By Hunter of Taylor                                   H.B. No. 2509
                                 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
    1-1                                AN ACT
    1-2  relating to the collection of certain fees, court costs, and fines
    1-3  by municipalities and counties.
    1-4        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
    1-5        SECTION 1.  Article 103.0031, Code of Criminal Procedure, is
    1-6  amended to read as follows:
    1-7        Art. 103.0031.  COLLECTION CONTRACTS.  The commissioners
    1-8  court of a county or the governing body of a municipality may enter
    1-9  into a contract with a public or private vendor to:
   1-10              (1)  contact persons with outstanding court cases; and
   1-11              (2)  coordinate payments and provide for the <provision
   1-12  of> collection of <services for> fines, fees, restitution, and
   1-13  other costs ordered to be paid by a court serving the county or
   1-14  municipality.
   1-15        SECTION 2.  Section 132.002(a), Local Government Code, is
   1-16  amended to read as follows:
   1-17        (a)  The commissioners court of a county may authorize a
   1-18  county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs,
   1-19  or other charges to:
   1-20              (1)  accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine,
   1-21  court cost, or other charge; and
   1-22              (2)  if specifically authorized by the commissioners
   1-23  court, collect a fee for processing the payment by credit card.
   1-24        SECTION 3.  The importance of this legislation and the
    2-1  crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
    2-2  emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
    2-3  constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
    2-4  days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
    2-5  and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
    2-6  passage, and it is so enacted.