S.B. 1161 78 )    BILL ANALYSIS


S.B. 1161
By: Barrientos
County Affairs
Committee Report (Amended)



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Currently, counties have limited authority to charge for online services,
and statutory language limits the type of services offered to information
access and collections.  S.B. 1161 allows a county the flexibility to
provide new services and recapture the cost of service when new electronic
services are provided 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the committee's opinion that this bill does not expressly grant any
additional rulemaking authority to a state officer, department, agency, or
institution. 

ANALYSIS

SECTION 1.  Amends Section 132.007, Local Government Code, as follows:

Sec.  132.007.  New heading:  INFORMATION, SERVICES AND PAYMENT THROUGH
THE INTERNET.  (a)  Authorizes a county or municipality to provide through
the Internet other county and municipal services authorized by law. 

(b)  Authorizes a county or municipality to charge a reasonable fee for
providing access, collecting payments, or providing services authorized by
this section. 

 )  Authorizes a county or municipality that provides access to
information or provides services through the Internet under Subsection (a)
(3) to perform certain functions.  Makes conforming changes. 

(d)  Authorizes a county or municipality to contract with a vendor to
provide access, collect payments, or provide any service or activity
authorized by Subsection (a). Requires the county or municipality to
approve any fee charged by a vendor under a contract authorized by this
subsection.     

SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of
two-thirds of all members elected to each house, as provided by Section
39, Article III, Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the
vote necessary for immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1,
2003. 

EFFECTIVE DATE
  
This Act takes effect immediately if it receives a vote of two-thirds of
all members elected to each house, as provided by Section 39, Article III,
Texas Constitution.  If this Act does not receive the vote necessary for
immediate effect, this Act takes effect September 1, 2003. 

EXPLANATION OF AMENDMENTS

The new language corrects a drafting error by  conforming subsections (b)
and (d) to the provisions of subsection (a) which address "access to
information", "collection of payments" and providing "services" through
the Internet.