1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the processing of certain fees by the Texas Department
 1-3     of Health.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Subchapter J, Chapter 431, Health and Safety
 1-6     Code, is amended by adding Section 431.2245 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 431.2245.  PROCESSING OF LICENSING FEES.  (a)  The
 1-8     commissioner shall establish a system for processing licensing fees
 1-9     under this chapter,  including vended water facility licensing
1-10     fees.
1-11           (b)  Under the fee processing system, the maximum time for
1-12     processing a fee payment made by a negotiable instrument may not
1-13     exceed 48 hours, beginning at the time that the negotiable
1-14     instrument is first received by the department and ending at the
1-15     time that the fee payment is submitted for deposit by the
1-16     department to the treasury division of the office of the
1-17     comptroller.
1-18           (c)  The comptroller shall cooperate with the commissioner in
1-19     developing the fee processing system.
1-20           SECTION 2.  Chapter 432, Health and Safety Code, is amended
1-21     by adding Section 432.0095 to read as follows:
1-22           Sec. 432.0095.  PROCESSING OF FOOD SALVAGE ESTABLISHMENT
1-23     LICENSING FEES.  (a)  The commissioner shall establish a system for
1-24     processing food salvage establishment licensing fees.
 2-1           (b)  Under the fee processing system, the maximum time for
 2-2     processing a fee payment made by a negotiable instrument may not
 2-3     exceed 48 hours, beginning at the time that the negotiable
 2-4     instrument is first received by the department and ending at the
 2-5     time that the fee payment is submitted for deposit by the
 2-6     department to the treasury division of the office of the
 2-7     comptroller.
 2-8           (c)  The comptroller shall cooperate with the commissioner in
 2-9     developing the fee processing system.
2-10           SECTION 3.  The commissioner of public health shall implement
2-11     the fee processing systems required by Sections 431.2245 and
2-12     432.0095, Health and Safety Code, as added by this Act, not later
2-13     than January 1, 2000.
2-14           SECTION 4.  The importance of this legislation and the
2-15     crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
2-16     emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
2-17     constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
2-18     days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 765 was passed by the House on April
         8, 1999, by a non-record vote.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 765 was passed by the Senate on May
         20, 1999, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  _____________________
                            Date
                    _____________________
                          Governor