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.