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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the amounts, availability, and use of certain |
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statutorily dedicated revenue and accounts; reducing or affecting |
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the amounts or rates of certain statutorily dedicated fees and |
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assessments. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 102.055, Business & Commerce Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 102.055. ALLOCATION OF ADDITIONAL REVENUE. [(a)] The |
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comptroller shall deposit all amounts received from the fee imposed |
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under this subchapter after the first $25 million in a state fiscal |
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biennium to the credit of the general revenue fund [in the Texas
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health opportunity pool established under Subchapter N, Chapter
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531, Government Code.
Money deposited in the pool under this
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section may be used only to provide health benefits coverage
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premium payment assistance to low-income persons through a premium
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payment assistance program developed under that subchapter]. |
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[(b)
This section takes effect only if Senate Bill No.
10,
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Acts of the 80th Legislature, Regular Session, 2007, becomes law
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and the Texas health opportunity pool is established under that
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Act.
If that Act does not become law, or that Act becomes law but
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the pool is not established, this section has no effect, and the
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revenue is deposited as provided by Section 47.0551.] |
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SECTION 2. Section 21.703, Education Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 21.703. [EDUCATOR EXCELLENCE INNOVATION FUND;] AMOUNT |
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OF GRANT AWARD. (a) [Each state fiscal year, the commissioner
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shall deposit an amount determined by the General Appropriations
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Act to the credit of the educator excellence innovation fund in the
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general revenue fund.] Each state fiscal year, the agency shall |
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[use money in the educator excellence innovation fund to] provide |
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each school district approved on a competitive basis under this |
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subchapter with a grant in an amount determined by the agency in |
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accordance with commissioner rule. |
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(b) Not later than April 1 of each state fiscal year, the |
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agency shall provide written notice to each school district that |
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will be provided a grant under this section that the district will |
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be provided the grant and the amount of that grant. |
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SECTION 3. Section 56.463, Education Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) Money in the Texas B-On-time student loan account may be |
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appropriated [used] only: |
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(1) to pay any costs of the coordinating board related |
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to the operation of the Texas B-On-time loan program and as |
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otherwise provided by this subchapter; or |
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(2) to the institutions of higher education that |
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contribute to the account as provided by Section 56.465 and only for |
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a purpose other than the Texas B-On-time loan program. |
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(c) Appropriations under Subsection (b)(2) must be made so |
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that each of the institutions of higher education receives an |
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amount that is in proportion to the net amount the institution |
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contributed to the Texas B-On-time student loan account. |
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SECTION 4. Section 61.5391(a), Education Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) The physician education loan repayment program account |
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is an account in the general revenue fund. The account is composed |
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of: |
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(1) gifts and grants contributed to the account; |
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(2) earnings on the principal of the account; and |
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(3) other amounts deposited to the credit of the |
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account, including: |
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(A) money deposited under Section [61.539(b) or] |
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61.5392; |
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(B) legislative appropriations; and |
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(C) money deposited under Section 155.2415, Tax |
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Code. |
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SECTION 5. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 403.0143 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 403.0143. REPORT ON USE OF GENERAL REVENUE-DEDICATED |
