CN S.B. 81 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS



S.B. 81
By: Ellis (2-27-97
Committee Report (Unamended)
Engrossed


BACKGROUND 

Currently, under Texas law, juveniles cannot be prosecuted for violations
of the motor vehicle code and Texas law does not fully provide punishments
for and jurisdiction over certain traffic offenses committed by minors.
S.B. 81 changes current law to define "traffic offense" and to increase
penalties for juveniles who commit certain traffic violations.  

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 81 outlines provisions relating to the punishment for
and the jurisdiction over certain traffic offenses committed by minors. 

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 729.001(a), Transportation Code, to set forth
the traffic laws of this state of which a person from 14 to 16 years of
age is in violation if the person operates a motor vehicle on a public
road or highway, street or alley in a municipality, or a public beach. 

Section 2. Amends Section 51.02(16), Family Code, to define "traffic
offense."  Redesignates Chapter 302, Acts of the 55th Legislature, Regular
Session, 1957 (Article 67011-4,  V.T.C.S.) as Section 550.024,
Transportation Code. 

Section 3. Amends Section 8.07(a), Penal Code, to set forth the exceptions
for which a person  is prohibited from being prosecuted or convicted of
any offense that the person committed when younger than 15 years of age.
Makes conforming change. 

Section 4. States that the bill is not retroactive.
  
Section 5. (a) Provides that in addition to the substantive changes made
by this Act, this Act conforms Section 729.001(a), Transportation Code, to
Section 9(6), Chapter 34, Acts of the 74th Legislature, Regular Session,
1995. 
(b) Provides that to the extent of any conflict, this Act prevails over
another Act of the 75th Legislature, Regular Session, 1997, relating to
nonsubstantive additions to and corrections in enacted codes. 

Section 6. Emergency clause.