BILL ANALYSIS
By: Parker
Committee Report (Substituted)
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE
The County Treasurers’ Association of Texas has identified statutes that require modification to bring current statutory language in alignment with current county treasury practices and procedures.
The purpose of C.S.H.B. 3439 is to make those modifications to statutory language.
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
C.S.H.B. 3439 specifies that in a county for which the office of county treasurer has been abolished, a reference in this code or other state statute to the county treasurer means the person who performs the powers or duties of the county treasurer in that county. Deletes the requirement for duplicate and triplicate copies made by the county clerk and modifies the reporting of warrants receipted by the county treasurer. Deletes language to conform to newly added section 83.007, Local Government Code. Makes optional the requirement for the county treasurer to have vendors return a receipt after receiving payment from the county. Adds county treasurer as an authorized position to withhold pay from employees who fails to file the proper paperwork in counties with populations of 500,000 or more. Authorizes the state comptroller to electronically transmit warrant payments to the county treasurer. Makes a conforming change. Clarifies that a county treasurer's monthly report to the commissioners court only has to be submitted once a month. Brings fine reports prepared by other fee officers of the county in compliance with once a month reporting at a regular term of commissioners court. Includes the county treasurer as an office to receive payroll deduction request and revocations, and insurance deductions. Specifies county auditors and county treasurers as the only county officials to administer insurance deductions. Specifies that a county treasurer is the only county official that may establish an electronic funds transfer system. Repeals the requirement that county treasurers punch a warrant after it is paid.
EFFECTIVE DATE
September 1, 2007.
COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE
The substitute clarifies that a county treasurer's monthly report to the commissioners court only has to be submitted once a month. It also brings fine reports prepared by other fee officers of the county in compliance with once a month reporting at a regular term of commissioners court. It includes the county treasurer as an office to receive payroll deduction request and revocations, and insurance deductions. Specifies county auditors and county treasurers as the only county officials to administer insurance deductions. Specifies that a county treasurer is the only county official that may establish an electronic funds transfer system. Finally, the substitute repeals the requirement that county treasurers punch a warrant after it is paid.