BILL ANALYSIS

C.S.H.B. 2830

By: Martinez, "Mando"

County Affairs

Committee Report (Substituted)

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Interested parties note that many counties around the state are required to mail a refund to an individual if the individual overpays a bill to the county. The parties further note that such an overpayment, which may be a simple mistake by the individual, is usually a very small amount and that the refunding process often costs the county more in printing and mailing than the actual amount of the refund. C.S.H.B. 2830 seeks to provide a common-sense solution to this issue.

CRIMINAL JUSTICE IMPACT

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly create a criminal offense, increase the punishment for an existing criminal offense or category of offenses, or change the eligibility of a person for community supervision, parole, or mandatory supervision.

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. 2830 amends the Local Government Code to establish that a county is not required to refund an amount overpaid or otherwise paid in error to the county clerk or district clerk by a person if that amount is $2 or less unless the person requests the refund in writing.

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2015.

COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL AND SUBSTITUTE

While C.S.H.B. 2830 may differ from the original in minor or nonsubstantive ways, the following comparison is organized and formatted in a manner that indicates the substantial differences between the introduced and committee substitute versions of the bill.

INTRODUCED	HOUSE COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE
SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 130.911 to read as follows: Sec. 130.911.  COUNTY REFUND OF SMALL AMOUNT. A county is not required to refund an amount overpaid or otherwise paid in error to the county clerk by a person if that amount is $2 or less unless the person requests the refund in writing.	SECTION 1.  Subchapter Z, Chapter 130, Local Government Code, is amended by adding Section 130.911 to read as follows: Sec. 130.911.  COUNTY REFUND OF SMALL AMOUNT. A county is not required to refund an amount overpaid or otherwise paid in error to the county clerk or district clerk by a person if that amount is $2 or less unless the person requests the refund in writing.
SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2015.	SECTION 2. Same as introduced version.