LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
                                Revision 2
  
                            February 20, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Tom Ramsay, Chair, House Committee on County
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB730  by Gutierrez (Relating to collection and use of
               certain filing fees to assist persons providing shelter
               or services to victims of family violence.), As
               Introduced
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would give a county commissioners court the authority to adopt a
family violence prevention fee, not to exceed $15, to be used to assist
persons providing shelter or services to victims of family violence.  If
adopted, the fee would be collected by the county's district clerk at the
time a suit for dissolution of a marriage is filed and then deposited
into the county treasury to the credit of the family violence prevention
account. The bill would take effect September 1, 2001.

The Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted the district clerks'
offices in the counties listed below in order to estimate the amount of
revenue a county family violence prevention fee could generate if imposed
at the maximum rate of $15 per case filed.

Harris County, population 3.2 million; average divorces per month of
1,676; fee revenue per month, $25,140.
Tarrant County, population 1.4 million; average divorces per month of
800; fee revenue per month, $12,000.
Bexar County, population 1.4 million; average divorces per month of 730;
fee revenue per month, $10,950.
Brazoria County, population 236,372; average divorces per month of 150;
fee revenue per month, $2,250.
Brazos County, population 143,533; average divorces per month of 56; fee
revenue per month, $840.
San Jacinto County, population 20,392; average divorces per month of 15;
fee revenue per month $225.

Statewide, according to figures provided by the Bureau of Vital
Statistics, there were approximately 86,625 divorces filed in Texas in
1998 (most recent data available). Using the 1998 total, if all counties
were to implement the family violence prevention fee, there would be a
revenue gain of close to $1.3 million statewide. There would be some
minimal costs to the county for administering the program.
  
  
Source Agencies:   304   Comptroller of Public Accounts
LBB Staff:         JK, DB, JB