SRC-JEC S.B. 1308 77(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1308
77R7232 SMJ-FBy: Barrientos
Intergovernmental Relations
4/5/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, counties are prohibited from charging a fee unless specifically
authorized to do so by statute or the constitution.  As proposed, 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 118A, Local Government Code, by adding Section
118.003, as follows: 

Sec. 118.003.  FEES NOT SPECIFICALLY PRESCRIBED BY STATUTE.  Authorizes the
commissioners court of a county to set a reasonable fee for issuing a
license, permit, or registration authorized by a statute for which a fee is
not specifically prescribed by statute. Prohibits the commissioners court,
in determining a reasonable fee, from setting the fee in an amount that is
greater than is necessary to recover the expenses of regulating the
activity for which the license, permit, or registration is issued. 

SECTION 2.  Effective date: September 1, 2001.