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.