By: Rodriguez of Travis (Senate Sponsor - Hinojosa) H.B. No. 2021
(In the Senate - Received from the House May 9, 2013;
May 10, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on
Intergovernmental Relations; May 16, 2013, reported favorably by
the following vote: Yeas 4, Nays 0; May 16, 2013, sent to
printer.)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the authority of a municipality or county to contract
for the collection of certain amounts; 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 AMOUNTS 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 an amount
owed to the municipality or county relating to a civil case,
including an unpaid fine, fee, or court cost, if the amount is more
than 60 days overdue.
(b) A municipality or county contracting with an attorney or
a vendor under Subsection (a) may authorize the addition of a
collection fee of 30 percent of the amount referred. 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.
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