LegislativeUpdate

2015TrafficSafetyForumJudgeLauraA.Weiser

I’mJustaBill

What’shappeningattheCapitol?

BonesfoundatCapitol

ImpairedDriving

HB2246VillalbaPassedoutofcommittee4/14/15HomelandSecurityComm.

� Allowspetitionertoobtainanoccupationallicenseafterasuspensionforaconvictionunder49.04-49.08ifanignitioninterlockisinstalled

HB673Bellleftpendingincommittee4/8/15

� Createsa“perse”law� “anydetectableamountofacontrolledsubstanceinpenaltygroups1,1-Aand2isintoxicated

HB460BellReportedfavorablyassubstituted4/16/15

� BloodSearchWarrants� Allowsexecutioninacontiguouscounty

SB1056HinojosaPlacedonintentcalendar4/16/15

� Amendsindigencydeterminationprocesstoestablishthatapersonwhohasalreadybeendeterminedindigentforthepurposesofacourtappointedlawyerwouldalsobeindigentforthepurposeofsurcharges

SB93EllisRepealofDriversResponsibilityProgramReferredtoTransportationCommittee

� Wouldrepealsurcharges

AlcoholandOtherDrugs

HB1018Placedonlocal,consentandres.calendar

� Includespowderedalcoholinthedefinitionof“illicitbeverages”intheAlcoholicBeverageCode� Prohibitsmanufacturing,importing,sellingorpossessingforthepurposeofsaleanalcoholicbeveragemadefrompowderedalcohol

SB172HuffmanPassedbytheSenateHB595Clardy

� Addssubstancescommonlyreferredtoas25-IanditssimilarcompoundtoPenaltyGroup2

HB253and254leftpendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� 253Amends481.115(b)makespossessionofacontrolledsubstanceinPenaltyGroup1of.02gramsto1gramaStateJailFelony� 254makeslessthan1gramaClassAmisdemeanor� Alsoamends481.1151(b)tomakeitaclassAmisdemeanorifthenumberofabuseunitsislessthan20

HB325LeftpendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� Amends481.121(b)HSCtomakepossessionofmarihuanaof0.35ouncesorlessaClassCmisdemeanor� ClassBwouldbemorethan0.35butlessthan2ounces

HB403DuttonLeftpendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� Amends481.115HSCtomakepossessionofacslessthan1gramaclassAmisdemeanorwithaminimumtermof180daysconfinement� BumpsitbackuptoaStateJailFelonyifdefendanthasapriorconvictionforthatoffense

HB414DuttonLeftpendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� Makespossessionofmarihuanaandsyntheticcannabinoidsoflessthan1ounceaClassCmisdemeanor� 1-2ouncesaClassB� 2-4ouncesaClassA

HB488GuillenSB199PerryReferredtoCriminalJustice

� AddsnewsyntheticcompoundstoPenaltyGroup2or2-A

HB507MoodySB1417EllisLeftPendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� Makespossessionofausablequantityofmarihuana1ounceorlessacivilpenaltynottoexceed$100

HB2165SimpsonLeftpendinginCriminalJurisprudenceCommittee

� Repealsallpossessionofmarihuanaoffenses

Driving

HB1888CapriglionePassedtoengrossment

� AmendstheTransportationCodetoincreasethefinefordrivingacommercialvehiclewithoutacommercialdriver’slicensenottoexceed$1000.� RaisesoffensetoaClassBmisdemeanoristhereisapriorconvictionwithin1year

HB2671SenfroniaThompsonLeftpendinginHomelandSecurity

� Repealslicensesuspensionforfailuretopaysurchargesandfailuretoappear

Other

SB17EstesPassedtheSenateHB910PhillipsOutofHouseCommittee

� OpenCarry� AllowsopencarryofhandgunsbyanyonewithaCHLinashoulderorbeltholster

SB10HuffmanPassedintheSenateHB1690KingOutofCommittee

� PublicIntegrityUnit� SB10createsaunitintheOfficeoftheAttorneyGeneral� Rangerattachedtotheunitdoestheinitialinvestigationthenreferstoprosecutorincountyofdefendant’sresidence� HB1690GivesprimaryresponsibilityforinvestigationtoTexasRangers

SB158WestConsideredinpublichearing

� LEBodyCameras� CreatesstatewidepolicyandguidelinesontheuseofbodyworncamerasbyLE� Proposesamatchinggrantprogramtosecureequipment

HB1205DuttonReportedfavorablyassubstituted4/8/15

� Wouldraisetheageofjuvenilejurisdictiontoage18

TheEnd!

“Wecan’toutlawstupid”-SenLarryTaylorFriendswood