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ACCOUNTS. After each regular session of the legislature, the |
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comptroller shall issue a report that itemizes each general |
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revenue-dedicated account and the estimated balance and revenue in |
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each account that is considered available for the purposes of |
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certification of appropriations as provided by Section 403.095. |
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The comptroller shall publish the report on the comptroller's |
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Internet website. |
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SECTION 6. Section 420.008(c), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(c) The legislature may appropriate money deposited to the |
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credit of the fund only to: |
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(1) the attorney general, for: |
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(A) sexual violence awareness and prevention |
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campaigns; |
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(B) grants to faith-based groups, independent |
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school districts, and community action organizations for programs |
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for the prevention of sexual assault and programs for victims of |
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human trafficking; |
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(C) grants for equipment for sexual assault nurse |
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examiner programs, to support the preceptorship of future sexual |
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assault nurse examiners, and for the continuing education of sexual |
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assault nurse examiners; |
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(D) grants to increase the level of sexual |
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assault services in this state; |
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(E) grants to support victim assistance |
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coordinators; |
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(F) grants to support technology in rape crisis |
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centers; |
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(G) grants to and contracts with a statewide |
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nonprofit organization exempt from federal income taxation under |
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Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986, having as a |
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primary purpose ending sexual violence in this state, for programs |
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for the prevention of sexual violence, outreach programs, and |
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technical assistance to and support of youth and rape crisis |
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centers working to prevent sexual violence; and |
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(H) grants to regional nonprofit providers of |
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civil legal services to provide legal assistance for sexual assault |
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victims; |
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(2) the Department of State Health Services, to |
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measure the prevalence of sexual assault in this state and for |
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grants to support programs assisting victims of human trafficking; |
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(3) the Institute on Domestic Violence and Sexual |
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Assault at The University of Texas at Austin, to conduct research on |
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all aspects of sexual assault and domestic violence; |
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(4) Texas State University, for training and technical |
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assistance to independent school districts for campus safety; |
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(5) the office of the governor, for grants to support |
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sexual assault and human trafficking prosecution projects; |
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(6) the department [Department of Public Safety], to |
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support sexual assault training for commissioned officers; |
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(7) the comptroller's judiciary section, for |
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increasing the capacity of the sex offender civil commitment |
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program; |
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(8) the Texas Department of Criminal Justice: |
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(A) for pilot projects for monitoring sex |
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offenders on parole; and |
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(B) for increasing the number of adult |
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incarcerated sex offenders receiving treatment; |
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(9) the Texas Juvenile Justice Department [Youth
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Commission], for increasing the number of incarcerated juvenile sex |
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offenders receiving treatment; |
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(10) the comptroller, for the administration of the |
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fee imposed on sexually oriented businesses under Section 102.052, |
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Business & Commerce Code; [and] |
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(11) the supreme court, to be transferred to the Texas |
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[Equal] Access to Justice Foundation, or a similar entity, to |
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provide victim-related legal services to sexual assault victims, |
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including legal assistance with protective orders, |
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relocation-related matters, victim compensation, and actions to |
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secure privacy protections available to victims under law; and |
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(12) any state agency or organization for the purpose |
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of conducting human trafficking enforcement programs. |
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SECTION 7. Section 614.104, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (a) and (b) and adding Subsection (d) to read |
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as follows: |
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(a) The volunteer fire department assistance fund is an |
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account in the general revenue fund and is composed of money |
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collected under Chapter 2007 [Article 5.102], Insurance Code, and |
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contributions to the fund from any other source. |
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(b) Except as provided by Subsections [Subsection] (c) and |
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(d), money in the fund may be used only for a purpose under this |
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subchapter. |
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(d) Money in the fund may be appropriated for a contribution |
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to the Texas Emergency Services Retirement System subject to |
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Section 865.015. |
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SECTION 8. Section 382.0622(a), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) Clean Air Act fees consist of: |
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(1) fees collected by the commission under Sections |
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382.062, 382.0621, 382.202, and 382.302 and as otherwise provided |
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by law; |
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(2) $2 from the portion of each fee collected for |
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inspections of vehicles other than mopeds and remitted to the state |
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under Sections [Section] 548.501 and 548.503, Transportation Code; |
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and |
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(3) fees collected that are required under Section 185 |
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of the federal Clean Air Act (42 U.S.C. Section 7511d). |
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SECTION 9. Section 771.071(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The amount of the fee may not exceed 50 cents a month for |
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each line. The commission shall suspend the fees established under |
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this section for the duration of any state fiscal biennium for which |
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the unencumbered balance of the 9-1-1 services fee account and the |
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anticipated revenue to be deposited to the account from fees on |
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wireless telecommunications connections imposed under Section |
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771.0711 are sufficient to pay for all of the appropriations from |
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that account. The commission may reinstate its imposition of the |
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fees under this section if the commission anticipates that in the |
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next succeeding state fiscal biennium the unencumbered balance of |
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the 9-1-1 services fee account will not otherwise be sufficient to |
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pay for all of the appropriations from that account. |
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SECTION 10. Sections 771.0711(a) and (b), Health and Safety |
|
Code, are amended to read as follows: |
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(a) To provide for automatic number identification and |
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automatic location identification of wireless 9-1-1 calls, the |
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commission shall impose on each wireless telecommunications |
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connection a 9-1-1 emergency service fee in an amount determined by |
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the commission to be sufficient, when considered together with the |
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anticipated revenue from the 9-1-1 emergency service fees imposed |
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under Section 771.071, to fund all entities in this state that |
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provide emergency communications services but not more than 50 |
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cents a month for each connection. A political subdivision may not |
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impose another fee on a wireless service provider or subscriber for |
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9-1-1 emergency service. |
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(b) A wireless service provider shall collect the fee [in an
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amount equal to 50 cents a month] for each wireless |
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telecommunications connection from its subscribers and shall pay |
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the money collected to the comptroller not later than the 30th day |
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after the last day of the month during which the fees were |
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collected. The comptroller may establish alternative dates for |
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payment of fees under this section. The wireless service provider |
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may retain an administrative fee of one percent of the amount |
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collected. The comptroller shall deposit the money from the fees to |
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the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee account. Until deposited to |
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the credit of the 9-1-1 services fee account as required by |
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Subsection (c), money the comptroller collects under this |
|
subsection remains in a trust fund with the state treasury. |
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SECTION 11. The heading to Section 780.002, Health and |
|
Safety Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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Sec. 780.002. CERTAIN DEPOSITS TO ACCOUNT. |
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SECTION 12. Section 780.003(b), Health and Safety Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) The account is composed of money deposited to the credit |
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of the account under Sections 542.406 and 707.008, Transportation |
|
Code, and under Section 780.002 of this code[, and the earnings of
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the account]. |
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SECTION 13. Section 2007.002, Insurance Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 2007.002. ASSESSMENT. The comptroller shall assess |
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against all insurers to which this chapter applies amounts for each |
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state fiscal year necessary, as determined by the commissioner, to |
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collect a combined total equal to the lesser of: |
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(1) the total amount that the General Appropriations |
|
Act appropriates from the volunteer fire department assistance fund |
|
account in the general revenue fund for that state fiscal year other |
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than appropriations for contributions to the Texas Emergency |
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Services Retirement System made under Section 614.104(d), |
|
Government Code; or [and] |
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(2) $30 million. |
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SECTION 14. Section 1701.156, Occupations Code, is amended |
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by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: |
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(c) The Department of Public Safety may use money |
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appropriated to the department from the account to award grants to |
|
local law enforcement agencies for training on incident-based |
|
reporting systems to be used for reporting information and |
|
statistics concerning criminal offenses committed in this state. |
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The department shall adopt rules governing the award of grants by |
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the department under this subsection. |
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SECTION 15. Section 1701.157, Occupations Code, is amended |
|
by adding Subsection (a-1) to read as follows: |
|
(a-1) Subsection (a) does not apply to money appropriated to |
|
the Department of Public Safety from the account for the purpose of |
|
awarding grants to local law enforcement agencies for training on |
|
incident-based reporting systems under Section 1701.156(c). |
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SECTION 16. Section 155.2415, Tax Code, is amended to read |
|
as follows: |
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Sec. 155.2415. ALLOCATION OF CERTAIN REVENUE TO PROPERTY |
|
TAX RELIEF FUND AND CERTAIN OTHER FUNDS. Notwithstanding Section |
|
155.241, the proceeds from the collection of taxes imposed by |
|
Section 155.0211 shall be allocated as follows: |
|
(1) the amount of the proceeds that is equal to the |
|
amount that, if the taxes imposed by Section 155.0211 were imposed |
|
at a rate of 40 percent of the manufacturer's list price, exclusive |
|
of any trade discount, special discount, or deal, would be |
|
attributable to the portion of that tax rate in excess of 35.213 |
|
percent, shall be deposited to the credit of the property tax relief |
|
fund under Section 403.109, Government Code; |
|
(2) the amount of the proceeds that is equal to the |
|
amount that would be attributable to a tax rate of 35.213 percent of |
|
the manufacturer's list price, exclusive of any trade discount, |
|
special discount, or deal, if the taxes were imposed by Section |
|
155.0211 at that rate, shall be deposited to the credit of the |
|
general revenue fund; and |
|
(3) 100 percent of the remaining proceeds shall be |
|
deposited to the credit of: |
|
(A) the physician education loan repayment |
|
program account established under Subchapter J, Chapter 61, |
|
Education Code; or |
|
(B) the general revenue fund, if the comptroller |
|
determines that the unencumbered beginning balance of the physician |
|
education loan repayment account established under Subchapter J, |
|
Chapter 61, Education Code, is sufficient to fund appropriations |
|
and other direct and indirect costs from that account for the |
|
current state fiscal year. |
|
SECTION 17. Section 542.406(c), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(c) Not later than the 60th day after the end of a local |
|
authority's fiscal year, after deducting amounts the local |
|
authority is authorized by Subsection (d) to retain, the local |
|
authority shall: |
|
(1) send 50 percent of the revenue derived from civil |
|
or administrative penalties collected by the local authority under |
|
this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
|
designated [regional] trauma facility and emergency medical |
|
services account established under Section 780.003 [782.002], |
|
Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(2) deposit the remainder of the revenue in a special |
|
account in the local authority's treasury that may be used only to |
|
fund traffic safety programs, including pedestrian safety |
|
programs, public safety programs, intersection improvements, and |
|
traffic enforcement. |
|
SECTION 18. Section 707.008(a), Transportation Code, is |
|
amended to read as follows: |
|
(a) Not later than the 60th day after the end of a local |
|
authority's fiscal year, after deducting amounts the local |
|
authority is authorized by Subsection (b) to retain, the local |
|
authority shall: |
|
(1) send 50 percent of the revenue derived from civil |
|
or administrative penalties collected by the local authority under |
|
this section to the comptroller for deposit to the credit of the |
|
designated [regional] trauma facility and emergency medical |
|
services account established under Section 780.003 [782.002], |
|
Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(2) deposit the remainder of the revenue in a special |
|
account in the local authority's treasury that may be used only to |
|
fund traffic safety programs, including pedestrian safety |
|
programs, public safety programs, intersection improvements, and |
|
traffic enforcement. |
|
SECTION 19. Section 708.103, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (c) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (c), the [The] amount |
|
of a surcharge under this section is $250 per year. |
|
(c) The amount of a surcharge under this section is $125 per |
|
year if the person: |
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(1) has been convicted of an offense under Section |
|
601.191, and no other offense described by Subsection (a); and |
|
(2) establishes financial responsibility under |
|
Section 601.051 not later than the 60th day after the date of the |
|
offense through a motor vehicle liability insurance policy that: |
|
(A) complies with Subchapter D, Chapter 601; and |
|
(B) is prepaid and valid for at least a six-month |
|
period. |
|
SECTION 20. Section 708.104, Transportation Code, is |
|
amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b) Except as provided by Subsection (b-1), the [The] amount |
|
of a surcharge under this section is $100 per year. |
|
(b-1) The amount of a surcharge under this section is $50 |
|
per year if the person obtains a driver's license not later than the |
|
60th day after the date of the offense. |
|
SECTION 21. Section 39.903(m), Utilities Code, is amended |
|
to read as follows: |
|
(m) This section expires September 1, 2017 [2016]. |
|
SECTION 22. Section 39.9039, Utilities Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
Sec. 39.9039. ELIMINATION OF SYSTEM BENEFIT FUND BALANCE. |
|
(a) Notwithstanding Section 39.903(b), the commission shall set the |
|
nonbypassable system benefit fund fee at the amount of zero cents |
|
per megawatt hour for the period beginning September 1, 2013, and |
|
ending September 1, 2017 [2016]. |
|
(b) Notwithstanding Section 39.903(e), money in the system |
|
benefit fund may be appropriated: |
|
(1) [for the state fiscal year beginning September 1,
|
|
2013, a program established by the commission to assist low-income
|
|
electric customers by providing a reduced rate for the months of
|
|
September, 2013, and May through August, 2014, in the manner
|
|
prescribed by Section 39.903(h) at a rate of up to 82 percent;
|
|
[(2)] for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, |
|
2014, a program established by the commission to assist low-income |
|
electric customers by providing a reduced rate for the months of |
|
September, 2014, and May through August, 2015, in the manner |
|
prescribed by Section 39.903(h) at a rate of up to 15 percent; |
|
(2) [(3)] for the state fiscal year beginning |
|
September 1, 2015, a program established by the commission to |
|
assist low-income electric customers by providing a reduced rate |
|
for the months of September, 2015, and May through August, 2016, in |
|
the manner prescribed by Section 39.903(h) at a rate of up to 33 |
|
[15] percent; |
|
(3) for the state fiscal year beginning September 1, |
|
2016, a program established by the commission to assist low-income |
|
electric customers by providing a reduced rate for the months of |
|
September, 2016, and May through August, 2017, in the manner |
|
prescribed by Section 39.903(h) at a rate of up to 33 percent; and |
|
(4) for customer education programs and |
|
administrative expenses incurred by the commission in implementing |
|
and administering this chapter. |
|
(c) This section expires September 1, 2017 [2016]. |
|
SECTION 23. Section 26.3574(b-1), Water Code, is amended to |
|
read as follows: |
|
(b-1) The commission by rule shall set the amount of the fee |
|
in Subsection (b) in an amount not to exceed the amount necessary to |
|
cover the agency's costs of administering this subchapter, as |
|
indicated by the amount appropriated by the legislature from the |
|
petroleum storage tank remediation account for that purpose, not |
|
including any amount appropriated by the legislature from the |
|
petroleum storage tank remediation account for the purpose of the |
|
monitoring or remediation of releases occurring on or before |
|
December 22, 1998. |
|
SECTION 24. The following provisions of law are repealed: |
|
(1) Section 61.539, Education Code; |
|
(2) Section 780.003(c), Health and Safety Code; and |
|
(3) Chapter 782, Health and Safety Code. |
|
SECTION 25. Not later than January 1, 2016, the Department |
|
of Public Safety shall adopt rules as required by Section |
|
1701.156(c), Occupations Code, as added by this Act. |
|
SECTION 26. The changes in law made by this Act to Sections |
|
708.103 and 708.104, Transportation Code, apply to a surcharge |
|
pending on the effective date of this Act, regardless of when the |
|
surcharge was assessed. |
|
SECTION 27. Not later than the 90th day of the state fiscal |
|
year beginning September 1, 2015, the comptroller shall transfer |
|
any remaining balance in the educator excellence innovation fund |
|
account No. 5135 to the credit of the general revenue fund. |
|
SECTION 28. Not later than the 90th day of the state fiscal |
|
year beginning September 1, 2015, the comptroller shall transfer |
|
any remaining balance in the regional trauma account No. 5137 to the |
|
credit of the designated trauma facility and EMS account No. 5111 in |
|
the general revenue fund. |
|
SECTION 29. This Act takes effect September 1, 2015. |