Honorable Garnet Coleman, Chair, House Committee on County Affairs
FROM:
Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:
HB2482 by Miller (Relating to the authority of certain counties to operate a roadway clearance program; creating a criminal offense.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted
No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.
The bill would amend the Occupations Code allowing a commissioners court in a county adjacent to a county with a population of more than 3.3 million to designate an employee of the sheriff's department to direct a towing company to remove a vehicle from a roadway that is impeding the safe movement of traffic and relocate the vehicle to the closest safe location for the vehicle to be stored.
Any fee paid by the towing company would be deposited in the county's general fund and may only be used for salaries and expenses associated with administering the program.
A towing company or towing operator commits an offense punishable by fine only if they violate the provisions of the bill.
The bill would take effect September 1, 2017.
Local Government Impact
According to Texas Association of Counties, no fiscal impact to counties is anticipated.
The bill would establish a misdemeanor offense punishable by fine not less than $1 or more than $200. The revenue generated by the fine is not expected to be significant.