AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Special Olympics Texas is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit whose mission is to provide year-round sports training and athletic competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Athletes can begin training at age six, competing at age eight, and are eligible to attend statewide events at the age of 12. In Texas, the Special Olympics serves over 51,000 athletes in 22 different sports.
S.B. 272 creates a trust fund outside the state treasury to be held by the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas and administered by the Department of Aging and Disability Services as a trustee on behalf of Special Olympics Texas. The money will provide training and athletic competitions for persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities. S.B. 272 allows a person who is registering or renewing a motor vehicle registration the option to voluntarily donate to the Special Olympics Texas Fund.
S.B. 272 amends current law relating to making a voluntary contribution to the Special Olympics Texas fund when registering a motor vehicle or renewing a motor vehicle registration.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Subchapter H, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, by adding Section 502.413, as follows:
Sec. 502.413. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO SPECIAL OLYMPICS TEXAS FUND. (a) Authorizes a person, when the person registers or renews the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, to contribute any amount to the Special Olympics Texas fund under Subsection (f).
(b) Requires the Texas Department of Motor Vehicles (TxDMV) to provide, in a conspicuous manner, an opportunity to contribute to the Special Olympics Texas fund in any registration renewal system used by TxDMV.
(c) Authorizes the county assessor-collector, if a person makes a contribution under this section and does not pay the full amount of a registration fee, to credit all or a portion of the contribution to the person's registration fee.
(d) Requires the county assessor-collector to send any contribution made under this section to the comptroller of public accounts of the State of Texas (comptroller) for deposit to the Special Olympics Texas fund before the 31st day after the date the contribution is made.
(e) Requires TxDMV to consult with the Department of Aging and Disability Services (DADS) in performing TxDMV's duties under this section.
(f) Provides that the Special Olympics Texas fund is created as a trust fund outside the state treasury to be held by the comptroller and administered by DADS as trustee on behalf of Special Olympics Texas. Provides that the fund is composed of money deposited to the credit of the fund under this section. Requires that money in the fund be disbursed at least monthly, without appropriation, to Special Olympics Texas to provide training and athletic competitions for persons with mental illness and intellectual disabilities.
SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2016.