Bill Text: TX SB2376 | 2023-2024 | 88th Legislature | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Relating to the issuance of Support Adoption specialty license plates and to the Support Adoption account and certain voluntary contributions to that account.

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Republican 3-1)

Status: (Passed) 2023-06-18 - Effective on 9/1/23 [SB2376 Detail]

Download: Texas-2023-SB2376-Comm_Sub.html
 
 
  By: Campbell  S.B. No. 2376
         (In the Senate - Filed March 10, 2023; March 23, 2023, read
  first time and referred to Committee on Transportation;
  May 11, 2023, reported favorably by the following vote:  Yeas 8,
  Nays 0; May 11, 2023, sent to printer.)
Click here to see the committee vote
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to the issuance of Support Adoption specialty license
  plates and to the Support Adoption account and certain voluntary
  contributions to that account.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 402.036, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 402.036.  SUPPORT ADOPTION [CHOOSE LIFE] ACCOUNT.  
         SECTION 2.  Sections 402.036(a), (b), (b-1), (e), (f), and
  (g), Government Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The Support Adoption [Choose Life] account is a separate
  account in the general revenue fund.  The account is composed of:
               (1)  money deposited to the credit of the account under
  Sections [Section] 504.662 and 521.015, Transportation Code; and
               (2)  gifts, grants, donations, and legislative
  appropriations.
         (b)  The attorney general administers the Support Adoption 
  [Choose Life] account. The attorney general may spend money
  credited to the account only to:
               (1)  make grants to an eligible organization; and
               (2)  defray the cost of administering the account,
  including the cost of advertising authorized by Subsection (b-1).
         (b-1)  The attorney general may advertise that fees paid for
  the issuance of a license plate in accordance with Section 504.662,
  Transportation Code, may be used to fund the grants described by
  Subsection (b)(1), provided that the money spent under this
  subsection does not exceed two percent of the amount of gross
  receipts deposited to the Support Adoption [Choose Life] account
  during the preceding state fiscal year.
         (e)  The attorney general by rule shall establish:
               (1)  guidelines for the expenditure of money credited
  to the Support Adoption [Choose Life] account; and
               (2)  reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure
  that the money is spent in accordance with this section.
         (f)  Money received by an eligible organization under this
  section may be spent only to provide for the material needs of
  pregnant women who are considering placing their children for
  adoption, including the provision of clothing, housing, prenatal
  care, food, utilities, and transportation, to provide for the needs
  of children [infants] who are awaiting placement with adoptive
  parents, to provide training and advertising relating to adoption,
  and to provide pregnancy testing or pre-adoption or postadoption
  counseling, but may not be used to pay an administrative, legal, or
  capital expense.
         (g)  In this section, "eligible organization" means an
  organization in this state that:
               (1)  is exempt from federal income taxation under
  Section 501(a), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, by being listed as an
  exempt charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3) of that
  code;
               (2)  provides counseling and material assistance to
  pregnant women who are considering placing their children for
  adoption or to prospective adoptive parents;
               (3)  does not charge for services provided, except for
  adoption-related costs or fees;
               (4)  does not provide abortions or abortion-related
  services or make referrals to abortion providers;
               (5)  is not affiliated with an organization that
  provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals
  to abortion providers; and
               (6)  does not contract with an organization that
  provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals
  to abortion providers.
         SECTION 3.  The heading to Section 402.037, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 402.037.  SUPPORT ADOPTION [CHOOSE LIFE] ADVISORY
  COMMITTEE.
         SECTION 4.  Sections 402.037(a) and (b), Government Code,
  are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  The attorney general shall appoint a seven-member
  Support Adoption [Choose Life] advisory committee.
         (b)  The committee shall:
               (1)  meet at least twice a year or as called by the
  attorney general;
               (2)  assist the attorney general in developing rules
  under Section 402.036(e); and
               (3)  review and make recommendations to the attorney
  general on applications submitted to the attorney general for
  grants funded with money credited to the Support Adoption [Choose
  Life] account.
         SECTION 5.  Section 504.662, Transportation Code, is amended
  to read as follows:
         Sec. 504.662.  SUPPORT ADOPTION [CHOOSE LIFE] LICENSE
  PLATES.  (a)  The department shall issue specially designed
  license plates that include the words "Support Adoption [Choose
  Life]."  The department shall design the license plates in
  consultation with the attorney general.
         (b)  After deduction of the department's administrative
  costs, the department shall deposit the remainder of the fee for
  issuance of license plates under this section in the state treasury
  to the credit of the Support Adoption [Choose Life] account
  established by Section 402.036, Government Code.
         SECTION 6.  Subchapter A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,
  is amended by adding Section 521.015 to read as follows:
         Sec. 521.015.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO SUPPORT
  ADOPTION.  (a)  When a person applies for an original or renewal
  driver's license or personal identification certificate under this
  chapter, the person may contribute any amount to the Support
  Adoption account established by Section 402.036, Government Code,
  to support adoption.
         (b)  The department shall:
               (1)  include space on the first page of each
  application for an original or renewal driver's license or personal
  identification certificate that allows a person applying for an
  original or renewal driver's license or personal identification
  certificate to indicate the amount that the person is voluntarily
  contributing to the account; and
               (2)  provide an opportunity for the person to
  contribute to the account during the application process for an
  original or renewal driver's license or personal identification
  certificate on the department's Internet website.
         (c)  The department shall send any contribution made under
  this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the
  Support Adoption account established by Section 402.036,
  Government Code, not later than the 14th 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 7.  Not later than December 31, 2023, the Department
  of Public Safety shall provide an opportunity for a person who
  applies for an original or renewal driver's license or personal
  identification certificate to make a voluntary contribution to
  support adoption, as required by Section 521.015, Transportation
  Code, as added by this Act.
         SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2023.
 
  * * * * *
feedback