By Carona                                              S.B. No. 630
         77R5859 PAM-D                           
                                A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 1-1                                   AN ACT
 1-2     relating to authorizing counties to establish a county purchasing
 1-3     credit card program.
 1-4           BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
 1-5           SECTION 1. Subchapter B, Chapter 262, Local Government Code,
 1-6     is amended by adding Section 262.013 to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 262.013.  COUNTY PURCHASING CREDIT CARD PROGRAM. (a)
 1-8     The commissioners court of a county may contract with one or more
 1-9     credit card issuers for the county purchasing agent, or a person
1-10     authorized by the county purchasing agent, to use credit cards to
1-11     pay for county purchases.
1-12           (b)  Notwithstanding Section 262.011(f) or other law, the
1-13     commissioners court may adopt rules relating to the use of credit
1-14     cards to pay for county purchases of one or more items that will
1-15     require an expenditure of less than $25,000.
1-16           (c)  A person who is authorized by the county purchasing
1-17     agent to use a credit card under this section while making a county
1-18     purchase is considered an assistant of the county purchasing agent
1-19     by aiding the agent in the performance of the agent's duties for
1-20     purposes of Sections 262.011, 262.0115, and 262.012.
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.