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


Senate Research Center   S.B. 1171
77R5712 PAM-DBy: Madla
Intergovernmental Relations
3/13/2001
As Filed


DIGEST AND PURPOSE 

Currently, some counties, including Bexar County, 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.  As proposed, S.B. 1171 authorizes a county
with a population of one million or more to collect from an individual, in
addition to the courtordered 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 with a
population of one million or more, 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.