Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.

      Line and page numbers may not match official copy.

      By Goodman                                      H.B. No. 1829

                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

 1-1                                   AN ACT

 1-2     relating to the powers and duties of the Department of Protective

 1-3     and Regulatory Services.

 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:

 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 40.005, Human Resources Code, is amended

 1-6     by adding new subsection (f) to read as follows:

 1-7           (f)  The board may conduct a closed meeting pursuant to

 1-8     Section 551.101, Government Code, in order to discuss, consider or

 1-9     act on matters made confidential under this section, Section

1-10     261.201 Family Code or Section 48.101 Human Resources Code.

1-11           SECTION 2.  Section 40.058 Human Resources Code, is amended

1-12     to read as follows:

1-13     (a)  The department may enter into contracts or agreements with any

1-14     person, including a federal, state, or other public or private

1-15     agency, as necessary to perform any of the department's powers or

1-16     duties.

1-17           (b)  An agreement made under this section is not subject to

1-18     Chapter 771 or Chapter 791, Government Code.

1-19           (c)  Nothing in this section shall prohibit the agency from

1-20     making a contract or agreement subject to Chapters 771 or 791,

1-21     Government Code, for the purposes set out in those chapters.

1-22           SECTION 3.  Section 40.062 Human Resources Code, is amended

1-23     to read as follows:

1-24           Sec. 40.062.  Exemption from Certain Costs and Fees.  The

 2-1     department is not required to pay any cost or fee otherwise imposed

 2-2     for court proceedings, including a:

 2-3                 (1)  filing fee or fee for issuance or service of

 2-4     process imposed by Section 110.002 [14.13], Family Code, or by

 2-5     Section 51.317, 51.318(b)(2), or 51.319, Government Code;

 2-6                 (2)  transfer fee imposed by Section 110.005 [11.06(l)]

 2-7     or 14.13, Family Code;

 2-8                 (3)  court reporter fee imposed by Section 51.601,

 2-9     Government Code;

2-10                 (4)  judicial fund fee imposed by Sections 51.701 and

2-11     51.702, Government Code;

2-12                 (5)  judge's fee imposed by Section 25.0008, 25.00263,

2-13     or 25.0029, Government Code; or

2-14                 (6)  cost or security fee imposed by Section 12 or 622,

2-15     Probate Code.

2-16           SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 1997.

2-17           SECTION 5.  The importance of this legislation and the

2-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an

2-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the

2-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several

2-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.