By: Zaffirini S.B. No. 52 (In the Senate - Filed November 10, 2008; February 10, 2009, read first time and referred to Committee on Transportation and Homeland Security; March 9, 2009, reported favorably by the following vote: Yeas 8, Nays 0; March 9, 2009, sent to printer.) A BILL TO BE ENTITLED AN ACT relating to the penalties for the illegal use of a parking space or area designated specifically for persons with disabilities. BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: SECTION 1. Subsections 681.011(g), (h), (i), and (j), Section 681.011, Transportation Code, are amended to read as follows: (g) Except as provided by Subsections (h)-(k), an offense under this section is a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not less than $500 [$250] or more than $750 [$500]. (h) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person has been previously convicted one time of an offense under this section, the offense is punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $550 [$300] or more than $800 [$600]; and (2) 10 hours of community service. (i) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person has been previously convicted two times of an offense under this section, the offense is punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $550 [$300] or more than $800 [$600]; and (2) not less than 20 [10] or more than 30 [20] hours of community service. (j) If it is shown on the trial of an offense under this section that the person has been previously convicted three times of an offense under this section, the offense is punishable by: (1) a fine of not less than $800 [$500] or more than $1,100 [$1,000]; and (2) [not less than 20 or more than] 50 hours of community service. SECTION 2. (a) The change in law made by this Act applies only to an offense committed on or after September 1, 2009. (b) An offense committed before September 1, 2009, is covered by the law in effect when the offense was committed, and the former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of this subsection, an offense was committed before September 1, 2009, if any element of the offense was committed before that date. SECTION 3. This Act takes effect September 1, 2009. * * * * *