BILL ANALYSIS

S.B. 446

By: Wentworth

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Under current law, a municipality with a population 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 such a 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 allows a municipality with a population less than 850,000 that does not operate a school crossing guard program, or has an excess of funds, to expend the additional money for programs designed to enhance public safety and security. The bill requires a municipality with a population less than 850,000 to use revenue from the optional fee for child safety in accordance with the bill's provisions.

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

S.B. 446 amends a provision of the Code of Criminal Procedure relating to the authorized uses for the money a municipality collects from court costs from municipal court cases if the municipality does not operate a school crossing guard program, which otherwise would receive such funds, or the money received exceeds the amount necessary to fund such a program to authorize the municipality to expend the additional money for programs designed to enhance public safety and security.

S.B. 446 amends the Transportation Code to make a technical correction.  

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or, if the act does not receive the necessary vote, the act takes effect September 1, 2009.