SRC-JRN S.B. 655 75(R)   BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research Center   S.B. 655
By: Lindsay
Intergovernmental Relations
2-27-97
As Filed


DIGEST 

Currently, a county or precinct officer authorized to collect certain fees
by the commissioners court is required to assess a fee for processing a
credit card payment.  Major credit card issuers will not approve a
merchant agreement in which a fee is assessed by the merchant for the use
of a credit card. This bill allows a commissioners court to authorize the
acceptance of a credit card for payment of fees, fines, court costs or
other charges, but makes the assessment of a processing fee permissive
instead of mandatory as provided by current law. 

PURPOSE

As proposed, S.B. 655 allows a commissioners court to authorize the
acceptance of a credit card for payment of fees, fines, court costs or
other charges, but makes the assessment of a processing fee permissive
instead of mandatory as provided by current law. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

This bill does not grant any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, institution, or agency. 

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1. Amends Section 132.002(a), Local Government Code, to provide
that a commissioners court may authorize a county or precinct officer to
collect a fee for processing a payment by credit card.  Makes conforming
and nonsubstantive changes. 

SECTION 2. Emergency clause.
  Effective date: upon passage.