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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the creation of the open burn pit registry fund and a |
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voluntary contribution to that fund when applying for a handgun |
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license. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 411.1742 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 411.1742. VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION TO OPEN BURN PIT |
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REGISTRY FUND. (a) When a person applies for an original or renewal |
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license to carry a handgun under this subchapter, the person may |
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make a voluntary contribution in any amount to the open burn pit |
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registry fund established by Section 99.008, Health and Safety |
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Code. |
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(b) The department shall: |
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(1) include space on the first page of each |
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application for an original or renewal license to carry a handgun |
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that allows a person applying for an original or renewal license to |
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carry a handgun to indicate the amount that the person is |
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voluntarily contributing to the fund; and |
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(2) provide an opportunity for the person to |
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contribute to the fund during the application process for an |
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original or renewal license to carry a handgun on the department's |
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Internet website. |
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(c) The department shall send any contribution made under |
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this section to the comptroller for deposit in the state treasury to |
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the credit of the open burn pit registry fund not later than the |
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14th day of each month. Before sending the money to the fund, the |
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department may deduct money equal to the amount of reasonable |
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expenses for administering this section. |
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SECTION 2. Chapter 99, Health and Safety Code, as added by |
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Chapter 153 (H.B. 306), Acts of the 86th Legislature, Regular |
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Session, 2019, is amended by adding Section 99.008 to read as |
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follows: |
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Sec. 99.008. OPEN BURN PIT REGISTRY FUND. (a) The open burn |
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pit registry fund is a special fund in the state treasury outside |
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the general revenue fund. The fund is composed of: |
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(1) money transferred to the fund at the direction of |
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the legislature; |
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(2) gifts and grants contributed to the fund; |
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(3) the earnings of the fund; and |
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(4) money deposited to the credit of the fund under |
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Section 411.1742, Government Code. |
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(b) Money in the fund may be appropriated only to the |
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department. The department may use the money only for the creation |
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and maintenance of the open burn pit registry established under |
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Section 99.003, except that the department may use the money for any |
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other purpose of the department consistent with legislative |
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appropriation of the money if the department finds that the |
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registry is adequately funded and contributions to the fund exceed |
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the amount necessary for the registry to be adequately funded. |
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SECTION 3. As soon as practicable after the effective date |
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of this Act, the Department of Public Safety shall modify the |
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application form for a license to carry a handgun to satisfy the |
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requirement of Section 411.1742, Government Code, as added by this |
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Act. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2021. |