SRC-VRA H.B. 1886 78(R) BILL ANALYSIS Senate Research Center H.B. 1886 78R942 JMM-DBy: Zedler (Nelson) Health & Human Services 5/10/2003 Engrossed DIGEST AND PURPOSE In 1991, the 72nd Texas Legislature created the registration of code enforcement officers. The program became operational on September 1, 1991. The law specifies that fees shall not exceed $50 each. The law, Chapter 1952, Occupations Code, provides title protection for a "code enforcement officer," of whom there are 1600 registered in Texas. Rider 7, Article 2, General Appropriations Act, 77th Legislature, expresses the intent of the legislature that fee-funded programs generate sufficient revenue to cover their operating costs. The code enforcement officers registration program generated sufficient revenues to cover its operating costs in only two of the last five years. H.B. 1886 removes the statutory cap on the fees charged to regulate code enforcement officers. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Section 1952.052, Occupations Code, by deleting the current provision "not to exceed $50 for each fee" relating to the assessment of fees for the regulation of code enforcement officers, leaving intact language allowing the Texas Board of Health to set reasonable fees to cover the costs of administering the program. Makes conforming changes. SECTION 2. Effective date: September 1, 2003.