BWH S.B. 157 75(R)BILL ANALYSIS


COUNTY AFFAIRS
S.B. 157
By: Haywood (Finnell)
5-8-97
Committee Report (Unamended)


BACKGROUND 

Currently, Vernon State Hospital, in Wilbarger County, spends county funds
to provide mental health services to residents of numerous other counties
in Texas.  Many of these patients are committed to the hospital by the
court, leaving the taxpayers of Wilbarger County to fund the trying of
cases which benefit other counties.  Wilbarger County is currently
reimbursed by other counties for the filing fees, service fees, and
court-appointed attorney fees, but not the county fees.   The goal of S.B.
157 is to allow the county attorney in Wilbarger County to be reimbursed
for prosecuting mental health cases in which the defendant is a resident
of another county. 

PURPOSE

This legislation outlines provisions relating to reimbursement fees for
the Wilbarger County attorney. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency or
institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 45B, Government Code, by adding Section 45.344,
as follows: 

Sec. 45.344. WILBARGER COUNTY. Sets forth provisions by which the county
attorney is entitled to a fee for the prosecution of cases arising under
Chapter 574, Health and Safety Code, in which the patient is a resident of
a county other than Wilbarger County. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1997.  
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.