SRC-JEC S.B. 1171 77(R)BILL ANALYSIS


Senate Research CenterS.B. 1171
By: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
6/19/2001
Enrolled


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some counties collect court-ordered fees electronically via the
Internet.  As a result, more fees are paid by credit card than prior to the
electronic payment option, and credit card transaction fees have risen.
S.B. 1171 authorizes a county to collect from an individual, in addition to
the court-ordered fee, an amount equal to the amount of the credit card
transaction fee that is charged to the county. 

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 Section 132.003, Local Government Code, by adding
Subsection (d), to authorize a commissioners court of a county, in addition
to the fee set under Subsection (a), to authorize a county or precinct
officer to collect on behalf of the county from a person making payment by
credit card an amount equal to the amount of any transaction fee charged to
the county by a vendor providing services in connection with payments made
by credit card.  Provides that the limitation prescribed by Subsection (a)
on the amount of a fee does not apply to a fee collected under this
subsection. 

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