As this column is submitted, the legislative session is entering its final three weeks. Major issues remain unresolved. A final analysis of the work of this session will be presented in coming columns.
However, a few county-related bills have been finally approved and sent to the Governor:
H.B. 398 by Rep. Byron Cook and Sen. Nichols. Transfers responsibility for filing certain financial reports with commissioners court from county clerk to county auditor, or county treasurer in counties that do not have a county auditor.
H.B. 1780 by Rep. Harless and Sen. West. Requires county auditor to perform annual audit of jail commissary and other jail operations and furnish a copy to the Texas Commission on Jail Standards.
H.B. 2061 by Rep. Keffer and Sen. Williams. Protects county clerk and district clerk from liability for disclosure of a social security number. Authorizes individuals to request redaction of social security number in specified public documents.
S.B. 336 by Sen. Brimer and Rep. Veasey. Authorizes commissioners court to lease county property without notice to provide short-term emergency disaster relief services.
S.B. 1106 by Sen. Watson and Rep. Farabee. Authorizes counties to withhold payments to any person who owes delinquent taxes, fines, fees or other indebtedness to the county.
Jim Allison