By:  Ogden                                            S.B. No. 1474
         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 fees collected by a governing body of a municipality
 1-3     for processing certain payments by credit card.
 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 Subsection (e) to read as follows:
 1-7           Sec. 132.002.  PAYMENT OF FEES OR COSTS BY CREDIT CARD OR
 1-8     ELECTRONIC MEANS.  (a)  The commissioners court of a county may
 1-9     authorize a county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines,
1-10     court costs, or other charges on behalf of the county or the state
1-11     to accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine, court costs, or
1-12     other charge.  The commissioners court may also authorize a county
1-13     or precinct officer to collect and retain a fee for processing the
1-14     payment by credit card.
1-15           (b)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize a
1-16     municipal official who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
1-17     charges to:
1-18                 (1)  accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine,
1-19     court cost, or other charge; and
1-20                 (2)  collect a fee for processing the payment by credit
1-21     card.
1-22           (c)  The commissioners court may authorize a county or
1-23     precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other
 2-1     charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by
 2-2     electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge.  The
 2-3     commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer
 2-4     to collect and retain a handling fee for processing the payment by
 2-5     electronic means.
 2-6           (d)  A commissioners court may authorize the acceptance of
 2-7     payment by credit card or by electronic means without requiring
 2-8     collection of a fee.
 2-9           (e)  The governing body of a municipality may authorize the
2-10     acceptance of payment by credit card or by electronic means without
2-11     requiring collection of a fee.
2-12           SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
2-13     a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
2-14     provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this
2-15     Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
2-16     Act takes effect September 1, 2001.