85R22571 AJZ-D     By: Neave, González of El Paso, Villalba, H.B. No. 4102       Minjarez, Blanco, et al.     A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   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 H, Chapter 502, Transportation Code,   is amended by adding Section 502.414 to read as follows:          Sec. 502.414.  VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTION FOR EVIDENCE TESTING   GRANT PROGRAM. (a)  When a person registers or renews the   registration of a motor vehicle under this chapter, the person may   contribute any amount to the evidence testing grant program   established under Section 772.00715, Government Code.          (b)  The department shall provide, in a conspicuous manner,   an opportunity to contribute to the evidence testing grant program   in any registration renewal system used by the department.          (c)  If a person makes a contribution under this section and   does not pay the full amount of a registration fee, the county   assessor-collector may credit all or a portion of the contribution   to the person's registration fee.          (d)  The county assessor-collector 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, at least once every three   months. 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 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.          (f)  The criminal justice division may use any revenue   available to the division to fund 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 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.