78R8643 T

By:  Barrientos                                                   S.B. No. 1161



A BILL TO BE ENTITLED

AN ACT

relating to authorizing counties and municipalities to provide 
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.
		(3)  other county services authorized by law.                          
	(b)  A county or municipality may charge a reasonable fee for 
providing a service 12 authorized by this section.
	(c)  A county or municipality that provides access to 
information or other county 14 services through the Internet under 
Subsections (a)(1) or (a)(3):
		(1)  may only charge a fee for the access or services 
designed to recover the costs directly and reasonably incurred in 
providing the access or services; and
		(2)  may charge the fee only if the governing body of 
the county or municipality determines that providing access to the 
information or other services through the Internet would not be 
feasible without the imposition of the charge.
	(d)  A county or municipality may contract with a vendor to 
perform a any service or activity 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 in association with a contract authorized by 
this subsection [for a service performed under this section].
	SECTION 2.  This Act is effective September 1, 2003.