SRC-DPW S.B. 1523 76(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1523
76R6146 DRH-DBy: Madla
State Affairs
4/20/1999
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, all fees collected by county treasurers and remitted back to the
state are by law reported quarterly, except for the Time Payment Fee and
jury donations that are contributed to the Compensation to Victims of Crime
Fund, which are remitted quarterly.  The Children's Trust Fund, District
Clerk Filing Fee, and the Judicial Fund are collected and reported by the
county and district clerks and remitted by the treasurer, monthly.  The
current guidelines for the reporting and remitting of funds collected by
counties create a lack of uniformity.  This bill changes the timing of the
reporting and remitting of the funds and fees collected by the county
clerk, district clerk, and the county treasurer from monthly to quarterly. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 1523 sets forth procedures for the collection of state
funds by a county. 

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 403D, Government Code, by adding Section
403.0525, as follows: 

Sec. 403.0525. COLLECTION OF STATE FUNDS BY COUNTY. Requires the
comptroller to compile a list of each fee, tax, or fine a county is
required to collect for remittance to the state and provide a copy of the
list to each county.  Requires a custodian of a county treasury that holds
certain state funds to keep records of the amount and nature of the state
funds on deposit in the county treasury, and to send all state funds
collected in the preceding calender quarter to the comptroller.  Authorizes
a county to retain 10 percent of the funds as a service fee and retain the
interest accrued on the funds if records of state funds are kept and the
funds are remitted to the comptroller within the period required by this
subsection.  Provides that Subsection (b) does not apply to a motor vehicle
registration fee collected under Chapter 502, Transportation Code. 

SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 1999.

SECTION 3. Emergency clause.