By Brown of Brazos                                    H.B. No. 3162
         Line and page numbers may not match official copy.
         Bill not drafted by TLC or Senate E&E.
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to payment of fees or costs by credit card or 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:
 1-6           Sec. 132.002.  Payment of Fees or Costs by Credit Card or
 1-7     Electronic Means. (a)  The commissioners court of a county may
 1-8     authorize a county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines,
 1-9     court costs, or other charges on behalf of the county or the state
1-10     to accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine, court costs, or
1-11     other charge.  The commissioners court may also authorize a county
1-12     or precinct officer to collect and retain a fee for processing the
1-13     payment by credit card.
1-14           (b)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize a
1-15     municipal official who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
1-16     charges to:
1-17           (1)  accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine, court
1-18     cost, or other charge; and
1-19           (2)  collect a fee for processing the payment by credit card.
1-20           (c)  The commissioners court may authorize a county or
1-21     precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
1-22     charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by
1-23     electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge.  The
 2-1     commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer
 2-2     to collect and retain a handling fee for processing the payment by
 2-3     electronic means.
 2-4           (d)  A commissioners court may authorize the acceptance of
 2-5     payment by credit card or by electronic means without requiring
 2-6     collection of a fee.
 2-7           (c)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
 2-8     acceptance of payment by credit card or electronic means without
 2-9     requiring collection of a fee.
2-10           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-11     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-12     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-13     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-14     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.