S.B. No. 1559         AN ACT   relating to a fee exemption for guardianship proceedings of certain   military servicemembers and certain law enforcement officers,   firefighters, and other first responders.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Subchapter B, Chapter 1053, Estates Code, is   amended by adding Sections 1053.053 and 1053.054 to read as   follows:          Sec. 1053.053.  EXEMPTION FROM GUARDIANSHIP PROCEEDING FEES   FOR CERTAIN MILITARY SERVICEMEMBERS. (a)  In this section, "combat   zone" means an area that the president of the United States by   executive order designates for purposes of 26 U.S.C. Section 112 as   an area in which armed forces of the United States are or have   engaged in combat.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, the clerk of a county   court may not charge, or collect from, the estate of a proposed ward   or ward any of the following fees if the court finds that the   proposed ward or ward became incapacitated as a result of a personal   injury sustained while in active service as a member of the armed   forces of the United States in a combat zone:                (1)  a fee for the filing of a guardianship proceeding;   and                (2)  a fee for any service rendered by the court   regarding the administration of the guardianship.          (c)  The clerk of a county court is not required to refund a   fee exempt under this section that is paid before September 1, 2017.   This subsection expires September 1, 2019.          Sec. 1053.054.  EXEMPTION FROM GUARDIANSHIP FEES FOR CERTAIN   LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS, FIREFIGHTERS, AND OTHERS. (a)  In this   section:                (1)  "Eligible proposed ward" or "eligible ward" means   an individual listed in Section 615.003, Government Code.                (2)  "Line of duty" and "personal injury" have the   meanings assigned by Section 615.021(e), Government Code.          (b)  Notwithstanding any other law, the clerk of a court may   not charge, or collect from, the estate of an eligible proposed ward   or eligible ward any of the following fees if the court finds the   proposed ward or ward became incapacitated as a result of a personal   injury sustained in the line of duty in the individual's position as   described by Section 615.003, Government Code:                (1)  a fee for the filing of a guardianship proceeding;   and                (2)  a fee for any service rendered by the court   regarding the administration of the guardianship.          (c)  The clerk of a county court is not required to refund a   fee exempt under this section that is paid before September 1, 2017.   This subsection expires September 1, 2019.          SECTION 2.  The changes in law made by this Act apply to a   guardianship proceeding that is pending or commenced on or after   the effective date of this Act.          SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2017.             ______________________________ ______________________________      President of the Senate Speaker of the House                 I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1559 passed the Senate on   May 11, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 31, Nays 0.       ______________________________   Secretary of the Senate                I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1559 passed the House on   May 23, 2017, by the following vote:  Yeas 145, Nays 0, one   present not voting.       ______________________________   Chief Clerk of the House            Approved:     ______________________________                Date       ______________________________              Governor