BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

Senate Research Center

H.B. 1174

83R6385 VOO-D

By: Fallon et al. (Nelson)

 

Transportation

 

5/13/2013

 

Engrossed

 

 

 

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

 

Last year, a national association focusing on transportation services recorded thousands of cases in Texas of vehicles illegally passing school buses when school bus lights and stop signs were activated.  Critics assert that increasing fines for this potentially dangerous violation would create a stronger deterrent for a driver in committing such a violation.

 

H.B. 1174 amends current law relating to the penalties for illegally passing a stopped school bus.

 

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 545.066(c), Transportation Code, as follows:

 

(c)  Provides that an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $1,250, rather than not less than $200 or more than $1,000, except that the offense is:

 

(1)  a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $1,000 or more than $2,000 if the person is convicted of a second or subsequent offense under this section committed within five years of the date on which the most recent preceding offense was committed;

 

(2)  a Class A misdemeanor if the person causes serious bodily injury to another; or

 

(3)  a state jail felony if the person has been previously convicted under Subdivision (2), rather than under Subdivision (1).

 

Makes nonsubstantive changes.

 

SECTION 2.  (a)  Provides that the change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2013.

 

(b)  Makes application of the change in law made by this Act prospective to September 1, 2013.

 

SECTION 3.  Effective date:  September 1, 2013.