BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 840 By: Denny March 1, 1995 Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND Section 144, Uniform Act Regular Traffic on Highways, regulates the amount that municipalities under 5,000 population may retain from traffic fines. Municipalities may retain revenue from traffic fines equal to 30% of total city revenue (excluding federal funds and bond proceeds), from the prior year. However, no enforcement mechanism for noncompliance exists. PURPOSE The bill allows the state treasurer to enforce the limitation on the amount that municipalities may retain from traffic offenses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 144, Uniform Act Regular Traffic on Highways (Article 6701d, Vernon's Texas Civil Statutes), by adding Subsections (f) and (g). Sub. (f) requires municipalities retaining amounts under Subsection (b) to provide the state treasurer a copy of its financial statement prepared for the fiscal year and a report indicating the total amount collected by the municipality under Subsection (b) of this code. Sub. (g) allows the treasurer to enforce the limitations set forth under Subsection (b). SECTION 2. Emergency Clause. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE ACTION Public notice was posted in accordance to the rules and a public hearing was held on February 21, 1995. The committee received testimony and the bill was left pending. On February 28, 1995, by a record vote of 7 ayes, 0 nays, 0 present not voting and 4 absent, the committee voted to report H.B. 840 without amendment to the House with the recommendation that it do pass. Testimony received in favor of the bill: Barbara Robinson, representing herself Russell Johnson, representing himself Myrlinda Owen, representing herself Pete Vamvakus, representing himself Testimony received against the bill: Cooper Wiese (Mayor-Calvert), representing himself Tim Hammond, representing himself John H. Epps, Jr., representing himself Mary Candace Culpepper, representing herself