87R17967 MEW-D
 
  By: Herrero H.B. No. 3953
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and a
  voluntary contribution to that fund when applying for a handgun
  license.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is
  amended by adding Section 411.1742 to read as follows:
         Sec. 411.1742.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO OPEN BURN PIT
  REGISTRY FUND. (a) When a person applies for an original or renewal
  license to carry a handgun under this subchapter, the person may
  make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the open burn pit
  registry fund established by Section 99.008, Health and Safety
  Code.
         (b)  The department shall:
               (1)  include space on the first page of each
  application for an original or renewal license to carry a handgun
  that allows a person applying for an original or renewal license to
  carry a handgun to indicate the amount that the person is
  voluntarily contributing to the fund; and
               (2)  provide an opportunity for the person to
  contribute to the fund during the application process for an
  original or renewal license to carry a handgun on the department's
  Internet website.
         (c)  The department shall send any contribution made under
  this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to
  the credit of the open burn pit registry fund not later than the
  14th day of each month. Before sending the money to the fund, the
  department may deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable
  expenses for administering this section.
         SECTION 2.  Chapter 99, Health and Safety Code, as added by
  Chapter 153 (H.B. 306), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular
  Session, 2019, is amended by adding Section 99.008 to read as
  follows:
         Sec. 99.008.  OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY FUND. (a) The open burn
  pit registry fund is a special fund in the state treasury outside
  the general revenue fund. The fund is composed of:
               (1)  money transferred to the fund at the direction of
  the legislature;
               (2)  gifts and grants contributed to the fund;
               (3)  the earnings of the fund; and
               (4)  money deposited to the credit of the fund under
  Section 411.1742, Government Code.
         (b)  Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the
  department.  The department may use the money only for the creation
  and maintenance of the open burn pit registry established under
  Section 99.003, except that the department may use the money for any
  other purpose of the department consistent with legislative
  appropriation of the money if the department finds that the
  registry is adequately funded and contributions to the fund exceed
  the amount necessary for the registry to be adequately funded.
         SECTION 3.  As soon as practicable after the effective date
  of this Act, the Department of Public Safety shall modify the
  application form for a license to carry a handgun to satisfy the
  requirement of Section 411.1742, Government Code, as added by this
  Act.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.