By Pickett, Hinojosa H.B. No. 2725 Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2725: By Hinojosa C.S.H.B. No. 2725 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED 1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to the collection of costs in criminal cases. 1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-4 SECTION 1. Article 103.003, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-5 amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows: 1-6 (c) This article does not limit the authority of a county to 1-7 contract with a public or private vendor for the provision of 1-8 collection services under Article 103.0031. 1-9 SECTION 2. Article 103.0031, Code of Criminal Procedure, is 1-10 amended to read as follows: 1-11 Art. 103.0031. COLLECTION CONTRACTS. (a) The commissioners 1-12 court of a county may enter into a contract with a public or 1-13 private vendor for the provision of collection services for debts 1-14 and accounts receivable such as fines, fees, restitution, bond 1-15 forfeitures, and other debts or costs ordered to be paid by a court 1-16 serving the county. 1-17 (b) A commissioners court that enters into a contract under 1-18 this article with a private attorney may authorize the collection 1-19 of attorneys fees on each debt or account receivable referred to 1-20 the attorney for collection, in an amount not to exceed 33 percent 1-21 of the account or debt. 1-22 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the 1-23 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an 1-24 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the 2-1 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several 2-2 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended, 2-3 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its 2-4 passage, and it is so enacted.