1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to the payment of fees or costs to certain political
 1-3     subdivisions by credit card.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Section 132.002, Local Government Code, is amended
 1-6     by adding a new Subsection (c) and relettering current Subsections
 1-7     (c) and (d) as Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
 1-8           (c)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
 1-9     acceptance of payment by credit card without requiring collection
1-10     of a fee.
1-11           (d)  The commissioners court may authorize a county or
1-12     precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
1-13     charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by
1-14     electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge.  The
1-15     commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer
1-16     to collect and retain a handling fee for processing the payment by
1-17     electronic means.
1-18           (e) [(d)]  A commissioners court may authorize the acceptance
1-19     of payment by credit card or by electronic means without requiring
1-20     collection of a fee.
1-21           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-22     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-23     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
1-24     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
 2-1     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
         _______________________________     _______________________________
             President of the Senate              Speaker of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3162 was passed by the House on April
         27, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 143, Nays 0, 2 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Chief Clerk of the House
               I certify that H.B. No. 3162 was passed by the Senate on May
         23, 2001, by the following vote:  Yeas 30, Nays 0, 1 present, not
         voting.
                                             _______________________________
                                                 Secretary of the Senate
         APPROVED:  __________________________
                              Date
                    __________________________
                            Governor