Traffic offenses: additional penalty: spinal cord injury research.

Existing law requires that all fines and forfeitures imposed and collected for crimes other than parking offenses resulting from a filing in a court be deposited with the county treasurer, to be distributed monthly, as required by law. Existing law authorizes the University of California to establish a spinal cord injury research fund, independent of the State Treasury, to accept public and private funds for spinal cord injury research programs and grants. This bill would impose an additional penalty of $1 to be imposed upon every conviction for a violation of state or local traffic laws, except for offenses relating to parking. The bill would require the penalty to be deposited with the county treasurer who would, on a semiannual basis, transfer the moneys to the State Treasury for deposit into the Roman Reed Spinal Cord Injury Penalty Fund, which the bill would establish. Because the bill would require the county treasurer to perform additional duties, this bill would impose a state-mandated local program. The bill would also provide that, prior to the transfer of funds to the State Treasurer, the county treasurer is required to withhold a sufficient amount necessary to reimburse the county and the courts for their actual, reasonable, and necessary costs associated with administering these provisions. If those amounts are withheld, the bill would authorize the county to send an accounting report detailing its costs to the Regents of the University of California. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.