By:  Madla                                            S.B. No. 1534
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the payment of property damages caused by certain
 1-3     counties.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 111.070, Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended as follows:
 1-7           (a)  The commissioners court may spend county funds only in
 1-8     strict compliance with the budget, except as provided by this
 1-9     section.
1-10           (b)  The commissioners court may authorize an emergency
1-11     expenditure as an amendment to the original budget only in a case
1-12     of grave public necessity to meet an unusual and unforeseen
1-13     condition that could not have been included in the original budget
1-14     through the use of reasonably diligent thought and attention.  If
1-15     the court amends the original budget to meet an emergency, the
1-16     court shall file a copy of its order amending the budget with the
1-17     county clerk and the clerk shall attach the copy to the original
1-18     budget.
1-19           (c)  In a county of less than 15,000, a commissioners court
1-20     may authorize an unbudgeted expenditure to reimburse a person for
1-21     any damages caused to the property of the person by the county for
1-22     an amount not to exceed $2,500.  If the court amends the original
1-23     budget for payment of these damages, the court shall file a copy of
 2-1     its order amending the budget, along with a certified statement of
 2-2     reason for reimbursement, with the county clerk and the clerk shall
 2-3     attach the copy to the original budget.
 2-4           [(c)](d) The commissioners court by order may amend the budget
 2-5     to transfer an amount budgeted for one item to another budgeted
 2-6     item without authorizing an emergency expenditure.
 2-7           SECTION 2.  Section 111.070(c), Local Government Code, as
 2-8     amended by the Act, applies only to damages paid by the
 2-9     commissioners court for causes that occur on or after the effective
2-10     date of this Act.  Damages caused before the effective date of this
2-11     Act are governed by the law that was in effect immediately before
2-12     the effective date of this Act, and the former law is continued in
2-13     effect for that purpose.
2-14           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2000.