SRC-JEC, SEW C.S.S.B. 201 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterC.S.S.B. 201
77R9722 JRD-DBy: Carona
Intergovernmental Relations
3/13/2001
Committee Report (Substituted)


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, a county tax assessor-collector is authorized to accept payment
by credit card and electronic means for certain taxes and fees and to
collect a processing and handling fee.  C.S.S.B. 201 authorizes a county or
municipality to collect payment of certain fees by electronic means via the
Internet, and to contract with vendors to do so. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

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

SECTION BY SECTION ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Chapter 132, Local Government Code, by adding Section
132.007, as follows: 

Sec. 132.007.  CONTRACTS FOR PAYMENT THROUGH THE INTERNET.  (a) Authorizes
a county or municipality to provide for the collection, through the
Internet, of payments for taxes, fines, fees, court costs, or other
charges. 

(b)  Authorizes a county or municipality to charge a reasonable fee for
providing a service authorized by this section. 

(c)  Authorizes a county or municipality to contract with a vendor to
perform a service authorized by Subsection (a).  Requires a vendor to
promptly submit to the county or municipality all payments collected on
behalf of the county or municipality under this section.  Requires the
county or municipality to approve any fee charged by a vendor for a service
performed under this section. 

SECTION 2.   Effective date:  upon passage or September 1, 2001.

SUMMARY OF COMMITTEE CHANGES

Differs from original by:

_amending the caption;

_amending Chapter 132, rather than Chapter 130, Local Government Code;

_adding a section to Chapter 132, rather than Chapter 130, Local Government
Code; 

_providing for a municipality or a county, rather than just a county, to
collect certain payments, rather than just traffic fines, through the
Internet;  

 _authorizing the collection of a fee for providing Internet payment
options; and 

_providing for the county or municipality to contract with a vendor to
collect payments through the Internet.