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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and the |
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issuance of specialty license plates to honor members of the United |
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States armed forces exposed to open burn pits. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 99, Health and Safety Code, is amended by |
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adding Section 99.008 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 99.008. OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY FUND. (a) The open |
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burn pit registry fund is a special fund in the state treasury |
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outside the general revenue fund. The fund is composed of: |
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(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of |
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the legislature; |
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(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund; |
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(3) the earnings of the fund; and |
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(4) money deposited to the credit of the fund under |
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Section 504.679, Transportation Code. |
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(b) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the |
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department. The department may use the money only for the creation |
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and maintenance of the open burn pit registry established under |
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Section 99.003, except that the department may use the money for any |
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other purpose of the department consistent with legislative |
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appropriation of the money if the department finds that the |
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registry is adequately funded and contributions to the fund exceed |
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the amount necessary for the registry to be adequately funded. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 504.679 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 504.679. VETERANS EXPOSED TO OPEN BURN PITS. (a) The |
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department shall issue specialty license plates to honor members of |
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the United States armed forces who were exposed to open burn pits |
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during their military service. The license plates must include: |
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(1) the words "Burn Pits 360 Veterans Organization"; |
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and |
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(2) a depiction of the Burn Pits 360 nonprofit |
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organization logo. |
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(b) After deduction of the department's administrative |
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costs, the remainder of the fee for issuance of the license plates |
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shall be deposited to the credit of the open burn pit registry fund |
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established under Section 99.008, Health and Safety Code. |
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(c) Section 504.702 does not apply to a specialty license |
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plate issued under this section. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2023. |