By:  King                                                         H.B. No. 3206



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the funding of traffic enforcement through the state 
highway fund and increased traffic fines and fees.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 222.001, Transportation Code, is amended 
to read as follows:
	Sec. 222.001.  USE OF STATE HIGHWAY FUND.  Except as provided 
in Section 222.0015, money [Money] that is required to be used for 
public roadways by the Texas Constitution or federal law and that is 
deposited in the state treasury to the credit of the state highway 
fund, including money deposited to the credit of the state highway 
fund under Title 23, United States Code, may be used only:
		(1)  to improve the state highway system;                                     
		(2)  to mitigate adverse environmental effects that 
result directly from construction or maintenance of a state highway 
by the department; or
		(3)  by the Department of Public Safety to police the 
state highway system and to administer state laws relating to 
traffic and safety on public roads.
	SECTION 2.  Subchapter A, Chapter 222, Transportation Code, 
is amended by adding Section 222.0015 to read as follows:
	Sec. 222.0015.  LOCAL POLICING OF PUBLIC ROADS.  (a)  From 
funds appropriated under subsection (b), the commission shall grant 
money to counties and municipalities for the purpose of policing 
public roads to enhance traffic safety.  The commission shall by 
rule:
		(1)  determine who is eligible to apply for a grant;                   
		(2)  adopt a formula that distributes available money 
to eligible grant recipients;
		(3)  establish requirements governing the expenditure 
of money granted under this section; and
		(4)  prescribe any other policies and procedures 
necessary to effectively implement this section.
	(b)  The legislature may, using any available money in the 
state highway fund, appropriate to the department no more than $100 
million per fiscal year for the purposes of this section.
	(c)  This section expires August 31, 2007.                              
	SECTION 3.  Subtitle C, Title 7, Transportation Code, is 
amended by adding Section 542.4025 to read as follows:
	Sec. 542.2025.  ADDITIONAL FINE.  In cases in which a 
violation of this subtitle is alleged, the court shall impose an 
additional fine of $35 to offset state expenditures on the 
enforcement of traffic laws.  The proceeds from this additional 
fine shall be sent to the comptroller.
	SECTION 4.  Section 45.0511, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 
amended by adding subsection (r) to read as follows:
	(r)  In addition to any other fee imposed under this section, 
the court shall impose a state administrative fee of $35 to offset 
state expenditures on the enforcement of traffic laws.  The 
proceeds from imposition of this state administrative fee shall be 
sent to the comptroller.
	SECTION 5.  (a)  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.