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.