S.B. 1744 78(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1744
By: Zaffirini
Public Health
Committee Report (Unamended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 
Currently, there is no fee available to a municipality which may be
assessed for the preservation 
of records. However, a county is allowed to impose several fees for
records management and 
preservation. As proposed, this bill  establishes a local records
preservation and technology 
enhancement fund supported by a surcharge on the issuance of birth and
death records for the 
preservation of permanent, historical, and archival records.


RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
This bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority
to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.   

ANALYSIS

This bill amends the Health and Safety Code by authorizing a local
registrar to collect a fee not to exceed $1, in addition to other fees
collected under the chapter on fees in the Health and Safety Code, for the
preservation of vital statistic records maintained by the registrar,
including birth, death, fetal death, marriage, divorce, and annulment
records.  The bill requires the fee to be collected by the registrar on
the issuance of a vital statistic record. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2003.