HBA-KMH H.B. 1603 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1603 By: Thompson Judicial Affairs 3/5/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law addresses deferred adjudication of traffic offenses in both the Code of Criminal Procedure and the Transportation Code, requiring justices of the peace and municipal judges to use both codes. However, in some cases, the policies and procedures in the two codes are in conflict and in others they overlap or are redundant. H.B. 1603 places deferred adjudication of traffic offenses only in the Code of Criminal Procedure by adding Article 45.541 (Deferral of Certain Motor Vehicle Offenses), and removing provisions from the Transportation Code. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Article 45.54, Code of Criminal Procedure, by creating Sections (a)-(e) from existing text. Removes the prohibition against the application of this article to a misdemeanor case disposed of by Section 143A (Uniform Act Regulating Traffic on Highways), Article 6701d, V.T.C.S., or a serious traffic violation as defined in Section 3(26) (Texas Commercial Driver's License Act), Article 6687b-2, V.T.C.S. Transfers all requirements that a defendant successfully complete a driving safety course approved by the Central Education Agency under this article to proposed Article 45.541, of this bill. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 45, Code of Criminal Procedure, by adding Article 45.541, as follows: Art. 45.541. DEFERRAL OF CERTAIN MOTOR VEHICLE OFFENSES. (a) Applies this article if the offense alleged is an offense involving the operation of a motor vehicle, other than a commercial motor vehicle, as defined in the Texas Commercial Driver's License Act, in addition to the provisions of Article 45.54 (Suspension of Sentence and Deferral of Final Disposition), Code of Criminal Procedure. (b) Requires a justice, during a deferral period under Article 45.54, Code of Criminal Procedure (deferral period), to require a defendant to successfully complete a Texas Education Agency-approved driving safety course (course), if the defendant has completed a course within the preceding 12 months, or the defendant is a first-time offender who elects deferred adjudication. (c) Authorizes a justice, during a deferral period, to require a defendant to successfully complete a course, if the defendant has not completed a course within the preceding 12 months. (d) Provides conditions under which Subsections (b) and (c) are applicable. (e) Authorizes the court to allow a defendant to take a course or motor cycle operator training course under this chapter, notwithstanding Subsection (d)(1). (f) Provides that a request to take a course is an appearance in compliance with the person's promise to appear. (g) Authorizes the court to charge an inclusive fee, not to exceed $10, to cover the costs of administering this article. (h) Prohibits refunds in the absense of taking a requested course. (i) Requires the fees collected by a municipal court to be deposited in the municipal treasury, and for any other court to deposit them in the treasury of the county in which the court is located. (j) Requires a court, if a person requesting a course fails to furnish evidence of successful completion of the course, to notify the person in writing of that failure, and require the person to appear at a specified time and place and show cause why the evidence was not timely submitted to the court. (k) Provides that it is a misdemeanor punishable as provided by Section 543.009 (Compliance With or Violation of Promise to Appear), Transportation Code, for failure to appear in accordance with Subdivision (j). (l) Authorizes a court to grant an extension on a showing of good cause. (m) Requires a court to remove the judgment, to dismiss the charge, and to report the date of successful completion of the course and whether it was taken in accordance with this article to the Department of Public Safety. (n) Prohibits the dismissal of more than one charge for each completed course. (o) Prohibits a charge dismissed under this article from appearing on the person's driving record or being used for any other purpose. (p) Prohibits a motor vehicle insurer from canceling or increasing the premium because the insured completed a course or had a charge dismissed under this article. (q) Requires a court to advise a person charged with a misdemeanor under Subtitle C (Rules of the Road), Title 7, Transportation Code, under specified conditions. Prohibits application of this article to a violation under Sections 545.066 (Passing a School Bus; Offense), 545.401 (Reckless Driving; Offense), 545.421 (Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer; Offense), 550.022 (Accident Involving Damage to Vehicle), 550.023 (Duty to Give Information and Render Aid), Transportation Code, or a serious traffic violation as defined by Section 522.003 (Definitions), Transportation Code. SECTION 3. Amends Section 542.402(b), Transportation Code, to make a conforming change. SECTION 4. Repealer: Sections 543.102 (Notice of Right to Complete Course), 543.103 (Mandatory Deferral), 543.104 (Permissive Deferral), 543.105 (Timely Request Constitutes Appearance), 543.106 (Fee for Request), 543.107 (Failure to Present Evidence of Course Completion), 543.108 (Court Procedures on Successful Course Completion), 543.109 (Dismissal Limited to One Charge), 543.110 (Use of Information Regarding Dismissed Charge or Completed Course), Transportation Code. SECTION 5. Makes application of this Act prospective. SECTION 6. Emergency clause. Effective date: 90 days after adjournment.