HBA-MPA H.B. 2331 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2331
By: Nixon, Joe
County Affairs
4/2/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, the need for a new Harris County civil courthouse is clear.  The
Board of Judges sought and received approval from the Harris County
commissioners to ask the voters in November 1999 to support a bond issue to
construct a new civil courthouse.  H.B. 2331, filed at the request of the
Board of District Court Judges of Harris County, would increase the filing
fees in civil cases by $12.50 for a period of five years, stipulating that
such a fee be placed in a dedicated fund to be used only for renovation of
the county criminal court building and construction of a new county civil
court building. 

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 Section 118.052, Local Government Code, to require the
clerk of a county court to collect a fee of $12.50 for renovation and
construction of court buildings in certain counties under Section 118.0547,
which fee expires September 1, 2004. 

SECTION 2.  Amends Subchapter C, Chapter 118, Local Government Code, by
adding Section 118.0547 as follows: 

Sec. 118.0547.  RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION FEE IN CERTAIN COUNTIES. (a)
Provides that this section only applies to a county with a population over
2.8 million. 

(b) Authorizes the fee under Section 118.052(1) (Civil Court Actions),
Local Government Code, to be used only for renovating a building formerly
occupied as a criminal court building, and constructing a new county civil
court building. 

(c) Requires the fee to be assessed as cost and must be paid at the time a
civil case or ancillary pleading is filed. 

(d) Provides that the commissioners court must approve each expenditure
made from the money collected under this section. 

(e) Provides that this section and Section 118.052(1)(D) (Renovation and
Construction of Court Buildings) both expire September 1, 2004. 

SECTION 3.  Effective date: September 1, 1999.
  Makes application of this Act prospective.

SECTION 4.Emergency clause.