1-1 AN ACT 1-2 relating to authorizing counties and municipalities to provide 1-3 information and to enter into contracts for the payment of taxes, 1-4 fees, or other charges through the Internet. 1-5 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: 1-6 SECTION 1. Chapter 132, Local Government Code, is amended by 1-7 adding Section 132.007 to read as follows: 1-8 Sec. 132.007. INFORMATION AND PAYMENT THROUGH THE INTERNET. 1-9 (a) A county or municipality may provide through the Internet: 1-10 (1) access to information; or 1-11 (2) collection of payments for taxes, fines, fees, 1-12 court costs, or other charges. 1-13 (b) A county or municipality may charge a reasonable fee for 1-14 providing a service authorized by this section. 1-15 (c) A county or municipality that provides access to 1-16 information through the Internet under Subsection (a)(1): 1-17 (1) may only charge a fee for the access designed to 1-18 recover the costs directly and reasonably incurred in providing the 1-19 access; and 1-20 (2) may charge the fee only if the governing body of 1-21 the county or municipality determines that providing access to the 1-22 information through the Internet would not be feasible without the 1-23 imposition of the charge. 1-24 (d) A county or municipality may contract with a vendor to 1-25 perform a service authorized by Subsection (a). A vendor must 2-1 promptly submit to the county or municipality all payments 2-2 collected on behalf of the county or municipality under this 2-3 section. The county or municipality must approve any fee charged 2-4 by a vendor for a service performed under this section. 2-5 SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives 2-6 a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as 2-7 provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this 2-8 Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this 2-9 Act takes effect September 1, 2001. _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I hereby certify that S.B. No. 201 passed the Senate on March 20, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 30, Nays 0, one present, not voting. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate I hereby certify that S.B. No. 201 passed the House on April 27, 2001, by the following vote: Yeas 143, Nays 0, two present, not voting. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House Approved: _______________________________ Date _______________________________ Governor