HBA-DMD H.B. 1138 76(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1138
By: Thompson
County Affairs
2/19/1999
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, county clerks (clerks) are allowed to operate branch offices and
use clerk deputies for the purpose of issuing marriage licenses.  Some
clerks feel that they could better serve their constituents if the clerks
were allowed to provide a wider range of services at these branch offices.
H.B. 1138 allows clerks to use branch offices and clerk deputies for
services other than issuing marriage licenses. 

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 292.006, Local Government Code, as follows:

Sec. 292.006.  New Title:  BRANCH OFFICE OF COUNTY CLERK.  (a) Deletes the
provision stating "for the purpose of issuing marriage licenses" when
referring to a commissioners court authority to provide the county clerk
with a branch office.  Deletes "for issuance of marriage licenses" from the
existing title. 

(b) Makes no change.

(c) Authorizes a county clerk to authorize the clerk's deputy to work in a
branch office to conduct any business as determined by the county clerk,
rather than specifying that the deputy be specifically designated to work
on marriage applications and licenses. 

(d) Makes no change.

SECTION 2.  Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.