BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 4635

By: Lucio III

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Municipal parks play an important role in the life of a community. These parks not only serve to promote community activities and physical fitness, but also improve the aesthetics of a community and promote environmental awareness and appreciation.

C.S.H.B. 4635 authorizes an additional fine to be added to all violations of municipal rules, ordinances, and police regulations. The amount of the fine is 10 percent of the fine originally assessed, with a minimum amount of $10. The bill requires the additional fine to be used to support municipal parks.

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

C.S.H.B. 4635 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality by ordinance to assess an additional fine for each violation of a municipal rule, ordinance, or police regulation in an amount of 10 percent of the fine originally assessed, but not less than $10. The bill requires the additional fine to be used to support municipal parks.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2009.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

C.S.H.B. 4635 differs from the original by authorizing, rather than requiring, a municipality to assess an additional fine for the violation of a municipal rule, ordinance, or police regulation to be used to support municipal parks. The substitute differs from the original by providing for the additional fine to be assessed by an ordinance of the municipality. The substitute removes a standard savings provision in the original.