BILL ANALYSIS
Senate Research Center H.B. 3834
80R11004 PAM-D By: Gonzales, Martinez, "Mando" (Hinojosa)
AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT
Current law does not authorize a fee assessed by a county for a utility certificate to exceed the amount of the fee imposed by the municipality for a subdivision located in the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the municipality. In order to prepare the necessary paperwork and the field verification, it often takes the county anywhere from half an hour to two hours to process the request for a utility clearance. Despite the time expended, counties are unable to charge a fee because in many cases the municipalities do not charge a fee.
H.B. 3834 authorizes a county to assess a certification fee that is the greater of $30 or the amount of the fee imposed by the municipality for the same certification.
RULEMAKING AUTHORITY
SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS
SECTION 1. Amends Section 232.028(g), Local Government Code, to authorize a fee for a certificate issued regarding compliance with plat requirements under Chapter 232 (County Regulation of Subdivisions) to be the greater of $30 or the amount of the fee for such certification under Chapter 212 (Municipal Regulation of Subdivisions), rather than prohibiting a fee for a certificate issued under this section from begin greater than the fee issued under Chapter 212.
SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2007.