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.