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.