SRC-JEC S.B. 581 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 581 By: Duncan Intergovernmental Relations 6/25/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, eight state mental hospitals serve the entire state. Preparing and conducting court-ordered mental health hearings regarding hospital patients requires work and funds from the county in which the hospital is located. Usually, that county is reimbursed by the county of residence of the patient for statutory and document preparation fees. S.B. 581 codifies the authorization of the hearing county to charge the county of residence for certain costs. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 574.031(k), Health and Safety Code, to provide that for a mental health proceeding, the fee assessed under this subsection includes costs incurred for the preparation of documents related to the proceeding. Authorizes the court to award as court costs fees for other costs of a mental health proceeding against the county responsible for the payment of the costs of the hearing under Section 571.018. SECTION 2. Amends Section 44.343(b), Government Code, to delete text entitling a criminal district attorney to reimbursement for prosecuting certain cases. SECTION 3. Provides that, notwithstanding any other law, a county that collected a fee for the preparation of documents related to mental health proceedings under Chapter 574, Health and Safety Code, before September 1, 2001, is not liable to any other person for repayment of any portion of the fee, regardless of whether the fee was collected under adequate legal authority. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2001.