85R11838 AJZ-D     By: Neave, Thompson of Harris, H.B. No. 1729       Davis of Harris, Price, Moody, et al.     Substitute the following for H.B. No. 1729:     By:  Gervin-Hawkins C.S.H.B. No. 1729       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 A, Chapter 521, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 521.012 to read as follows:          Sec. 521.012.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVIDENCE TESTING   GRANT PROGRAM. (a) When a person applies for an original or   renewal driver's license or personal identification certificate   under this chapter, the person may contribute $1 or more to the   evidence testing grant program established under Section   772.00715, Government Code.          (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 grant program; and                (2)  provide an opportunity for the person to   contribute to the grant program 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   evidence testing account established under Section 772.00716,   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 2.  Subchapter C, Chapter 522, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 522.0295 to read as follows:          Sec. 522.0295.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVIDENCE TESTING   GRANT PROGRAM. (a) When a person applies for an original or   renewal commercial driver's license under this chapter, the person   may contribute $1 or more to the evidence testing grant program   established under Section 772.00715, Government Code.          (b)  The department shall:                (1)  include space on the first page of each   application for an original or renewal commercial driver's license   that allows a person applying for an original or renewal commercial   driver's license to indicate the amount that the person is   voluntarily contributing to the grant program; and                (2)  provide an opportunity for the person to   contribute to the grant program during the application process for   an original or renewal commercial driver's license 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   evidence testing account established under Section 772.00716,   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 3.  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 4.  The changes in law made by this Act apply only to   a person who applies for an original or renewal driver's license,   commercial driver's license, or personal identification   certificate on or after January 1, 2018.          SECTION 5.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.