SRC-TNM C.S.S.B. 81 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 81 By: Ellis Jurisprudence 2-4-97 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST 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. C.S.S.B. 81 changes current law to define "traffic offense" and to increase penalties for juveniles who commit certain traffic violations. PURPOSE As proposed, C.S.S.B. 81 outlines provisions relating to the punishment for and the jurisdiction over certain traffic offenses committed by minors. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. 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. Effective date: September 1, 1997. Makes application of this Act prospective. 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. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES See section by section analysis for changes.