77R10956 RJA-D                           
         By Hartnett                                           H.B. No. 2814
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2814:
         By Hartnett                                       C.S.H.B. No. 2814
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the operation of statutory probate courts.
 1-3           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-4           SECTION 1.  Section 25.0023, Government Code, is amended to
 1-5     read as follows:
 1-6           Sec. 25.0023.  COMPENSATION OF [CERTAIN] PROBATE COURT
 1-7     JUDGES.  (a)  The [In any county having a population of 700,000 or
 1-8     more, the] commissioners court shall set the annual salary of each
 1-9     judge of a statutory probate court at an amount that is at least
1-10     equal to the total annual salary[, including supplements,] received
1-11     by a district judge in the county.  A district judge's or statutory
1-12     probate court judge's total annual salary includes contributions
1-13     and supplements paid by the state or a county, other than
1-14     contributions received as compensation under Section 25.0022(c).
1-15           (b)  The salary shall be paid in equal monthly installments.
1-16           SECTION 2.  Sections 25.00261, 25.00263, 25.00264, 25.00265,
1-17     and 25.00266, Government Code, are repealed because they duplicate
1-18     identical provisions in Sections 25.0027, 25.0029, 25.0030,
1-19     25.0031, and 25.0032, Government Code, as added by Chapter 394,
1-20     Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, respectively.
1-21           SECTION 3.  Section 25.0595(i), Government Code, as amended
1-22     by Chapters 394 and 746, Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular
1-23     Session, 1991, is amended to read as follows:
1-24           (i)  Section [25.00261] 25.0027 does not apply to a statutory
 2-1     probate court in Dallas County.
 2-2           SECTION 4.  Section 25.0733(a), Government Code, is amended
 2-3     to read as follows:
 2-4           (a)  Sections 25.0732(d), (h), (i), (j), [(l),] (m), (n),
 2-5     (o), (p), (q), (r), and (v), relating to county courts at law in El
 2-6     Paso County, apply to a statutory probate court in El Paso County.
 2-7           SECTION 5.  Section 25.2651(b), Government Code, is amended
 2-8     to read as follows:
 2-9           (b)  Except for Sections 25.0009, 25.0010(b), 25.0011,
2-10     25.0030(b) [25.00264(b)], and 25.0031 [25.00265], Subchapters A and
2-11     B apply to a statutory probate court composed of more than one
2-12     county.
2-13           SECTION 6.  Section 40.062, Human Resources Code, is amended
2-14     to read as follows:
2-15           Sec. 40.062.  EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN COSTS AND FEES.  The
2-16     department is not required to pay any cost or fee otherwise imposed
2-17     for court proceedings, including a:
2-18                 (1)  filing fee or fee for issuance or service of
2-19     process imposed by Section 110.002, Family Code, or by Section
2-20     51.317, 51.318(b)(2), or 51.319, Government Code;
2-21                 (2)  transfer fee imposed by Section 110.002 or
2-22     110.005, Family Code;
2-23                 (3)  court reporter fee imposed by Section 51.601,
2-24     Government Code;
2-25                 (4)  judicial fund fee imposed by Sections 51.701 and
2-26     51.702, Government Code;
2-27                 (5)  judge's fee imposed by Section 25.0008[,
 3-1     25.00263,] or 25.0029, Government Code; or
 3-2                 (6)  cost or security fee imposed by Section 12 or 622,
 3-3     Probate Code.
 3-4           SECTION 7.  Sections 25.00262, 25.0028, and 25.2293(h),
 3-5     Government Code, are repealed.
 3-6           SECTION 8.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.