BILL ANALYSIS

 

 

                                                                                                                                              S.B. 687

                                                                                                                                      By: Shapleigh

                                                                                                                           Government Reform

                                                                                                       Committee Report (Unamended)

 

 

 

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

 

Current law allows the use of TexasOnline for point-of-sale transactions -- some agencies believe that the term does not include person-to-person transactions.  Therefore, some agencies, including the Department of Public Safety, want statutory authority to use TexasOnline to track payment for person-to-person transactions that take place in regional or district offices, such a driver's license renewals.  Agencies that use TexasOnline are required by statute to link to TexasOnline on the agency's website.  However, users of TexasOnline should receive a consistent ease of movement between TexasOnline and agencies' websites that is not always available.

 

This bill enhances access to TexasOnline by accepting person-to-person transactions, automated processes that facilitate person-to-person transactions, and personal transactions conducted at an automated kiosk.  This bill also authorizes TexasOnline to be used to track credit card and cash payments, and requires the Department of Information Resources to adopt rules to ensure consistency between TexasOnline and individual agency websites.

 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

 

It is the committee's opinion that rulemaking authority is expressly granted to the Department of Information Resources in SECTION 3 of this bill. 

 

ANALYSIS

 

The bill amends the Government Code, to authorize a state agency or local government that uses TexasOnline to use electronic payment methods, including the acceptance of credit and debit cards, for point-of-sale transactions as described, telephone transactions, or mail transactions.

 

Likewise, the bill amends the Government Code authorizing the Department of Information Resources (department) to include in the electronic infrastructure of TexasOnline, a method by which a state agency or local government may track payments, including cash and credit card payments, received by the state agency or local government, whether or not the payments are made through the infrastructure.

 

The bill also amends the Government Code to require the department by rule to adopt standards for state agency Internet websites to ensure consistency and compatibility with the project.  Each state agency must make its Internet website conform to the standards.

 

Lastly, the bill makes conforming changes.

 

EFFECTIVE DATE

 

Upon passage, or, if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2007.