BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1584

By: Farias

Culture, Recreation & Tourism

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that the fund for veterans' assistance serves to provide grants to local governments and nonprofit organizations to enhance and improve veterans' assistance programs that address the needs of veterans and their families. The parties further note that in the past few years voluntary contributions to the fund have generated over $2 million and the Texas Veterans Commission has awarded nearly $45 million in grants to address a broad range of needs such as limited emergency assistance, transportation services, housing assistance, family and child services, and other supportive services. The parties explain, however, that the need for funding continues to exceed the funding available to award grants and that the commission is not able to provide funding to all applicants. H.B. 1584 seeks to address this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.

ANALYSIS

H.B. 1584 amends the Parks and Wildlife Code to authorize a person applying for any type of hunting or fishing license to make a voluntary contribution of $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the fund for veterans' assistance. The bill requires the Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to include space on the first page of each application for a hunting or fishing license that allows a person applying for the license to indicate that the person is making such a voluntary contribution and requires TPWD to provide an opportunity for the person to make the contribution during the application process for a hunting or fishing license on TPWD's website. The bill requires TPWD to send a voluntary contribution to the comptroller of public accounts for deposit in the state treasury to the credit of the fund for veterans' assistance not later than the 14th day of each month. The bill authorizes TPWD to deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for developing and administering these provisions before sending the money to the fund.

H.B. 1584, not later than August 1, 2016, requires the Parks and Wildlife Commission to adopt rules as needed to implement the bill's provisions and TPWD to develop procedures to implement the provisions. The bill authorizes TPWD to consult with the Department of Public Safety for assistance in developing the procedures. The bill applies only to a license purchased on or after September 1, 2016.

H.B. 1584 amends the Government Code to make a conforming change.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.