Officers collecting certain traffic fines must keep separate records, deposit the money in the county treasury, and report to the comptroller each quarter.
Sec. 709.002. REMITTANCE OF TRAFFIC FINES COLLECTED TO COMPTROLLER. (a) An officer collecting a traffic fine under Section 709.001 in a case in a justice, county, or district court shall keep separate records of the money collected and shall deposit the money in the county treasury. (b) Each calendar quarter, an officer collecting a traffic fine under Section 709.001 shall submit a report to the comptroller. The report must comply with Articles 103.005(c) and (d), Code of Criminal Procedure. (c) The custodian of money in a municipal or county treasury may deposit money collected under Section 709.001 in an interest-bearing account. The custodian shall: (1) keep records of the amount of money collected under this section that is on deposit in the treasury; and (2) not later than the last day of the month following each calendar quarter, remit to the comptroller money collected under this section during the preceding quarter, as required by the comptroller. (d) A municipality or county may retain four percent of the money collected under Section 709.001 as a service fee for the collection if the county remits the funds to the comptroller within the period described by Subsection (c). The municipality or county may retain any interest accrued on the money if the custodian of the money deposited in the treasury keeps records of the amount of money collected under this section that is on deposit in the treasury and remits the funds to the comptroller within the period prescribed in Subsection (c). (e) Of the money received by the comptroller under this section, the comptroller shall deposit: (1) 80 percent to the credit of the undedicated portion of the general revenue fund, to be used only for criminal justice purposes; and (2) 20 percent to the credit of the designated trauma facility and emergency medical services account under Section 780.003, Health and Safety Code, to be used only for the criminal justice purpose of funding designated trauma facilities, county and regional emergency medical services, and trauma care systems that provide trauma care and emergency medical services to victims of collisions resulting from traffic offenses. (f) Money collected under this section is subject to audit by the comptroller. Money spent is subject to audit by the state auditor. Added by Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1094 (H.B. 2048), Sec. 14, eff. September 1, 2019. Amended by: Acts 2023, 88th Leg., R.S., Ch. 709 (H.B. 2190), Sec. 101, eff. September 1, 2023.