81R32162 JSC-D
 
  By: Williams S.B. No. 2197
 
  Substitute the following for S.B. No. 2197:
 
  By:  Davis of Harris C.S.S.B. No. 2197
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to fees paid to a constable for serving civil process.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Section 86.021(d), Local Government Code, is
  amended to read as follows:
         (d)  Regardless of the Texas Rules of Civil Procedure, all
  civil process may be served by a constable in the constable's county
  or in a county contiguous to the constable's county, except that a
  constable who is a party to or interested in the outcome of a suit
  may not serve any process related to the suit. All civil process
  served by a constable at any time or place is presumed to be served
  in the constable's official capacity if under the law the constable
  may serve that process in the constable's official capacity.  A
  constable may not under any circumstances retain a fee paid for
  serving civil process in the constable's official capacity other
  than the constable's regular salary or compensation. Any fee paid
  to a constable for serving civil process in the constable's
  official capacity shall be deposited with the county treasurer of
  the constable's county.
         SECTION 2.  The change in law made by this Act applies only
  to civil process served by a constable on or after the effective
  date of this Act. Civil process served by a constable before the
  effective date of this Act is governed by the law in effect
  immediately before that date, and that law is continued in effect
  for that purpose.
         SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2009.