By West                                                H.B. No. 419
         76R2495 PAM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to permitting county constables to be compensated on a fee
 1-3     basis in addition to a salary basis.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 154, Local Government Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 154.0021 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 154.0021.  FEES AND COMMISSIONS PERMITTED IN ADDITION TO
 1-8     SALARY FOR CERTAIN OFFICERS.  The commissioners court of a county
 1-9     may compensate constables on a fee basis in addition to a salary
1-10     basis if the commissioners court by order authorizes payment by
1-11     fees, including commissions.
1-12           SECTION 2.  Section 154.004(d), Local Government Code, is
1-13     amended to read as follows:
1-14           (d)  The prohibitions established by this section do not
1-15     affect:
1-16                 (1)  fees and commissions the county tax
1-17     assessor-collector is authorized by law to collect;
1-18                 (2)  the payment of costs in a civil case or eminent
1-19     domain proceeding by the state;  [or]
1-20                 (3)  the payment of fees and commissions by the state
1-21     or a county for services performed by county officers relating to
1-22     the acquisition of rights-of-way for public roads and highways; or
1-23                 (4)  fees and commissions collected by a constable
1-24     subject to Section 154.0021.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  Section 154.005, Local Government Code, is
 2-2     amended by adding Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 2-3           (e)  A constable may receive, in addition to Subsection (c),
 2-4     fees and commissions authorized under Section 154.0021.
 2-5           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
 2-6     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
 2-7     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
 2-8     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
 2-9     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
2-10     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
2-11     passage, and it is so enacted.