SRC-AMY C.S.S.B. 663 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 663 By: Ogden Infrastructure Development and Security 3-17-2003 Committee Report (Substituted) DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, Texas leads the nation in traffic fatalities with more than 3,500 people killed each year. The leading causes for traffic fatalities are speeding, DUI, and lack of seat belt usage. Increased law enforcement and understanding what causes accidents would reduce the incidences of the precipitating factors of traffic fatalities. C.S.S.B. 663 adds an additional $2.50 to the consolidated court costs to help fund the Center for Transportation Safety, which studies accident factors and develops ways to reduce deaths on Texas highways, and to help fund increased traffic enforcement where needed. 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 Article 102.075, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Subsection (p), as follows: (p) Requires a person convicted of a felony or misdemeanor to pay $2.50 in addition to any other costs levied on conviction. Requires the comptroller to deposit 20 percent of the money received to the credit of the Center for Transportation Safety, and the remainder in the general revenue fund for the public safety director to use for additional traffic enforcement in areas where the Department of Public Safety determines a need. Provides that Subsection (h) does not apply to money received under this subsection. SECTION 2. Effective date: January 1, 2004. SECTION 3. Makes application of this Act prospective. SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES Differs from the original in SECTION 1 by decreasing the amount to be paid upon conviction of a felony or misdemeanor, in addition to any other costs levied, from $5 to $2.50 and specifying that amount as a penalty. Differs from the original in SECTION 1 by increasing the percentage of money received under this subsection earmarked for the Center for Transportation Safety from ten percent to 20 percent.