86R16773 MP-D
 
  By: Guillen H.B. No. 1494
 
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
  relating to surety bonds for deputy clerks and other employees of
  county and district clerks.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  The heading to Section 51.309, Government Code,
  is amended to read as follows:
         Sec. 51.309.  DEPUTY CLERKS AND OTHER EMPLOYEES [CLERK].
         SECTION 2.  Section 51.309, Government Code, is amended by
  amending Subsection (b) and adding Subsection (b-1) to read as
  follows:
         (b)  Except as provided by Subsection (c), the district clerk
  shall obtain one or more [a] surety bonds in accordance with this
  section [bond] to cover each [a] deputy clerk or other employee.
  The district clerk shall obtain:
               (1)  an individual bond for each deputy clerk and other
  employee in an amount for each bond that is equal to the district
  clerk's bond; or
               (2)  a schedule surety bond or a blanket surety bond to
  cover all deputy clerks [more than one deputy] and all other 
  employees in a total amount that is equal to the district clerk's
  bond [of the office].
         (b-1)  A deputy clerk and an employee must be covered by a
  surety bond on the same conditions [and in the same amount] as the
  district clerk. A [The] bond covering a deputy clerk or other
  employee [the deputies and employees] shall be made payable to the
  governor for the use and benefit of the district clerk.
         SECTION 3.  Sections 82.002(a) and (c), Local Government
  Code, are amended to read as follows:
         (a)  Except as provided by Subsection (b), [If] the county
  clerk [has only a single deputy clerk, the county clerk] shall
  execute one or more [a] surety bonds in accordance with this section 
  [bond] to cover each [the] deputy clerk or other employee.  The
  county clerk shall execute:
               (1)  an individual bond for each deputy clerk and other
  employee in an amount for each bond that is equal to the county
  clerk's bond; or
               (2)  a schedule surety bond or a blanket surety bond to
  cover all [the] deputy clerks[, if there is more than one,] and all
  other employees in a total amount that is equal to the county
  clerk's bond [of the office].
         (c)  A [The] bond covering a deputy clerk or other [an]
  employee must be conditioned in the same manner as the county
  clerk's bond [and must be for the same amount as the bond for the
  county clerk]. A [The] bond covering a deputy clerk or other
  employee must be made payable to the county for the use and benefit
  of the county clerk.
         SECTION 4.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2019.