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.