HBA-KMH H.B. 1254 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1254
By: Goolsby
Judicial Affairs
3/14/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Currently, district clerks in Texas are among the limited number of
officials authorized to process United States passport applications. An
applicant must provide a specific number and type of photograph.  Because
of the cost involved, district clerks are either unable to provide
photographic services for applicants or must contract with an outside
vendor to take pictures at the courthouse. H.B. 1254 allows district clerks
to charge a reasonable fee, set by the county commissioners court, to
recover costs for photographic services in the processing of U.S. passport
applications.  The fee would be deposited in the general fund of the
county. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Subchapter D, Chapter 51, Government Code, by adding
Section 51.3031, as follows: 

Sec.  51.3031.  ISSUANCE OF UNITED STATES PASSPORTS.  Authorizes a district
clerk to perform all duties necessary to process an application for a
United States passport and to collect a reasonable fee.  Provides that the
fee is set by the commissioners court in which the district clerk's office
is located.  Requires the district clerk to pay the fee to the office of
the county treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county. 

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.