HBA-EDN H.B. 2368 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 2368
By: George
Juvenile Justice & Family Issues
7/18/2001
Enrolled



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

District court judges are authorized to assess fees for court ordered
social studies in juvenile and family matters.  Dallas County has had a
$200 limit on such fees and the fees have not been raised since 1994.
Although the number of court ordered social studies in this county has
significantly increased, there has been no increase in fees to help offset
rising expenses necessitated by the additional workload.  House Bill 2368
increases the limit on fees assessed for district court ordered social
studies in Dallas 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. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 2368 amends the Human Resources Code to authorize a district
court judge in Dallas County to assess a fee of not more than $250, rather
than $200, for a case for adoption, family, or home study investigations
ordered by the court.     

EFFECTIVE DATE

September 1, 2001.