BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center S.B. 446
By: Wentworth
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Under current law, a municipality with a population of less than 850,000 must use money collected from certain municipal court costs for a school crossing guard program. If the municipality does not operate a school crossing guard program or if the money received exceeds the amount necessary to fund a school crossing guard program, the municipality must either deposit the additional funds in an interest bearing account or use the funds for programs designed to enhance child safety, health, or nutrition.
S.B. 446 amends current law relating to the use of certain court costs in a criminal case for municipal programs enhancing public safety and security.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Article 102.014(g), Code of Criminal Procedure, to authorize a municipality with a population less than 850,000 according to the most recent federal decennial census, if it does not operate a school crossing guard program or if the money received from court costs from municipal court cases exceeds the amount necessary to fund the school crossing guard program, to deposit the additional money in an interest-bearing account; expend the additional money for certain programs designed to enhance child safety, health, or nutrition; or expend the additional money for programs designed to enhance public safety and security.
SECTION 2. Amends Section 502.173(g), Transportation Code, to require a municipality with a population less than 850,000 to use revenue from a fee imposed under this section in accordance with Article 102.014(g), rather than Article 102.014(f), Code of Criminal Procedure.
SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2009.