1-1 By: Brown of Brazos (Senate Sponsor - Ogden) H.B. No. 3162
1-2 (In the Senate - Received from the House April 30, 2001;
1-3 May 1, 2001, read first time and referred to Committee on
1-4 Intergovernmental Relations; May 10, 2001, reported favorably by
1-5 the following vote: Yeas 6, Nays 0; May 10, 2001, sent to
1-6 printer.)
1-7 A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-8 AN ACT
1-9 relating to the payment of fees or costs to certain political
1-10 subdivisions by credit card.
1-11 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-12 SECTION 1. Section 132.002, Local Government Code, is amended
1-13 by adding a new Subsection (c) and relettering current Subsections
1-14 (c) and (d) as Subsections (d) and (e) to read as follows:
1-15 (c) The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
1-16 acceptance of payment by credit card without requiring collection
1-17 of a fee.
1-18 (d) The commissioners court may authorize a county or
1-19 precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
1-20 charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by
1-21 electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge. The
1-22 commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer
1-23 to collect and retain a handling fee for processing the payment by
1-24 electronic means.
1-25 (e) [(d)] A commissioners court may authorize the acceptance
1-26 of payment by credit card or by electronic means without requiring
1-27 collection of a fee.
1-28 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
1-29 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
1-30 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
1-31 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
1-32 Act takes effect September 1, 2001.
1-33 * * * * *