1-1 By: Flores (Senate Sponsor - Truan) H.B. No. 649 1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 9, 1999; 1-3 April 12, 1999, read first time and referred to Committee on 1-4 Intergovernmental Relations; April 22, 1999, reported favorably by 1-5 the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 22, 1999, sent to 1-6 printer.) 1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-8 AN ACT 1-9 relating to the waiver of filing fees for persons of low or 1-10 moderate income who are buying or improving a home. 1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-12 SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 118, Local Government Code, 1-13 is amended by adding Section 118.0135 to read as follows: 1-14 Sec. 118.0135. WAIVER OF REAL PROPERTY FILING FEES. 1-15 (a) The commissioners court may direct the county clerk to waive 1-16 fees for the filing of real property records under this subchapter 1-17 for a person who is buying or improving the person's home with 1-18 assistance from a federal or state grant or aid program that 1-19 promotes home ownership or home improvement for persons of low or 1-20 moderate income. 1-21 (b) The commissioners court shall specify the types of grant 1-22 or aid programs that qualify a person for a fee waiver under this 1-23 section and may limit the waiver to only certain programs. 1-24 SECTION 2. The importance of this legislation and the 1-25 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-26 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 1-27 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 1-28 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 1-29 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 1-30 passage, and it is so enacted. 1-31 * * * * *