By Hartnett H.B. No. 940 74R4667 CAG-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to damages that may be awarded against a county or 1-3 precinct officer who inadvertently overcharges a person a fee. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Section 118.801, Local Government Code, is 1-6 amended to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 118.801. Overcharging of Fees; Penalty. (a) An officer 1-8 named in this chapter who intentionally demands and receives a 1-9 higher fee than authorized under this chapter or a fee that is not 1-10 authorized under this chapter is liable to the aggrieved person for 1-11 four times the amount unlawfully demanded and received. 1-12 (b) An officer who inadvertently or negligently demands and 1-13 receives a higher fee than authorized or a fee not authorized under 1-14 this chapter is liable to the aggrieved person for the amount 1-15 inadvertently or negligently demanded and received. 1-16 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-17 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-18 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-19 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-20 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-21 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-22 passage, and it is so enacted.