BILL ANALYSIS

Senate Research Center	H.B. 1093
85R18612 DMS-F	By: Alvarado (Miles)
	Intergovernmental Relations
	5/9/2017
	Engrossed

AUTHOR'S / SPONSOR'S STATEMENT OF INTENT

H.B. 1093 allows the commissioners court of a county with a population greater than 2.3 million to set the cap on the welfare department petty cash fund, as they currently do with other petty cash funds.

Section 130.905(a), Local Government Code, allows counties with a population of 1.3 million or more to have a county welfare department petty cash fund not to exceed $2500 at any time, in order that cash is immediately available for transportation and other expenses of poor individuals. The petty cash fund must be established under a system provided and installed by the county auditor with reports to be made to the auditor, as the auditor may require, by the head of the county welfare department. The law establishes this amount only for county welfare departments, however. The legislature has determined that the two other petty cash funds, a general fund and a sheriff's fund, do not have set maximums and are instead set by commissioners courts.

The petty cash in this fund is available to be distributed for the immediate needs of those who utilize county welfare departments. Examples of expenses include clothing, shoes, school supplies, etc. for abused or neglected children recently removed from their homes.

H.B. 1093 amends current law relating to petty cash funds for county welfare departments in certain populous counties.

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not expressly grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, institution, or agency.

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 130.905, Local Government Code, by amending Subsection (a) and adding Subsection (a-1), as follows:

(a) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county with a population of 1.3 million or more, for the support of paupers through a county welfare department, except as provided by Subsection (a-1), to authorize the disbursement of an amount not to exceed $2,500 to the head of the county welfare department for use as a petty cash fund in order that cash is immediately available for transportation and other expenses of the paupers. Requires that the petty cash fund be established under a system provided and installed by the county auditor with reports to be made to the auditor, as the auditor may require, by the head of the county welfare department.

(a-1) Authorizes the commissioners court, in a county with a population of 2.3 million or more, to set the maximum amount authorized to be disbursed under Subsection (a).

SECTION 2. Effective date: upon passage or September 1, 2017.