BILL ANALYSIS C.S.S.B. 261 By: Leedom Intergovernmental Relations 2-15-95 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND Many cities and counties write off hundreds of thousands of dollars of uncollected fines for violations of motor vehicle laws and ordinances each year. The loss in revenue is made up by citizens of these jurisdictions through taxes. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 261 makes a person who owes a delinquent motor vehicle fine liable for interest on the fine, attorney's fees, and other expenses. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Title 116, V.T.C.S., by adding Article 6701d-28, as follows: Art. 6701d-28. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IN COLLECTING FINES. (a) Defines "delinquent fine" and "motor vehicle misdemeanor." (b) Provides that a person owing a delinquent fine for 30 days or more for a motor vehicle misdemeanor is liable to the municipality or county for interest on the amount of the delinquent fine and attorney's fees incurred by the municipality or county in the collection of the delinquent fine, if the governing body of a municipality or county by an affirmative vote recorded in the governing body's minutes approves the collection of expenses related to delinquent fines for motor vehicle misdemeanors. (c) Provides that this article does not apply to expenses that the municipality or county collects under other authority. SECTION 2. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 3. Effective date: September 1, 1995. SECTION 4. Emergency clause.