If the license plates issued under this section are lost, stolen, or mutilated, the owner of the vehicle for which the plates were issued may obtain replacement plates from the department by paying the replacement fee prescribed by Section 502.184(a)(2). SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 402.031 and 402.032 to read as follows: Sec. 402.031. CHOOSE LIFE ACCOUNT. (a) The Choose Life account is a separate account in the general revenue fund. The account is composed of: (1) money deposited to the credit of the account under Section 502.304, Transportation Code; and (2) gifts, grants, donations, and legislative appropriations. (b) The attorney general administers the Choose Life account. The attorney general may spend money credited to the account only to: (1) make grants to an eligible organization; and (2) defray the cost of administering the account. (c) The attorney general may accept gifts, donations, and grants from any source for the benefit of the account. (d) The attorney general by rule shall establish: (1) guidelines for the expenditure of money credited to the Choose Life account; and (2) reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure that the money is spent in accordance with this section. (e) In this section, "eligible organization" means an organization in this state that: (1) qualifies as a charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended; (2) provides counseling and material assistance to pregnant women who are considering placing their children for adoption; (3) does not charge for services provided; (4) does not provide abortions or abortion-related services or make referrals to abortion providers; and (5) is not affiliated with an organization that provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals to abortion providers. Sec. 402.032. CHOOSE LIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The attorney general shall appoint a seven-member Choose Life advisory committee. (b) The committee shall: (1) meet at least twice a year or as called by the attorney general; (2) assist the attorney general in developing rules under Section 402.031(d); and (3) review and make recommendations to the attorney general on applications submitted to the attorney general for grants funded with money credited to the Choose Life account. (c) Members of the committee serve without compensation and are not entitled to reimbursement for expenses. Each member serves a term of four years, with the terms of three or four members expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.