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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a voluntary contribution to help feed hungry Texans |
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when a person applies for a hunting license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 42, Parks and Wildlife Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 42.011 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 42.011. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO HELP FEED HUNGRY |
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TEXANS. (a) When a person applies for a hunting license of any type |
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under this chapter, the person may contribute $1 or more to a |
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nonprofit organization, designated by the commission, whose |
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purposes include the administration of a statewide program that |
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provides hunters with a way to donate legally harvested deer to |
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local food assistance providers. The program must include the |
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recruitment of meat processors who, for a nominal fee to cover |
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processing costs, process and package the venison and contact the |
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food assistance providers to pick up the venison. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on each application for a hunting |
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license that allows a person applying for the license to indicate |
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the amount that the person is voluntarily contributing to the |
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nonprofit organization; and |
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(2) provide an opportunity for a person to contribute |
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to the nonprofit organization during the application process for a |
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hunting license on the department's Internet website. |
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(c) After deducting the department's administrative costs, |
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the department shall hold in trust the remainder of the amount a |
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person contributes under this section to the nonprofit |
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organization. Not later than November 1 of each year, the |
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department shall send the money held in trust to the nonprofit |
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organization. |
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(d) Money received by the nonprofit organization under this |
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section may be used only to administer, operate, support, and |
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promote the program described by Subsection (a). |
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(e) The nonprofit organization shall submit an annual |
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report to the legislature and the department that includes the |
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total dollar amount of contributions received by the organization |
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under this section. |
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(f) The commission may adopt rules to implement this |
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section, including rules related to processes for the selection, |
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inspection, and periodic review of the nonprofit organization. |
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SECTION 2. The commission shall designate a nonprofit |
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organization to receive the donations under Section 42.011, Parks |
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and Wildlife Code, as added by this Act, not later than September |
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15, 2015. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |