H.B. No. 1729
 
 
 
 
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 disburse 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.
         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.
 
 
  ______________________________ ______________________________
     President of the Senate Speaker of the House     
 
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1729 was passed by the House on April
  6, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 1 present, not
  voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B.
  No. 1729 on May 20, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 127, Nays 5,
  2 present, not voting.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House   
 
         I certify that H.B. No. 1729 was passed by the Senate, with
  amendments, on May 17, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 29, Nays
  1.
 
  ______________________________
  Secretary of the Senate   
  APPROVED: __________________
                  Date       
   
           __________________
                Governor