By: Leedom S.B. No. 261 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT 1-1 relating to certain charges in connection with a fine for violation 1-2 of a motor vehicle law. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Title 116, Revised Statutes, is amended by adding 1-5 Article 6701d-28 to read as follows: 1-6 Art. 6701d-28. LOCAL GOVERNMENT EXPENSE IN COLLECTING FINES. 1-7 (a) In this article: 1-8 (1) "Delinquent fine" means a fine that is not paid on 1-9 or before the last date on which payment may be made without 1-10 penalty, as determined by applicable law or court order. 1-11 (2) "Motor vehicle misdemeanor" means a violation, 1-12 punishable as a misdemeanor, of a statute or municipal ordinance 1-13 that regulates: 1-14 (A) parking or stopping of a motor vehicle; 1-15 (B) a driver's conduct or condition while 1-16 operating a motor vehicle; or 1-17 (C) the condition of a motor vehicle while it is 1-18 being operated. 1-19 (b) If the governing body of a municipality or county by an 1-20 affirmative vote recorded in the governing body's minutes approves 1-21 the collection of expenses related to delinquent fines for motor 1-22 vehicle misdemeanors, a person owing a delinquent fine that was 1-23 assessed for a motor vehicle misdemeanor and that has been 1-24 delinquent for 30 days or more is liable to the municipality or 2-1 county for: 2-2 (1) interest on the amount of the delinquent fine at a 2-3 rate of one percent a month for the period beginning on the first 2-4 day following the month the fine becomes delinquent and ending on 2-5 the last day of the month prior to the collection of the delinquent 2-6 fine; and 2-7 (2) collection fees in an amount equal to the lesser 2-8 of: 2-9 (A) 30 percent of the amount of the fine; or 2-10 (B) $100. 2-11 (c) This article does not apply to delinquent fines for 2-12 parking or stopping a motor vehicle in a municipality which has 2-13 disannexed territory previously annexed for limited purposes and 2-14 which employs the practice of immobilization of motor vehicles with 2-15 a mechanical device unless all the parking meters in the 2-16 municipality accept any coins minted by the United States which 2-17 have a value between five cents and 25 cents. 2-18 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 2-19 to a fine that becomes delinquent on or after the effective date of 2-20 this Act. 2-21 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-22 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-25 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-26 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.