By Hartnett                                           H.B. No. 2814
         77R6648 RJA-D                           
                                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.
1-12           (b)  The salary shall be paid in equal monthly installments.
1-13           SECTION 2.  Sections 25.00261, 25.00262, 25.00263, 25.00264,
1-14     25.00265, and 25.00266, Government Code, are repealed because they
1-15     duplicate identical provisions 25.0027, 25.0028, 25.0029, 25.0030,
1-16     25.0031, and 25.0032, Government Code, as added by Chapter 394,
1-17     Acts of the 72nd Legislature, Regular Session, 1991, respectively.
1-18           SECTION 3.  Section 25.2651(b), Government Code, is amended
1-19     to read as follows:
1-20           (b)  Except for Sections 25.0009, 25.0010(b), 25.0011,
1-21     25.0030(b) [25.00264(b)], and 25.0031 [25.00265], Subchapters A and
1-22     B apply to a statutory probate court composed of more than one
1-23     county.
1-24           SECTION 4.  Section 40.062, Human Resources Code, is amended
 2-1     to read as follows:
 2-2           Sec. 40.062.  EXEMPTION FROM CERTAIN COSTS AND FEES.  The
 2-3     department is not required to pay any cost or fee otherwise imposed
 2-4     for court proceedings, including a:
 2-5                 (1)  filing fee or fee for issuance or service of
 2-6     process imposed by Section 110.002, Family Code, or by Section
 2-7     51.317, 51.318(b)(2), or 51.319, Government Code;
 2-8                 (2)  transfer fee imposed by Section 110.002 or
 2-9     110.005, Family Code;
2-10                 (3)  court reporter fee imposed by Section 51.601,
2-11     Government Code;
2-12                 (4)  judicial fund fee imposed by Sections 51.701 and
2-13     51.702, Government Code;
2-14                 (5)  judge's fee imposed by Section 25.0008[,
2-15     25.00263,] or 25.0029, Government Code; or
2-16                 (6)  cost or security fee imposed by Section 12 or 622,
2-17     Probate Code.
2-18           SECTION 5. This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.