S.B. No. 1161
AN ACT
relating to authorizing counties and municipalities to provide
certain services through the Internet.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Section 132.007, Local Government Code, is
amended to read as follows:
Sec. 132.007. INFORMATION, SERVICES, AND PAYMENT THROUGH
THE INTERNET. (a) A county or municipality may provide through
the Internet:
(1) access to information; [or]
(2) collection of payments for taxes, fines, fees,
court costs, or other charges; or
(3) other county and municipal services authorized by
law.
(b) A county or municipality may charge a reasonable fee for
providing access, collecting payments, or providing services [a
service] authorized by this section.
(c) A county or municipality that provides access to
information or provides services through the Internet under
Subsection (a)(1) or (3):
(1) may only charge a fee for the access or service if
the fee is designed to recover the costs directly and reasonably
incurred in providing the access or service; and
(2) may charge the fee only if the governing body of
the county or municipality determines that providing access to the
information or providing the service through the Internet would not
be feasible without the imposition of the charge.
(d) A county or municipality may contract with a vendor to
provide access, collect payments, or provide services [perform a
service] authorized by Subsection (a). A vendor must promptly
submit to the county or municipality all payments collected on
behalf of the county or municipality under this section. The county
or municipality must approve any fee charged by a vendor [for a
service performed] under a contract authorized by this subsection
[section].
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect September 1, 2003.
______________________________ ______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1161 passed the Senate on
May 6, 2003, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0; and that the
Senate concurred in House amendment on May 30, 2003, by a viva-voce
vote.
______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
I hereby certify that S.B. No. 1161 passed the House, with
amendment, on May 28, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
Approved:
______________________________
Date
______________________________
Governor