By Alexander                                     H.B. No. 721

      75R2350 CAG-D                           

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to certain fees collected by a justice of the peace.

 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 118.121, Local Government Code, is

 1-5     amended  to read as follows:

 1-6           Sec. 118.121.  FEE SCHEDULE.  A justice of the peace shall

 1-7     collect the following fees for services rendered to any person:

 1-8                 (1)  Services rendered before judgment (Sec. 118.122):

 1-9                       (A)  Justice court.................$40.00 [15.00]

1-10                       (B)  Small claims court............$20.00 [10.00]

1-11                 (2)  Services rendered after judgment (Sec. 118.123):

1-12                       (A)  Transcript....................$15.00 [10.00]

1-13                       (B)  Abstract of judgment...........$10.00 [5.00]

1-14                       (C)  Execution, order of sale, writ of

1-15     restitution, or other writ or process................$5.00 per page

1-16                       (D)  Issuing   other   document   (no  return

1-17     required)...............................................copy charge

1-18           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997, and the

1-19     change in law made by this Act applies only to a civil case, or an

1-20     ancillary proceeding to a civil case, filed in a justice court on

1-21     or after the effective date of this Act.

1-22           SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the

1-23     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

1-24     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

 2-1     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

 2-2     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.