HBA-CMT C.S.H.B. 3162 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisC.S.H.B. 3162 By: Brown, Fred Urban Affairs 4/9/2001 Committee Report (Substituted) BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Current law, is unclear as to whether a municipality is authorized to accept payment by credit card for fees, fines, court costs, and other charges without collecting a fee for allowing the use of a credit card. In the same section of the Local Government Code there is a provision that specifically authorizes counties to accept credit card payments and, if authorized by the commissioners court, accept payment without charging a fee. C.S.H.B. 3162 authorizes municipalities to accept payment of fees, fines, court costs, and other charges by credit card or other electronic means without charging an additional fee for providing the service. RULEMAKING AUTHORITY It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or institution. ANALYSIS C.S.H.B. 3162 amends the Local Government Code to authorize the governing body of a municipality to authorize the acceptance of payment by credit card or by electronic means for fines, fees, court costs, or other charges without requiring collection of a fee. EFFECTIVE DATE September 1, 2001. COMPARISON OF ORIGINAL TO SUBSTITUTE C.S.H.B. 3162 differs from the original by conforming to Texas Legislative Council style and format.