1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the waiver of filing fees for persons of low or
 1-3     moderate income who are buying or improving a home.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 118, Local Government Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 118.0135 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 118.0135.  WAIVER OF REAL PROPERTY FILING FEES.  (a)
 1-8     The commissioners court may direct the county clerk to waive fees
 1-9     for the filing of real property  records under this subchapter for
1-10     a person who is buying or improving the person's home with
1-11     assistance from a federal or state grant or aid program that
1-12     promotes home ownership or home improvement for persons of low or
1-13     moderate income.
1-14           (b)  The commissioners court shall specify the types of grant
1-15     or aid programs that qualify a person for a fee waiver under this
1-16     section and may limit the waiver to only certain programs.
1-17           SECTION 2.  The importance of this legislation and the
1-18     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
1-19     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
1-20     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
1-21     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
1-22     and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
1-23     passage, and it is so enacted.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 649 was passed by the House on April
         8, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 144, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 649 was passed by the Senate on May
         3, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor