By: Neave H.B. No. 4102

A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to establishing and funding a grant program for testing evidence collected in relation to sexual assaults or other sex offenses; authorizing voluntary contributions.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 502, Transportation Code, is amended by adding Section 502.414 to read as follows:

Sec. 502.414. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVIDENCE TESTING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) When a person registers or renews the registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the person may contribute any amount to the Evidence Testing Grant Program established under Section 772.00715, Government Code.

(b) The department shall provide, in a conspicuous manner, an opportunity to contribute to the Evidence Testing Grant Program in any registration renewal system used by the department.

(c) If a person makes a contribution under this section and does not pay the full amount of a registration fee, the county assessor-collector may credit all or a portion of the contribution to the person's registration fee.

(d) The county assessor-collector shall send any contribution made under this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the evidence testing account established under Section 772.00716, Government Code, not later than the 30th day of each month. Before sending the money to the comptroller, the department may deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable expenses for administering this section.

SECTION 2. Subchapter A, Chapter 772, Government Code, is amended by adding Sections 772.00715 and 772.00716 to read as follows:

Sec. 772.00715. EVIDENCE TESTING GRANT PROGRAM. (a) In this section:

(1) "Accredited crime laboratory" has the meaning assigned by Section 420.003.

(2) "Criminal justice division" means the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006.

(3) "Grant program" means the evidence testing grant program established under this section.

(4) "Law enforcement agency" means:

(A) the police department of a municipality;

(B) the sheriff's office of a county; or

(C) a constable's office of a county.

(b) The criminal justice division shall establish and administer a grant program and shall disperse funds to assist law enforcement agencies or counties in testing evidence collected in relation to a sexual assault or other sex offense.

(c) Grant funds may be used only for the testing by an accredited crime laboratory of evidence that was collected in relation to a sexual assault or other sex offense.

(d) The criminal justice division:

(1) may establish additional eligibility criteria for grant applicants; and

(2) shall establish:

(A) grant application procedures;

(B) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and

(C) criteria for evaluating grant applications.

(e) The criminal justice division shall include in the biennial report required by Section 772.006(a)(9) detailed reporting of the results and performance of the grant program.

(f) The criminal justice division may use any revenue available to the division to fund the grant program.

Sec. 772.00716. EVIDENCE TESTING ACCOUNT. (a) The evidence testing account is created as a dedicated account in the general revenue fund of the state treasury.

(b) Money in the account may be appropriated only to the criminal justice division established under Section 772.006 for purposes of the evidence testing grant program established under Section 772.00715.

(c) Funds distributed under Section 772.00715 are subject to audit by the comptroller.

SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.