By:  Van de Putte                                                 S.B. No. 1522


A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the creation, funding and administration of the Texas 
Veterans Trust Fund.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Chapter 434, Government Code, is amended by 
adding Section 434.0081, to read as follows:
	Sec. 434.0081.  ACCEPTANCE OF GIFTS AND GRANTS.  The 
commission may solicit, accept, or refuse a gift or grant of money 
or property for any public purpose related to the duties of the 
commission.  Money or property accepted by the commission shall be 
deposited in the Texas veterans trust fund.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 434, Government Code is 
amended by adding Sec. 434.0135 to read as follows:
	Sec. 434.0135(a) The Texas veterans trust fund is created as 
a dedicated account in the general revenue fund and shall be 
administered by the commission for the purposes of supporting 
veterans outreach and service programs authorized by this chapter.
	(b)  The fund is composed of:                                           
		(1)  gifts, grants, and donations received by the 
commission under Section 434.007 (b);
		(2)  a portion of the license plate fees collected from 
the sale of the "Fight Terrorism" specialty license plates 
authorized under Section 504.647, Transportation Code;
		(3)  a portion of the license plate fees collected from 
the sale of the "United We Stand" specialty license plates 
authorized under Section 504.628, Transportation Code;
		(4)  a portion of the license plate fees collected from 
the sale of the "Support the Troops" specialty license plate 
authorized under Section 504.657, Transportation Code; and
		(5)  legislative appropriations made to the trust fund.                
	(c)  Money in the fund may be used by the commission only for 
the purpose of providing assistance to Texas' veteran population 
under this chapter.
	(d)  Interest or other income from investment of the fund 
shall be deposited to the credit of the fund.
	SECTION 3.  Section 504.647(b), Transportation Code is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b)  After deduction of the department's administrative 
costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates 
[The fee] shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas veterans 
trust fund [state highway fund].
	SECTION 4.  Section 504.628(b), Transportation Code is 
amended to read as follows:
	(b)  After deduction of the department's administrative 
costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates 
shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas veterans trust fund 
[Texas mobility fund].
	SECTION 5.  Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code 
is amended by adding Section 504.657 to read as follows:
	Sec. 504.657. SUPPORT THE TROOPS LICENSE PLATES.  (a)  The 
department shall issue "Support the Troops" specialty license 
plates.  The Texas Veterans Commission shall design the license 
plates in consultation with the department.
	(b)  After deduction of the department's administrative 
cost, the reminder of the fee for issuance of the license plates 
shall be deposited to the credit of the Texas veterans trust fund.
	SECTION 6.  The issuance of the Support the Troops specialty 
license plates by the department pursuant to Section 504.657, 
Transportation Code shall not be subject to the cash deposit 
requirements or the minimum license application requirement of 
Section 504.702(b)(3), Transportation Code.
	SECTION 7.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.