HBA-GUM, KMH H.B. 1254 76(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 1254
By: Goolsby
Judicial Affairs
6/21/1999
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Prior to the 76th Texas Legislature, district clerks in Texas were among
the limited number of officials authorized to process United States
passport applications. An applicant must provide a specific number and type
of photograph.  Because of the cost involved, district clerks were either
unable to provide photographic services for applicants or required to
contract with an outside vendor to take pictures at the courthouse.  H.B.
1254 allows district clerks to charge a reasonable fee, set by the county
commissioners court, to recover costs for photographic services in the
processing of U.S. passport applications.  The fee is to be deposited in
the general fund of the county. 

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 Subchapter D, Chapter 51, Government Code, by adding
Section 51.3031, as follows: 

Sec.  51.3031.  ISSUANCE OF UNITED STATES PASSPORTS.  Authorizes a district
clerk to perform all duties necessary to process an application for a
United States passport and to collect a reasonable fee to recover the costs
of taking passport photographs.  Provides that the fee is set by the
commissioners court in which the district clerk's office is located.
Requires the district clerk to pay the fee to the office of the county
treasurer for deposit in the general fund of the county. 

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