HBA-JEK S.B. 201 77(R) BILL ANALYSIS Office of House Bill AnalysisS.B. 201 By: Carona County Affairs 4/8/2001 Engrossed BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE The Internet has become a convenient tool for conducting personal and business transactions. Current law authorizes a county tax assessor-collector to accept payment by credit card or electronic means for certain taxes and fees. Senate Bill 201 authorizes a municipality or county to establish a process to collect certain taxes, fines, 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 Senate Bill 201 amends the Local Government Code to authorize a county or municipality to provide access to information or the collection of payment for taxes, fines, fees, court costs, and other charges through the Internet. The bill authorizes a county or municipality to contract with a vendor to perform any of these services. The bill provides that a vendor must promptly remit all credit card or electronic payments received to the county or municipality. S.B. 201 authorizes a county, municipality, or vendor collecting credit card or electronic payments to charge a reasonable fee that is approved by the county or municipality. The bill authorizes a county or municipality that provides access to information through the Internet to charge a fee only to recover the costs directly and reasonably incurred in providing the access and only if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that providing access to the information through the Internet would not be feasible without the imposition of the charge. EFFECTIVE DATE On passage, or if the Act does not receive the necessary vote, the Act takes effect September 1, 2001.