BILL ANALYSIS

H.B. 1363

By: Wu

Urban Affairs

Committee Report (Unamended)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Concerns have been raised regarding the difficulties faced by certain municipalities in enforcing ordinances prohibiting the parking of a vehicle in a yard. It has been suggested that law enforcement in these municipalities should be allowed to leave a citation on the windshield of a vehicle parked in violation of such an ordinance, rather than being restricted to delivering the citation in person. H.B. 1363 seeks to address this issue by authorizing certain municipalities to declare the violation of a municipal ordinance relating to the parking of an unattended motor vehicle in the front or side yard of a single-family residence in a residential area to be a civil offense, punishable by fine.  

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. 1363 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a municipality with a population of 1.9 million or more, as provided by Transportation Code provisions relating to the administrative adjudication of vehicle parking and stopping offenses, to declare the violation of a municipal ordinance relating to the parking of an unattended motor vehicle in the front or side yard of a single-family residence in a residential area to be a civil offense and by ordinance to establish an administrative adjudication hearing procedure under which a civil fine may be imposed.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2019.