H.B. No. 3232




AN ACT

relating to the collection of costs incurred by certain 
municipalities in remedying substandard conditions on a property.
	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:                        
	SECTION 1.  Subchapter A, Chapter 342, Health and Safety 
Code, is amended by adding Section 342.0075 to read as follows:
	Sec. 342.0075.  COLLECTION OF EXPENSES AND INTEREST.  (a)  On 
the request of a municipality, the person who assesses the ad 
valorem taxes for the municipality shall include on the ad valorem 
tax bill sent under Section 31.01, Tax Code, to the owner of a 
property a separate item for the expenses imposed by the 
municipality, including accrued interest, under Section 342.007.  
The tax bill must show the total amount due, and that amount must 
include the ad valorem taxes, expenses incurred, and interest 
accrued.
	(b)  At the time the property owner pays the ad valorem taxes 
on the property to the person who collects the ad valorem taxes for 
the municipality, the property owner shall pay to that collector 
those expenses incurred and the interest accrued.
	(c)  If the person who assesses or collects taxes for a 
municipality is not an officer or employee of the municipality, the 
municipality shall negotiate with the person a reasonable fee to be 
paid to the person for services performed by the person under this 
section.
	SECTION 2.  Section 342.0075, Health and Safety Code, 
applies only to a county with two or more municipalities each with a 
population of 300,000 or more.
	SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2003, and 
applies to the collection of an expense incurred by a municipality 
and the related interest accrued before, on, or after the effective 
date of this Act.




______________________________              ______________________________
 
   President of the Senate                               Speaker of the House      

	I certify that H.B. No. 3232 was passed by the House on May 2, 
2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 126, Nays 0, 2 present, not 
voting; and that the House concurred in Senate amendments to H.B. 
No. 3232 on May 30, 2003, by the following vote:  Yeas 142, Nays 0, 
2 present, not voting.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House   

	
I certify that H.B. No. 3232 was passed by the Senate, with 
amendments, on May 28, 2003, by a viva-voce vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                      Secretary of the Senate   



APPROVED: __________________                                                
 
                Date                                                         




 
         __________________                                              
 
              Governor