85R13156 AJZ-D     By: Klick H.B. No. 2979       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the punishment for certain offenses involving parking   in a space designated for persons with disabilities.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 681.011, Transportation Code, is amended   by amending Subsection (g) and adding Subsections (g-1) and (g-2)   to read as follows:          (g)  Except as provided by Subsections (g-1), (h), (i), (j),   and (k) [(h)-(k)], an offense under this section is a misdemeanor   punishable by a fine of not less than $500 or more than $750.          (g-1)  In lieu of imposing a fine on conviction under   Subsection (g), the court may order a person who has not previously   been convicted of an offense under this section to:                (1)  perform community service at a nonprofit   organization that serves persons with disabilities or persons with   disabling diseases;                 (2)  perform any community service that may sensitize   the person to the needs of and obstacles faced by persons with   disabilities; or                (3)  attend education classes on disability awareness   and accessible parking.          (g-2)  The court shall set the number of hours of community   service or education classes required under Subsection (g-1).          SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only to   an offense committed on or after the effective date of this Act. An   offense committed before the effective date of this Act is governed   by the law in effect on the date the offense was committed, and the   former law is continued in effect for that purpose. For purposes of   this section, an offense was committed before the effective date of   this Act if any element of the offense occurred before that date.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.