BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	S.B. 779
85R2119 JXC-D	By: Seliger
	Transportation
	4/3/2017
	As Filed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

The Texas Department of Public Safety currently offers an indigency program for individuals involved in the Driver Responsibility Program. Judges do not currently have the explicit authority to inform defendants about their potential eligibility for the indigency program. S.B. 779 enables judges to advise defendants that they may submit evidence of indigency.

As proposed, S.B. 779 amends current law relating to the indigent status of a person for the purposes of the driver responsibility program.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 708.158(a), Transportation Code, to authorize the court, on its own motion, to inquire whether a person would like to submit evidence to establish the person�s indigent status, for whom the Texas Department of Public Safety is required to waive all surcharges assessed under this chapter (Driver Responsibility Program).

SECTION 2. Provides that the change in law made by this Act to Section 708.158 (Indigent Status and Reduction of Surcharges), Transportation Code, applies only to a trial that begins on or after the effective date of this Act, regardless of whether the offense occurred before, on, or after the effective date of this Act. Provides that the state is not required to refund a surcharge collected before the effective date of this Act.�

SECTION 3. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.