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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the comptroller's electronic funds transfer system and |
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the use of electronic paycards. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 403.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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amending Subsections (b), (c), and (j) and adding Subsection (k) to |
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read as follows: |
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(b) The comptroller shall use the electronic funds transfer |
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system to pay an employee's net state salary and travel expense |
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reimbursements unless[:
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[(1)] the employee agrees instead to accept payment on |
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an electronic paycard [does not hold a classified position under
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the state's position classification plan and the employee's gross
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state salary is less than the gross state salary for a position
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classified to group 8, step 1, of the state position classification
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plan; or
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[(2)
the employee holds a classified position under
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the state's position classification plan that is classified below
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group 8]. |
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(c) The comptroller shall use the electronic funds transfer |
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system to make: |
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(1) payments of more than $100 to annuitants by the |
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Employees Retirement System of Texas or the Teacher Retirement |
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System of Texas under either system's administrative jurisdiction, |
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or to annuitants paid by the Texas Emergency Services Retirement |
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System or by another retirement system whose annuitants are paid |
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from the state treasury or from a fund with the comptroller, unless |
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the annuitant agrees instead to accept payment on an electronic |
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paycard; |
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(2) recurring payments to municipalities, counties, |
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political subdivisions, special districts, and other governmental |
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entities of this state; and |
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(3) payments to vendors who choose to receive payment |
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through the electronic funds transfer system rather than by |
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warrant. |
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(j) The comptroller shall adopt rules to administer this |
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section[, including rules relating to the notifications that may be
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provided to the comptroller under Subsection (h)]. |
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(k) The comptroller may make a payment in any amount to a |
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state employee under Subsection (b) or to an annuitant under |
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Subsection (c)(1) on an electronic paycard if the employee or |
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annuitant agrees to accept payment by that method. |
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SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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amended by adding Section 403.0161 to read as follows: |
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Sec. 403.0161. CONTRACTS FOR ELECTRONIC PAYCARD SERVICES. |
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The comptroller shall contract with one or more vendors for the |
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provision of electronic paycard services. A contract under this |
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section must be by competitive bid. The comptroller shall specify |
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the qualifications for bidders, which must include requirements |
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that the entity that issues the paycard must: |
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(1) be federally insured or possess sufficient |
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financial resources to ensure protection of payees; and |
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(2) demonstrate adequate 24-hour customer service to |
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ensure that all payees are able to reasonably access their funds |
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worldwide at any time. |
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SECTION 3. Section 659.084, Government Code, is amended to |
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read as follows: |
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Sec. 659.084. ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER. Salaries for |
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state officers and employees paid once a month shall be paid through |
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electronic funds transfer under Section 403.016 unless paid on an |
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electronic paycard [warrant] as permitted under that section. |
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SECTION 4. Section 403.016(h), Government Code, is |
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repealed. |
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SECTION 5. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |