By:  Gallegos                                         S.B. No. 1177
         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 municipal fees and fines by 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, is
 1-6     amended by adding Subsections (e) and (f) to read as follows:
 1-7           (e)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize a
 1-8     municipal official who collects fees, fines, court costs or other
 1-9     charges on behalf of the municipality or the state to accept a
1-10     payment by an electronic means approved by the governing body in
1-11     which the municipality receives payment through the Internet.  The
1-12     governing body may also authorize a municipal official to collect a
1-13     handling fee for processing the payment by electronic means.
1-14           (f)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
1-15     acceptance of a payment by electronic means without requiring
1-16     collection of a processing fee.
1-17           SECTION 2.  Section 132.006, Local Government Code, is
1-18     amended by adding Subsection (c) to read as follows:
1-19           (c)  The municipal official collecting a processing fee under
1-20     Section 132.002 (e) may either deposit the fee in the general fund
1-21     of the municipality or pay or cause the fee to be paid to the
1-22     vendor furnishing or facilitating the electronic payment services
1-23     pursuant to a contract with the municipality.
 2-1           SECTION 3.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2001.