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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the disposition of fines for traffic violations |
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collected by certain municipalities. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 542.402, Transportation Code, is amended |
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by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as |
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follows: |
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(b) In each fiscal year, except as provided by Subsection |
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(b-1), a municipality having a population of less than 5,000 may |
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retain, from fines collected for violations of this title and from |
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special expenses collected under Article 45.051, Code of Criminal |
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Procedure, in cases in which a violation of this title is alleged, |
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an amount equal to 30 percent of the municipality's revenue for the |
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preceding fiscal year from all sources, other than federal funds |
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and bond proceeds, as shown by the audit performed under Section |
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103.001, Local Government Code. After a municipality has retained |
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that amount, the municipality shall send to the comptroller any |
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portion of a fine or a special expense collected that exceeds $1. |
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(b-1) A municipality may retain an amount in excess of the |
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limitation imposed by Subsection (b) if the excess amount retained |
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is used exclusively to fund fire, rescue, and emergency medical |
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services, including any necessary support services for those |
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functions. |
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SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section |
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542.402, Transportation Code, applies only to a fiscal year of a |
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municipality that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. |
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SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |