House Bill (HB) 1541, the bill related to the funding of ABTPA was filed without the Governor's signature and automatically becomes law since the Governor did not sign or veto the bill within a cerain period. The bill is effective September 1, 2011 and was authored by Representative Ruth McClendon from San Antonio, Texas.

HB 1541, relating to the prevention of automobile burglary and theft, with the amendment to Section 10, Article 4413(37), Revised Statutes:

amends Subsection (b) to increase the insurer fee to $2, and
adds Subsection (e) to require that 50 percent of fees collected under Subsection (b) be appropriated to the authority has become law in the state of Texas.

This bill will:

provide grantees funding to assist with expenses related to the duties associated with investigation and enforcement of automobile burglary crimes, including salaries for officers, and
support the extensive statewide auto burglary & theft prevention awareness initiatives to warn Texas drivers about auto burglary and auto theft and its consequences.

Thank you to all who supported the Authority and helped achieve continued funding for the Authority to allow us to continue reducing auto theft and burglary in Texas for the 2012-2013 biennium period. There was no way this could have happened if not for the combined efforts of each of you to accomplish this goal.

If you would like to view HB 1541 in its entirety, please visit the Texas Legislature Online at http://www.legis.state.tx.us and search legislation for HB 1541 during the 82nd Regular Legislative Session.