SRC-JEC S.B. 1308 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research CenterS.B. 1308 By: Barrientos Intergovernmental Relations 6/15/2001 Enrolled DIGEST AND PURPOSE Currently, counties are prohibited from charging a fee unless specifically authorized to do so by statute or the constitution. S.B. 1308 authorizes counties to charge a reasonable fee to recover the costs of providing certain services or administering certain programs that benefit users. 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 Chapter 251A, Transportation Code, by adding Section 251.017, as follows: Sec. 251.017. COUNTY AUTHORITY TO SET FEE. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to set a reasonable fee for the county's issuance of a permit authorized by this chapter for which a fee is not specifically prescribed. Requires the fee to be set and itemized in the county's budget as part of the budget preparation process. SECTION 2. Amends Chapter 16I, Water Code, by adding Section 16.324, as follows: Sec. 16.324. COUNTY AUTHORITY TO SET FEE. Authorizes the commissioners court of a county to set a reasonable fee for the county's issuance of a permit authorized by this subchapter for which a fee is not specifically prescribed. Requires the fee to be set and itemized in the county's budget as part of the budget preparation process. SECTION 4. Effective date: September 1, 2001.