BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 478

By: Orr

Transportation

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Current law mandates that a 15-cent court cost be assessed for each violation of the law establishing the offense of failing to secure a child passenger in a motor vehicle and required the collected costs to be sent to the comptroller of public accounts each month.  The amounts collected statewide have been minuscule since this court cost was enacted.  The continued assessment and collection of the 15-cent court cost is ineffective and inefficient.  H.B. 478 repeals the requirement to assess and collect the 15-cent court cost associated with the offense of failing to secure a child passenger in a motor vehicle.

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

H.B. 478 repeals a provision of the Transportation Code that requires a person to pay a 15-cent court cost on conviction of an offense of operating a passenger vehicle while transporting a child who is younger than eight years of age, unless the child is taller than four feet, nine inches, and who is not kept properly secured in a child passenger safety seat system during the operation of the vehicle.

H.B. 478 repeals provisions of the Government Code to make conforming changes.

H.B. 478 repeals the following provisions:

· Section 545.412(b-1), Transportation Code

· Section 102.104, Government Code

· Section 102.122, Government Code

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2011.