LEGISLATIVE BUDGET BOARD
                              Austin, Texas
                                     
                    FISCAL NOTE, 77th Regular Session
  
                              March 23, 2001
  
  
          TO:  Honorable Bill G. Carter, Chair, House Committee on Urban
               Affairs
  
        FROM:  John Keel, Director, Legislative Budget Board
  
       IN RE:  HB2297  by Thompson (Relating to the payment of municipal
               fees and fines by electronic means.), Committee Report
               1st House, Substituted
  
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*  No fiscal implication to the State is anticipated.                    *
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Local Government Impact
  
The bill would allow the governing body of a municipality to authorize
municipal officials to collect fees, fines, court costs and other charges
through the Internet. If a municipality were to choose to collect funds
via the Internet, the municipality would also have the option to charge a
processing fee.  The fee would either be deposited into the
municipality's general fund or be used to pay the vendor furnishing or
facilitating the electronic payment services.

If a municipality already has the necessary equipment and software to
accept payments through the Internet, no fiscal implication to units of
local government would be anticipated.  If it would be necessary to
purchase equipment and software, there would be a one-time cost.
  
  
Source Agencies:   
LBB Staff:         JK, DB