The bill, H.B. No. 3033, establishes a grant program for nonprofit organizations that support the Department of Public Safety (DPS) in Texas. It introduces a voluntary contribution option for individuals applying for original or renewal driver's licenses and commercial driver's licenses, allowing them to contribute $3 or more to the grant program. The Texas Department of Transportation is tasked with including a section on the application forms for individuals to indicate their contribution amount and providing an opportunity to contribute online. Contributions will be sent to the comptroller for deposit into a dedicated account for nonprofit organizations supporting the DPS, with the department allowed to deduct reasonable administrative expenses before forwarding the funds.

Additionally, the bill amends the Government Code to require the establishment of a grant program by the DPS, which will disburse funds to nonprofit organizations that provide support to the department and its employees. The bill outlines that grant funds can only be used for supporting the department and mandates the creation of grant application procedures, guidelines for grant amounts, and criteria for evaluating applications. The nonprofit organizations supporting the DPS account is created as a dedicated account in the state treasury, with funds subject to audit by the comptroller. The provisions of this bill will take effect on September 1, 2025, and will apply to applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: Government Code 411.013 (Government Code 411)