BILL ANALYSIS H.B. 1016 By: Krause Homeland Security & Public Safety Committee Report (Unamended) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that drug court programs are an effective alternative to incarceration while substantially saving taxpayer dollars at the state and local levels. H.B. 1016 seeks to incentivize participation in these programs by authorizing a court to defer and reduce or waive surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person for participation in and successful completion of such a program, as appropriate. 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. 1016 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a court to defer surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person who is participating in a drug court program for the underlying offense giving rise to the surcharge and to reduce or waive such a surcharge if the person successfully completes the drug court program. The bill applies to a surcharge pending on the bill's effective date, regardless of when the surcharge was assessed. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2017.
BILL ANALYSIS
# BILL ANALYSIS
H.B. 1016
By: Krause
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Unamended)
H.B. 1016
By: Krause
Homeland Security & Public Safety
Committee Report (Unamended)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Interested parties contend that drug court programs are an effective alternative to incarceration while substantially saving taxpayer dollars at the state and local levels. H.B. 1016 seeks to incentivize participation in these programs by authorizing a court to defer and reduce or waive surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person for participation in and successful completion of such a program, as appropriate.
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. 1016 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a court to defer surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person who is participating in a drug court program for the underlying offense giving rise to the surcharge and to reduce or waive such a surcharge if the person successfully completes the drug court program. The bill applies to a surcharge pending on the bill's effective date, regardless of when the surcharge was assessed.
EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2017.
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
Interested parties contend that drug court programs are an effective alternative to incarceration while substantially saving taxpayer dollars at the state and local levels. H.B. 1016 seeks to incentivize participation in these programs by authorizing a court to defer and reduce or waive surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person for participation in and successful completion of such a program, as appropriate.
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. 1016 amends the Transportation Code to authorize a court to defer surcharges assessed under the driver responsibility program against a person who is participating in a drug court program for the underlying offense giving rise to the surcharge and to reduce or waive such a surcharge if the person successfully completes the drug court program. The bill applies to a surcharge pending on the bill's effective date, regardless of when the surcharge was assessed.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2017.