LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD

Austin, Texas

FISCAL NOTE, 83RD LEGISLATIVE REGULAR SESSION

April 5, 2013

TO:	Honorable Royce West, Chair, Senate Committee on Jurisprudence
FROM:	Ursula Parks, Director, Legislative Budget Board
IN RE:	SB967 by West (Relating to the authority of a municipality or county to retain certain fees.), Committee Report 1st House, Substituted

No significant fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.

The bill would amend the Local Government Code, Chapter 133 to provide a 180 day correction period for counties required to implement the Collection Improvement Program if, through an official audit, they are determined to be out of compliance. Currently, the 180 day corrective period applies only to municipalities required to implement the program. The bill would require a county treasurer to remit 100 percent of all fees collected under this section if a county is found to be out of compliance.
 
According to the Office of Court Administration and the Comptroller of Public Accoounts, no significant fiscal impact to the state is anticipated.

The bill takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If the bill does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, it takes effect September 1, 2013.

Local Government Impact

The Comptroller of Public Accounts contacted the counties of Montgomery, Taylor and Nueces to determine the impact of the bill on their counties. According to the Montgomery County Clerk's office, the county is currently implementing the Collection Improvement Plan; therefore, there would be no fiscal impact on the county. Taylor and Nueces counties were unable to make a determination on the fiscal impact.

Source Agencies:

212 Office of Court Administration, Texas Judicial Council, 304 Comptroller of Public Accounts

LBB Staff:

UP, CL, SD, TP, JJO