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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the issuance of "Choose Life" license plates and to the |
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creation of the Choose Life account in the general revenue fund. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subchapter G, Chapter 504, Transportation Code, |
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is amended by adding Section 504.659 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 504.659. CHOOSE LIFE LICENSE PLATES. (a) The |
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department shall issue specially designed license plates for |
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passenger cars and light trucks that include the words "Choose |
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Life." The department shall design the license plates in |
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consultation with the attorney general. |
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(b) Of each fee collected under this section, the department |
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shall deposit $5 to the credit of the state highway fund and $25 in |
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the state treasury to the credit of the Choose Life account |
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established by Section 402.031, Government Code. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 402, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Sections 402.031 and 402.032 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 402.031. CHOOSE LIFE ACCOUNT. (a) The Choose Life |
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account is a separate account in the general revenue fund. The |
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account is composed of: |
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(1) money deposited to the credit of the account under |
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Section 504.659, Transportation Code; and |
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(2) gifts, grants, donations, and legislative |
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appropriations. |
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(b) The attorney general administers the Choose Life |
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account. The attorney general may spend money credited to the |
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account only to: |
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(1) make grants to an eligible organization; and |
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(2) defray the cost of administering the account. |
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(c) The attorney general may not discriminate against an |
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eligible organization because it is a religious or nonreligious |
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organization. |
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(d) The attorney general may accept gifts, donations, and |
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grants from any source for the benefit of the account. |
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(e) The attorney general by rule shall establish: |
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(1) guidelines for the expenditure of money credited |
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to the Choose Life account; and |
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(2) reporting and other mechanisms necessary to ensure |
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that the money is spent in accordance with this section. |
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(f) Of any money received by an eligible organization under |
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this section, at least 50 percent must be spent to provide for the |
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material needs of pregnant women who are considering placing their |
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children for adoption, including the provision of clothing, |
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housing, prenatal care, food, utilities, and transportation, and to |
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provide for the needs of infants who are awaiting placement with |
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adoptive parents. The remainder may be used to provide counseling, |
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training, and pregnancy testing, but may not be used to pay an |
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administrative, legal, or capital expense. |
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(g) In this section, "eligible organization" means an |
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organization in this state that: |
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(1) qualifies as a charitable organization under |
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Section 501(c)(3), Internal Revenue Code of 1986; |
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(2) provides counseling and material assistance to |
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pregnant women who are considering placing their children for |
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adoption; |
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(3) does not charge for services provided; |
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(4) does not provide abortions or abortion-related |
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services or make referrals to abortion providers; and |
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(5) is not affiliated with an organization that |
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provides abortions or abortion-related services or makes referrals |
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to abortion providers. |
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Sec. 402.032. CHOOSE LIFE ADVISORY COMMITTEE. (a) The |
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attorney general shall appoint a seven-member Choose Life advisory |
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committee. |
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(b) The committee shall: |
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(1) meet at least twice a year or as called by the |
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attorney general; |
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(2) assist the attorney general in developing rules |
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under Section 402.031(e); and |
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(3) review and make recommendations to the attorney |
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general on applications submitted to the attorney general for |
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grants funded with money credited to the Choose Life account. |
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(c) Members of the committee serve without compensation and |
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are not entitled to reimbursement for expenses. Each member serves |
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a term of four years, with the terms of three or four members |
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expiring on January 31 of each odd-numbered year. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2007. |