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.