BILL ANALYSIS
By: Keffer, Jim
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The Brown County attorney's office is unlike most other county attorney offices because their operating budget is funded entirely internally, with only salaries being paid by the county. Hot check collection fees are the primary source of operating funds which pays for everything from the office supplies to travel and professional expenses, and actually supplements their salaries to bring them up to market rates. With banking technology continually advancing and more merchants instituting on-site check verification, it is likely that hot check collection revenue will substantially decrease in the coming years. Currently, the county attorney's office is only permitted to accept gifts of tangible items, which would require donors to purchase the items themselves before donating them.
H.B. 1930 will allow the Brown County attorney's office to accept gifts or grants from individuals, associations, trusts, corporations, governmental entities or charitable organizations for the purpose of furthering their operations.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution.
ANALYSIS
H.B. 1930 states the county attorney of Brown County or the Commissioners Court of Brown County may accept gifts or grants from any individual, partnership, corporation, trust, foundation, association, or governmental entity for the purpose of financing or assisting the operation of the office of county attorney in Brown County. The county attorney shall account for and report to the county auditor all gifts and grants accepted under this section.
EFFECTIVE DATE
Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.