By Solomons H.B. No. 2149 74R5485 MWV-D A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to publication of certain information regarding justice 1-3 courts. 1-4 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-5 SECTION 1. Subchapter A, Chapter 27, Government Code, is 1-6 amended by adding Section 27.007 to read as follows: 1-7 Sec. 27.007. ANNUAL PUBLISHED REPORT. (a) Each county 1-8 shall publish a report regarding the operations of the justice 1-9 courts of that county. 1-10 (b) The county shall publish the report not later than the 1-11 30th day after the last day of the county's fiscal year. 1-12 (c) The county shall publish the report in a newspaper of 1-13 general circulation published in the county. 1-14 (d) If a newspaper is not published in the county, the 1-15 county shall post the report for at least 30 days at the county 1-16 courthouse and in five or more other public locations in the 1-17 county. 1-18 (e) Proof of publication of notice in a newspaper shall be 1-19 made by affidavit of the publisher accompanied by a printed copy of 1-20 the notice as published. 1-21 (f) Proof of posting may be made by the return of the 1-22 sheriff or a constable of the county or an affidavit of a credible 1-23 person made on a copy of the posted notice showing the fact of the 1-24 posting. 2-1 (g) A county shall file a proof of publication or proof of 2-2 posting with the Office of Court Administration of the Texas 2-3 Judicial System not later than the 90th day after the last day of 2-4 the county's fiscal year. 2-5 (h) The county shall include in the report: 2-6 (1) the schedule of fines, if any, followed by each 2-7 justice of the peace; 2-8 (2) the schedule of fees for conduct of a marriage 2-9 ceremony, if any, followed by each justice of the peace; 2-10 (3) a financial statement regarding the operation of 2-11 each justice court; and 2-12 (4) the name, address, and telephone number of a 2-13 county official or justice of the peace who may be contacted for 2-14 information regarding a justice court. 2-15 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 2-16 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 2-17 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-18 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-19 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-20 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-21 passage, and it is so enacted.