SRC-TBR H.B. 957 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   H.B. 957
By: Burnam (Moncrief)
Health & Human Services
4/20/2001
Engrossed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the fee a county or public health district may charge for
restaurant health inspections is limited to $150 or the highest fee charged
by a municipality in the county, whichever amount is less. This fee often
does not cover the cost of an inspection, based on the time and personnel
required to conduct the investigation.  H.B. 957 authorizes a county or
heath district to adopt a variable fee scale with a maximum limit of $300. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

Rulemaking authority is expressly granted to a county or public health
district in SECTION 1 (Section 437.012, Health and Safety Code), of this
bill. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 437.012, Health and Safety Code, by amending
Subsection (b) and adding Subsections (f), (g), and (h), as follows: 

(b)  Provides that except as provided by Subsection (f), the fee charged by
a county or public health district for issuing or renewing a permit may not
exceed $150. 

(f)  Authorizes a county or public health district to, by rule or order,
adopt a variable scale to determine the fee charged for a permit under this
section.  Authorizes the county or public health district, in adopting a
rule or order under this subsection, to consider certain factors. 

 (g)  Provides that a fee charged under Subsection (f) may not exceed $300.

(h)  Provides that the fee charged to a child care facility under this
section may not exceed $150. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.  Makes application of this
Act prospective.