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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the authority of a municipality or county to contract |
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for the collection of certain debts; authorizing a fee. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended |
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by adding Section 140.009 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 140.009. CONTRACT FOR COLLECTION OF DEBTS IN CIVIL |
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CASES. (a) The governing body of a municipality or the |
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commissioners court of a county may contract with a private |
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attorney or public or private vendor for the collection of a debt |
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owed to the municipality or county relating to a civil case, |
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including an unpaid fine, fee, or court cost, if the debt is more |
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than 60 days overdue. |
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(b) A municipality or county contracting with an attorney or |
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a vendor under Subsection (a) may authorize a collection fee of not |
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more than 30 percent of the amount of the debt collected. The |
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collection fee may be used only to compensate the attorney or vendor |
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who collects the debt. |
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(c) This section does not apply to the collection of |
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commercial bail bonds. |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2013. |