85R13156 AJZ-D
 
  By: Klick H.B. No. 2979
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to the punishment for certain offenses involving parking
  in a space designated for persons with disabilities.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended
  by amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsections (g-1) and (g-2)
  to read as follows:
         (g)  Except as provided by Subsections (g-1), (h), (i), (j),
  and (k) [(h)-(k)], an offense under this section is a misdemeanor
  punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $750.
         (g-1)  In lieu of imposing a fine on conviction under
  Subsection (g), the court may order a person who has not previously
  been convicted of an offense under this section to:
               (1)  perform community service at a nonprofit
  organization that serves persons with disabilities or persons with
  disabling diseases; 
               (2)  perform any community service that may sensitize
  the person to the needs of and obstacles faced by persons with
  disabilities; or
               (3)  attend education classes on disability awareness
  and accessible parking.
         (g-2)  The court shall set the number of hours of community
  service or education classes required under Subsection (g-1).
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only to
  an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An
  offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed
  by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the
  former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of
  this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of
  this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.