SRC-JXG C.S.H.B. 1254 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.H.B. 1254
76R13695 JMC-DBy: Goolsby (Carona)
Jurisprudence
4/26/1999
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST 

Currently, a district clerk of a county is authorized to process United
States passport applications. An applicant must provide a specific number
and type of photograph. District clerks are unable to provide photographic
services to applicants or to contract with an outside vendor to take
pictures at the courthouses, because of the cost involved. C.S.H.B. 1254
would allow district clerks to charge a reasonable fee to be set by the
county commissioners court to recover the costs of the passport
photographs, and would provide that the fee be deposited in the general
fund of the county. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, C.S.H.B. 1254 authorizes district clerks to charge a
reasonable fee for passport photographs.  

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 51D, 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, including taking passport photographs. Authorizes a
district clerk to collect a reasonable fee in an amount set by the
commissioners court of the county in which the district clerk's office is
located, to recover the costs of taking passport photographs. Requires a
district clerk to pay the fee to the county treasurer, or to an official
who discharges the duties of the county treasurer, for deposit in the
general fund of the county, after collecting a fee under Subsection (b). 

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

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

SECTION 1.

Amends Section 51.3031, Government Code, to authorize a district clerk to
collect a reasonable fee in an amount set by the commissioners court of the
county in which the district clerk's office is located, to recover the
costs of taking passport photographs. Deletes text regarding passport
services.