HBA-NLM H.B. 1202 76(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1202 By: Dutton County Affairs 4/11/1999 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The purpose of this bill is to establish a commission to provide assistance to homeless persons. H.B. 1202 authorizes the commissioners court of a county by order to create a commission for the homeless to recommend and establish programs to prevent and alleviate homelessness in the county. This bill authorizes the commissioners court to collect a fee of $1 for the filing of the first page of a real property record, if the commissioners court creates a commission for the homeless. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS SECTION 1. Amends Chapter 150, Human Resources Code, by adding Section 150.003, as follows: Sec. 150.003. COUNTY PROGRAMS FOR HOMELESS. (a) Authorizes the commissioners court of a county by order to create a commission for the homeless to recommend and establish programs to prevent and alleviate homelessness in the county. (b) Provides that a commission is composed of five members appointed by the commissioners court and establishes the terms for those members. Requires the commissioners court to designate one member to serve as presiding officer and one to serve as assistant presiding officer for periods of one year. (c) Prohibits a member from receiving compensation but is entitled to actual and necessary expenses incurred in the performance of official duties, including travel expenses. (d) Requires the commission to meet at least once each month at the call of the presiding officer or at the request of three members. (e) Sets forth required duties to be performed by the commission. (f) Authorizes the commission to accept gifts and grants. Requires the commission to deposit any money received under this subsection in the county treasury in a special account for the homeless. (g) Authorizes the commissioners court by order to require the county clerk to charge and collect $1 for the filing of the first page of a real property record in addition to the fee prescribed by Section 118.011 (Fee Schedule), Local Government Code, if the commissioners court creates a commission for the homeless. Requires the county clerk to deposit amounts collected under this subsection in the county treasury in a special account for the homeless. (h) Authorizes funds in the special account for the homeless to be used only to implement programs approved by the commissioners court under this section. SECTION 2. Amends Section 118.013(d), Local Government Code, to provide that the fee is in addition to any other specific fee provided for by other statute, including a fee for the homeless imposed by a county under Section 150.003, Human Resources Code. SECTION 3. Emergency clause. Effective date: upon passage.