83R8199 EAH-F
By: Rodriguez of Travis H.B. No. 2021
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of a municipality or county to contract
for the collection of certain debts; authorizing a fee.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Chapter 140, Local Government Code, is amended
by adding Section 140.009 to read as follows:
Sec. 140.009. CONTRACT FOR COLLECTION OF DEBTS IN CIVIL
CASES. (a) The governing body of a municipality or the
commissioners court of a county may contract with a private
attorney or public or private vendor for the collection of a debt
owed to the municipality or county relating to a civil case,
including an unpaid fine, fee, or court cost, if the debt is more
than 60 days overdue.
(b) A municipality or county contracting with an attorney or
a vendor under Subsection (a) may authorize a collection fee of not
more than 30 percent of the amount of the debt collected. The
collection fee may be used only to compensate the attorney or vendor
who collects the debt.
(c) This section does not apply to the collection of
commercial bail bonds.
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2013.