1-1     By:  Carona                                            S.B. No. 201
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed January 8, 2001; January 11, 2001,
 1-3     read first time and referred to Committee on Intergovernmental
 1-4     Relations; March 14, 2001, reported adversely, with favorable
 1-5     Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 7, Nays 0;
 1-6     March 14, 2001, sent to printer.)
 1-7     COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR S.B. No. 201                  By:  Lindsay
 1-8                            A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-9                                   AN ACT
1-10     relating to authorizing counties and municipalities to enter into
1-11     contracts for the payment of taxes, fees, or other charges through
1-12     the Internet.
1-13           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-14           SECTION 1.  Chapter 132, Local Government Code, is amended by
1-15     adding Section 132.007 to read as follows:
1-16           Sec. 132.007.  CONTRACTS FOR PAYMENT THROUGH THE INTERNET.
1-17     (a)  A county or municipality may provide for the collection,
1-18     through the Internet, of payments for taxes, fines, fees, court
1-19     costs, or other charges.
1-20           (b)  A county or municipality may charge a reasonable fee for
1-21     providing a service authorized by this section.
1-22           (c)  A county or municipality may contract with a vendor to
1-23     perform a service authorized by Subsection (a).  A vendor must
1-24     promptly submit to the county or municipality all payments
1-25     collected on behalf of the county or municipality under this
1-26     section.  The county or municipality must approve any fee charged
1-27     by a vendor for a service performed under this section.
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                                  * * * * *