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.