Legislative Update 84 th Texas Legislative Session Municipal Justice Bar of Texas Traffic Lawyers of Texas Presented by Bill Pewitt Bill Pewitt and Associates

Legislative Update Topics Overview of the process Red Light Camera Bills Status of MJBAT priority bills Other traffic bills that passed HB 7 - $200 surprise

Overview of the Process About the legislative process in Texas How a bill originates Introducing a bill The role of committees Referral to a committee The committee process Committee reports House calendars and list of items eligible Senate agenda and intent calendar Floor action Consideration of local and uncontested bills Return of bill to originating chamber Conference committee Governor's action Effective date Filing and publication of laws

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Red Light Camera Ban Bills: where the action was SB 714 – Senator Bob Hall/HB 142 Rep. Jonathan Stickland

Red Light Camera Ban Bills: SB 714 vote Senate Transportation Committee vote - 4/13/15 7 Ayes: Nichols, Huffines, Fraser, Hall, Hancock, Kolkhorst, Taylor 2 Nays: Ellis, Garcia Senate floor vote - 4/22/15 22 Ayes; 8 Nays: Ellis, Eltife, Garcia, Menendez, Rodriguez, Watson, West, Whitmire

House Transportation Committee showdown 5/22/15 – death for HB 142 and last gasp for SB Ayes; 7 Nays: Martinez, Burkett, Fletcher, Israel, Minjarez, Paddie, Simmons; Present (not voting) –Pickett Absent – Y. Davis, Harless, McClendon, Murr, Phillips

Red Light Camera Ban Bills: also filed HB 1131 – Rep. Gary Elkins/SB 340 Sen. Donald Huffines HB 3817 – Rep. Elkins/SB 1340 Sen. Huffines HB 1710 – Rep. Dwayne Bohac (election to repeal red light camera ordinance)

Status of MJBAT Priority Bills Red light camera ban bills – Did not pass  HB 3432 (Thompson): Eliminating court reporter in Houston municipal court – Did not pass HB 897 (Rodriguez): Eliminating Court Reporters in Municipal Court for the City of San Antonio— Did not pass HB 538 (Spitzer): Expanding law enforcement authority (City of Combine) – Did not pass HB 2975 (Martinez) TxDOT authority to set speed limits – Did not pass

Status of MJBAT priority bills HB 1386 (Raymond): Allowing more than one counsel in a misdemeanor case – effective 9/1/15  SB 631 (Campbell): Lowering a population bracket to allow additional municipalities to extend muni court jurisdiction – effective 6/16/15  HB 2633 (Hernandez): Limiting access to accident reports – effective 6/18/15 

Other traffic bills that passed HB 1888 (Capriglione): Amendments to the Commercial Driver’s License Act – effective 1/1/16 – among other things: Redesignates term “commercial driver learner’s permit” as “commercial learner’s permit (CLP) ” and provides circumstances for driving with a CLP Redesignates term “nonresident CDL” as “non-domiciled CDL,” provides for DPS to issue; sets expiration dates Sets various fees Effective 1/30/16, requires DPS to remove CDL or CLP privilege if holder fails to properly self-certify medical status Increases possible fine for driving without a valid CDL or CLP; redesignates from “Class C misdemeanor” to “misdemeanor” with a possible fine of up to $1,000 Requires vehicle inspection compliance and provides for a Class C misdemeanor SB 287 (West): Elimination of Harris County court fee – effective 6/19/15 SB 909 (Zaffirini): Clarification of Bexar County court jurisdiction – effective 9/1/15

HB 7 - $200 surprise House Bill 7: a general budget transparency bill, reduces numerous taxes, assessments, surcharges and fees Section 31 (l)(18) of HB 7 (page 37, line 7) repeals Chapter 191, Subchapter H of the Tax Code, the attorney occupation tax, effective 9/1/15