S.B. No. 261 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 has been 1-9 imposed by judgment of a court of competent jurisdiction and that 1-10 has not been paid before the 31st day after the date that the court 1-11 ordered the fine was due and owed to a municipality or county. 1-12 (2) "Motor vehicle misdemeanor" means a violation, 1-13 punishable as a misdemeanor, of a statute or municipal ordinance 1-14 that regulates: 1-15 (A) parking or stopping of a motor vehicle; 1-16 (B) a driver's conduct or condition while 1-17 operating a motor vehicle; or 1-18 (C) the condition of a motor vehicle while it is 1-19 being operated. 1-20 (b) A court of competent jurisdiction may collect or 1-21 authorize a fee related to the collection of delinquent fines for 1-22 motor vehicle misdemeanors from a person who owes a delinquent fine 1-23 for a motor vehicle misdemeanor in an amount equal to the lesser 1-24 of: 2-1 (1) 20 percent of the amount of the fine; or 2-2 (2) $50. 2-3 (c) This article does not apply to delinquent fines for 2-4 parking or stopping a motor vehicle in a municipality which has 2-5 disannexed territory previously annexed for limited purposes and 2-6 which employs the practice of immobilization of motor vehicles with 2-7 a mechanical device unless all the parking meters in the 2-8 municipality accept any coins minted by the United States which 2-9 have a value between five cents and 25 cents. 2-10 (d) This article does not prohibit a court of competent 2-11 jurisdiction, a municipality, or a county from using any other 2-12 lawful means to enforce a judgment. 2-13 SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act applies only 2-14 to a fine that becomes delinquent on or after the effective date of 2-15 this Act. 2-16 SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 1995. 2-17 SECTION 4. The importance of this legislation and the 2-18 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-19 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-20 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-21 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.