HBA-BSM, MPM H.B. 136 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 136 By: Deshotel Financial Institutions 4/12/2001 Introduced BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Fees have become a steady and increasing revenue source for financial institutions. Among the fees charged by institutions are those imposed for the return of a check for insufficient funds. Under current law, financial institutions are prohibited from charging greater than $25 per returned check. House Bill 136 reduces the maximum fee amount imposed by an institution to $15. 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. ANALYSIS House Bill 136 amends the law to decrease from $25 to $15 the amount of the processing fee that may be charged to a drawer or endorser of a dishonored check by a holder of the check or its assignee, agent, representative, or other person retained by the holder to seek collection of the face value of the check on its return to the holder following its dishonor by a payor. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001.