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79R3594 JD-D

By:  Martinez Fischer                                             H.B. No. 537



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to the jurisdiction of a juvenile court over a person under 
the age of 17 who races a motor vehicle on a public highway.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Section 729.001(a), Transportation Code, is 
amended to read as follows:
	(a)  A person who is younger than 17 years of age commits an 
offense if the person operates a motor vehicle on a public road or 
highway, a street or alley in a municipality, or a public beach in 
violation of any traffic law of this state, including:
		(1)  Chapter 502, other than Section 502.282 or 
502.412;                    
		(2)  Chapter 521, other than an offense under Section 
521.457;              
		(3)  Subtitle C, other than an offense punishable by 
imprisonment or by confinement in jail under Section 545.420,
550.021, 550.022, 550.024, or 550.025;
		(4)  Chapter 601;                                                             
		(5)  Chapter 621;                                                             
		(6)  Chapter 661; and                                                         
		(7)  Chapter 681.                                                             
	SECTION 2.  Section 51.02(16), Family Code, is amended to 
read as follows:   
		(16)  "Traffic offense" means:                                                
			(A)  a violation of a penal statute cognizable 
under Chapter 729, Transportation Code, except for:
				(i)  conduct constituting an offense under 
Section 521.457, Transportation Code;
				(ii)  conduct constituting an offense under 
Section 545.420, Transportation Code;
				(iii)  conduct constituting an offense under 
Section 550.021, Transportation Code;
				(iv) [(iii)]  conduct constituting an 
offense punishable as a Class B misdemeanor under Section 550.022, 
Transportation Code;
				(v) [(iv)]  conduct constituting an offense 
punishable as a Class B misdemeanor under Section 550.024, 
Transportation Code; or
				(vi) [(v)]  conduct constituting an offense 
punishable as a Class B misdemeanor under Section 550.025, 
Transportation Code; or
			(B)  a violation of a motor vehicle traffic 
ordinance of an incorporated city or town in this state.
	SECTION 3.  (a)  The change in law made by this Act applies 
only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2005.
	(b)  An offense committed before September 1, 2005, is 
covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the 
former law is continued in effect for that purpose.  For purposes of 
this section, an offense was committed before September 1, 2005, if 
any element of the offense was committed before that date.
	SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2005.