Relating to a grant program for nonprofit organizations supporting employees of the Department of Public Safety; authorizing voluntary contributions.
Summary
HB 3033 creates a new grant program to support nonprofit organizations that assist employees of the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) and their families. The bill authorizes applicants for an original or renewal driver’s license, commercial driver’s license, or personal identification certificate to make a voluntary contribution of $3 or more during the application process, either on paper or through the department’s website. The Texas Department of Public Safety must collect these contributions and forward them monthly to the comptroller for deposit into a dedicated account for the grant program, while being allowed to retain reasonable administrative costs.
The bill also amends Government Code Section 411.013 to direct DPS to establish and administer the grant program, set application procedures, determine grant amounts, and create criteria for evaluating applications. Grant funds may be used only to provide assistance and support to DPS employees, family members of employees killed or injured in the line of duty, or to fund memorial signs for employees killed in the line of duty. The changes apply only to applications submitted on or after January 1, 2026, and the act takes effect September 1, 2025.
Impact
HB 3033 adds a new voluntary contribution mechanism to the Transportation Code and creates a dedicated account in the general revenue fund for DPS employee-support grants under the Government Code. It requires DPS to administer the program, collect and remit donations, and use the funds only for specified support and memorial purposes. The bill affects applicants for driver’s licenses, commercial driver’s licenses, and personal identification certificates, as well as nonprofit organizations eligible to receive grant funding.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported and noncontroversial. It passed the House 145-0 and the Senate 31-0, with no recorded opposition in the available voting history. The unanimous votes suggest general agreement with the purpose of supporting DPS employees and their families through a voluntary donation program.
Contention
No significant contention is reflected in the available materials. The only policy choices apparent in the bill are the use of a voluntary $3-or-more contribution at licensing transactions, the creation of a dedicated account, and the limitation of grant uses to employee support, family assistance, and memorial signs. Because there are no committee transcripts or recorded dissent, any debate likely centered on administrative details rather than the underlying purpose of the program.
Campaign contributions; require disclosure of certain contributions from nonprofit organizations to campaigns; prohibit contributions from nonprofit organizations to PACs
Establishes a nonprofit news media jobs grant program within the newspaper and broadcast media jobs program to provide grants to support certain nonprofit media organizations which increase employees.
Establishes a nonprofit news media jobs grant program within the newspaper and broadcast media jobs program to provide grants to support certain nonprofit media organizations which increase employees.