HBA-DMH H.B. 3204 77(R)    BILL ANALYSIS


Office of House Bill AnalysisH.B. 3204
By: Jones, Jesse
County Affairs
4/1/2001
Introduced



BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE 

Internet use and access has increased tremendously in recent years.  The
Internet has become a convenient tool for conducting personal and business
activities.  House Bill 3204 authorizes a municipality or county to
establish a process to collect certain fees and court costs through the
Internet. 

RULEMAKING AUTHORITY

It is the opinion of the Office of House Bill Analysis that this bill does
not expressly delegate any additional rulemaking authority to a state
officer, department, agency, or institution. 

ANALYSIS

House Bill 3204 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a county or
municipality to provide or contract with a vendor to provide access to
information through the Internet, to collect or contract with a vendor to
collect through the Internet the payment of taxes, fines, fees, court
costs, and other charges, or both.  The bill requires a vendor to promptly
remit all credit card or electronic payments received to the county or
municipality.  The bill authorizes a county, municipality, or vendor
collecting credit card or electronic payments to assess and retain a
reasonable fee.  A fee assessed and retained by a vendor must be approved
by the county or municipality. 

EFFECTIVE DATE

On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act
takes effect September 1, 2001.