By Thompson                                           H.B. No. 2297
         Substitute the following for H.B. No. 2297:
         By Edwards                                        C.S.H.B. No. 2297
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the payment of municipal fees and fines by electronic
 1-3     means.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1.  Section 132.002, Local Government Code, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize a
 1-8     municipal official who collects fees, fines, court costs or other
 1-9     charges on behalf of the municipality or the state to accept a
1-10     payment by an electronic means approved by the governing body in
1-11     which the municipality receives payment through the Internet.  The
1-12     governing body may also authorize a municipal official to collect a
1-13     handling fee for processing the payment by electronic means.
1-14           (f)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
1-15     acceptance of a payment by electronic means without requiring
1-16     collection of a processing fee.
1-17           SECTION 2.  Section 132.006, Local Government Code, is
1-18     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-19           (c)  The municipal official collecting a processing fee under
1-20     Section 132.002(e) may either deposit the fee in the general fund
1-21     of the municipality or pay or cause the fee to be paid to the
1-22     vendor furnishing or facilitating the electronic payment services
1-23     pursuant to a contract with the municipality.
1-24           SECTION 3.  (a)  This Act takes effect immediately if it
 2-1     receives a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each
 2-2     house, as provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.
 2-3     If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate
 2-4     effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
 2-5           (b)  Notwithstanding Subsection (a) of this section, this Act
 2-6     has no effect if S.B. No. 201, Acts of the 77th Legislature,
 2-7     Regular Session, 2001, is enacted and becomes law.