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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to a grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting |
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the Department of Public Safety; authorizing voluntary |
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contributions. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 521.012 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 521.012. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR |
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. |
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(a) When a person applies for an original or renewal driver's |
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license or personal identification certificate under this chapter, |
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the person may contribute $3 or more to the grant program for |
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nonprofit organizations supporting the Department of Public Safety |
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established under Section 411.013, Government Code. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on the first page of each |
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application for an original or renewal driver's license or personal |
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identification certificate that allows a person applying for an |
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original or renewal driver's license or personal identification |
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certificate to indicate the amount that the person is voluntarily |
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contributing to the grant program; and |
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(2) provide an opportunity for the person to |
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contribute to the grant program during the application process for |
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an original or renewal driver's license or personal identification |
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certificate on the department's Internet website. |
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(c) The department shall send any contribution made under |
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this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
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nonprofit organizations supporting the Department of Public Safety |
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account established under Section 411.013, Government Code, not |
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later than the 14th day of each month. Before sending the money to |
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the comptroller, the department may deduct money equal to the |
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amount of reasonable expenses for administering this section. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter C, Chapter 522, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 522.0297 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 522.0297. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR GRANT PROGRAM FOR |
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NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS SUPPORTING DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY. |
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(a) When a person applies for an original or renewal commercial |
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driver's license under this chapter, the person may contribute $3 |
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or more to the grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting |
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the Department of Public Safety established under Section 411.013, |
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Government Code. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on the first page of each |
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|
application for an original or renewal commercial driver's license |
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|
that allows a person applying for an original or renewal commercial |
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|
driver's license to indicate the amount that the person is |
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|
voluntarily contributing to the grant program; and |
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(2) provide an opportunity for the person to |
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|
contribute to the grant program during the application process for |
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|
an original or renewal commercial driver's license on the |
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|
department's Internet website. |
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|
(c) The department shall send any contribution made under |
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this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
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nonprofit organizations supporting the Department of Public Safety |
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account established under Section 411.013, Government Code, not |
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|
later than the 14th day of each month. Before sending the money to |
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the comptroller, the department may deduct money equal to the |
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amount of reasonable expenses for administering this section. |
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SECTION 3. Section 411.013, Government Code, is amended by |
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adding Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows: |
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(d) The department shall establish and administer a grant |
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program for and shall disburse funds to nonprofit organizations |
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that provide support to the department, including support for |
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employees of the department. Grant funds may be used only for |
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providing support to the department. The department shall |
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establish: |
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(1) grant application procedures; |
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(2) guidelines relating to grant amounts; and |
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(3) criteria for evaluating grant applications. |
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(e) The nonprofit organizations supporting the Department |
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of Public Safety account is created as a dedicated account in the |
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general revenue fund of the state treasury. Money in the account |
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may be appropriated only to the department for purposes of the grant |
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program established under Subsection (d). Funds distributed under |
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Subsection (d) are subject to audit by the comptroller. |
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SECTION 4. The changes in law made by this Act apply only to |
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a person who applies for an original or renewal driver's license, |
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commercial driver's license, or personal identification |
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certificate on or after January 1, 2026. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2025. |