BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1016

By: Krause

Homeland Security & Public Safety

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties contend that drug court programs are an effective alternative to incarceration while substantially saving taxpayer dollars at the state and local levels. H.B. 1016 seeks to incentivize participation in these programs by authorizing a court to defer and reduce or waive surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person for participation in and successful completion of such a program, as appropriate.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 1016 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a court to defer surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person who is participating in a drug court program for the underlying offense giving rise to the surcharge and to reduce or waive such a surcharge if the person successfully completes the drug court program. The bill applies to a surcharge pending on the bill's effective date, regardless of when the surcharge was assessed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2017.