H.B. 418 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


H.B. 418
By: Martinez Fischer
Ways & Means
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

The 77th Legislature increased the penalty for offenses relating to the
improper use of child safety belts. It also intended to require a city or
county to send to the state comptroller half of the fines collected for
these violations, for deposit into the state's tertiary care fund for
trauma centers.  

However, a technical error in the statute resulted in the requirement that
a city or county submit half of the fines collected for all safety belt
violations. House Bill 418 requires that a city or county send to the
state comptroller half of the fines collected for child safety belt
violations. 

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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 418 requires a municipality or county, at the end of the
municipality's or county's fiscal year, to send to the comptroller of
public accounts an amount equal to 50 percent of the fines collected by
the municipality or the county for violations of specified child safety
belt provisions. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.