84R8963 SGA-F
 
  By: Farias H.B. No. 1584
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to a voluntary donation to the fund for veterans'
  assistance when applying for a hunting or fishing license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 434.017(a), Government Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         (a)  The fund for veterans' assistance is a special fund in
  the state treasury outside the general revenue fund.  The fund is
  composed of:
               (1)  money transferred to the fund at the direction of
  the legislature;
               (2)  gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
               (3)  the earnings of the fund;
               (4)  money transferred to the fund from proceeds of the
  lottery game operated under Section 466.027 or transferred to the
  fund under Section 466.408(b);
               (5)  money deposited to the credit of the fund under
  Section 502.1746, Transportation Code; [and]
               (6)  money deposited to the credit of the fund under
  Section 521.008, Transportation Code; and
               (7)  money deposited to the credit of the fund under
  Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code.
         SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 12, Parks and Wildlife
  Code, is amended by adding Section 12.007 to read as follows:
         Sec. 12.007.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO FUND FOR VETERANS'
  ASSISTANCE. (a) In this section, "veterans fund" means the fund for
  veterans' assistance established under Section 434.017, Government
  Code.
         (b)  When a person applies for a hunting or fishing license
  of any type, including a combination hunting and fishing license,
  under this code, the person may make a voluntary contribution of $1,
  $5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund.
         (c)  The department shall:
               (1)  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 voluntarily
  contributing $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund; and
               (2)  provide an opportunity for the person to
  contribute $1, $5, $10, or $20 to the veterans fund during the
  application process for a hunting or fishing license on the
  department's Internet website.
         (d)  The department shall send any contribution made under
  this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to
  the credit of the fund for veterans' assistance not later than the
  14th day of each month. Before sending the money to the veterans
  fund, the department may deduct money equal to the amount of
  reasonable expenses for developing and administering this section.
         SECTION 3.  (a) To implement Section 12.007, Parks and
  Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, the Parks and Wildlife
  Commission shall adopt rules as needed and the Parks and Wildlife
  Department shall develop procedures to implement that section not
  later than August 1, 2016.
         (b)  The Parks and Wildlife Department may consult with the
  Department of Public Safety for assistance in developing procedures
  to implement Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, as added by
  this Act.
         SECTION 4.  Section 12.007, Parks and Wildlife Code, as
  added by this Act, applies only to a license purchased on or after
  September 1, 2016.
         SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.