SRC-SEW S.B. 1275 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1275
77R7107 DWS-FBy: Armbrister
Intergovernmental Relations
3/23/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Under current law, counties are authorized to charge up to an additional
$1.50 on county vehicle registration fees for purposes of child safety,
such as funding crossing guards.  The county and the cities within the
county share the fee according to population.  While cities benefit from
this fee, the county has discretion in choosing whether or not to impose
it.  If the county chooses not to impose the fee, no city within the county
will have those funds available for child safety purposes.  As proposed,
S.B. 1275 raises the maximum child safety registration fee from $1.50 to $3
and requires counties, upon the request of certain cities within the
county, to impose the fee in the maximum amount within 45 days of the
request.  Such requested fees are authorized to be removed only if
requested by the city or cities. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a
state officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 502.173, Transportation Code, by amending
Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (i), as follows: 

(a) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county with a population
greater than 1.18 million to impose by order an additional fee of not less
than 50 cents or more than $3 (rather than $1.50) for registering a vehicle
in the county.  Makes a conforming change regarding counties with a
population less than 1.18 million. 

(i) Requires the commissioners court of a county to impose a fee of $3
under Subsection (a) on request of certain municipalities.  Requires the
county to adopt the order imposing the fee and notify the Texas Department
of Transportation (department) by a certain date.  Authorizes a fee
requested under this subsection to be removed only under certain
conditions.  

SECTION 2.  Provides that, notwithstanding Section 502.173(c),
Transportation Code, a fee requested under Section 502.173(i),
Transportation Code, as added by this Act, on or before September 2, 2001,
takes effect January 1, 2002, regardless of whether the request was made
before the effective date of this act.  Requires the county to adopt the
order imposing the fee and notify the department not later than October 10,
2001.   

SECTION 3.  Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2001.