TITLE: Relating to the disposition of fines for traffic violations collected by certain municipalities.

SUMMARY: Relating to the disposition of fines for traffic violations collected by certain municipalities.

FULL TEXT:
AN ACT relating to the disposition of fines for traffic violations collected by certain municipalities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Section 542.402, Transportation Code, is amended by amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as follows: (b) In each fiscal year, except as provided by Subsection (b-1), a municipality having a population of less than 5,000 may retain, from fines collected for violations of this title and from special expenses collected under Article 45.051, Code of Criminal Procedure, in cases in which a violation of this title is alleged, an amount equal to 30 percent of the municipality's revenue for the preceding fiscal year from all sources, other than federal funds and bond proceeds, as shown by the audit performed under Section 103.001, Local Government Code. After a municipality has retained that amount, the municipality shall send to the comptroller any portion of a fine or a special expense collected that exceeds $1. (b-1) A municipality may retain an amount in excess of the limitation imposed by Subsection (b) if the excess amount retained is used exclusively to fund fire, rescue, and emergency medical services, including any necessary support services for those functions. SECTION 2. The change in law made by this Act to Section 542.402, Transportation Code, applies only to a fiscal year of a municipality that begins on or after the effective date of this Act. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2011.