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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the fine or penalty for violation of a municipal rule, |
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ordinance, or police regulation and municipal court jurisdiction to |
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enforce certain violations. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 54.001(b), Local Government Code, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(b) A fine or penalty for the violation of a rule, |
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ordinance, or police regulation may not exceed $1,000 [$500]. |
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However, a fine or penalty for the violation of a rule, ordinance, |
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or police regulation that governs fire safety, zoning, or public |
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health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse, may not exceed |
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$4,000 [$2,000]. |
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SECTION 2. Section 29.003(a), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(a) A municipal court, including a municipal court of |
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record, shall have exclusive original jurisdiction within the |
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municipality's territorial limits and property owned by the |
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municipality located in the municipality's extraterritorial |
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jurisdiction in all criminal cases that: |
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(1) arise under: |
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(A) the ordinances of the municipality; or |
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(B) a resolution, rule, or order of a joint board |
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operating an airport under Section 22.074, Transportation Code; and |
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(2) are punishable by a fine not to exceed: |
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(A) $4,000 [$2,000] in all cases arising under |
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municipal ordinances or resolutions, rules, or orders of a joint |
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board that govern fire safety, zoning, or public health and |
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sanitation, including dumping of refuse; or |
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(B) $1,000 [$500] in all other cases arising |
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under a municipal ordinance or a resolution, rule, or order of a |
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joint board. |
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SECTION 3. Article 4.14(a), Code of Criminal Procedure, is |
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amended to read as follows: |
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(a) A municipal court, including a municipal court of |
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record, shall have exclusive original jurisdiction within the |
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territorial limits of the municipality in all criminal cases that: |
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(1) arise under the ordinances of the municipality; |
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and |
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(2) are punishable by a fine not to exceed: |
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(A) $4,000 [$2,000] in all cases arising under |
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municipal ordinances that govern fire safety, zoning, or public |
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health and sanitation, including dumping of refuse; or |
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(B) $1,000 [$500] in all other cases arising |
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under a municipal ordinance. |
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SECTION 4. This Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |