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FINANCES
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<br />§ 132.006
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<br /> (2) "Payment by electronic means" means pay-
<br /> ment by telephone or computer but does not include
<br /> payment in person or by mail.
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<br />Acts 19S7, 7(Irl~ Leg., ch. 149, § 1, cfr. Sept. l, 1987. Amend-
<br />ed by Acts 1997. 75th Leg., ch. 14~q, § 5, elf. Sept. L 1997.
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<br />§ 132.002. Paymen/[ of Fees or Costs by Credit
<br /> Card or Electronic Means
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<br /> (al Thp commissione~ court of a county may autho-
<br />~ze a cotmty or precinct officer who collects fees,
<br />fines, com't cost& or other charges on behalf of the
<br />~unty or the state to accept payment by credit card
<br />of a fcc, finp, court cos~% or other charge. The
<br />c0mmissi-mq's eoul't may also authorize a county or
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<br />(b) The governing body of a municipality may
<br />thorizc ;t imlnicipal official who erfllcck~ li~es, filleS,
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<br /> (1) acucpt payment hy credit card of a fee, fine,
<br /> (2) c.lh,ct a fee fin' processing the payment by
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<br />to collect and retain a handling fee for processing the
<br />pa~ent IV' elccWonic means.
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<br />I 132.093. Processing or Handling Fee
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<br /> (al The c.mmissioners cou~ shah set a processing
<br />fee in an anumnt that is reasonably related to tbe
<br />expense them'red hy thc courtW or precinct officer
<br />processing the pa>qnent by credit card. However, the
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<br />that exceeds five percent of the amount of the fee,
<br />Court cost, or oth~ charge being paid.
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<br /> (b) Thc governing body of a municipality shall set
<br />the processing fee in an mnount that is reasonably
<br />related W the expense incnn'ed by the municipal
<br />official in processing the pa~ent by credit card.
<br />HOwever, the governing body may not set the process-
<br />ing fee in an amount that exceeds five percent of the
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<br />amount of the fee, fine, court cost, ur other charge
<br />being paid.
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<br /> (c) If the commissioners court authorizes collection
<br />of a handling fee under Section 132.002(c), the fee
<br />shall be set:
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<br /> (1) at a fiat rate that does not exceed $5 for each
<br /> payment transaction; or
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<br /> (2) at a rate that is reasonably related to the
<br /> cxpense incun'ed by the county or precinct officer
<br /> in processing a payment by electronic means and
<br /> that does not exceed five percent of the amount of
<br /> the fee, court cost, or other chm'ge being pakh
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<br />Acts lfl~7, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1. cfi. Sept. 1, 19,~7. Amcud-
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<br />§ 132.004. Sclwice Charge
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<br /> If, for lilly i'(!asoIi, a payment by credit card is not
<br />honored by the credit card company on which the
<br />funds are drawn, the county or mnnicipality nmy
<br />collect a service charge from the pm-son who owes the
<br />fee, fine, colu~t cost, or othm' charge. The selwice
<br />charge is in sddition to the m-ikdnal lk~e, fine, court
<br />cost, or other charge and is fl~r thp collection of lhat
<br />original amount. The amount of the smwice charge is
<br />the same amount as the fee chm'ged fro' the collection
<br />of a check drawn on an accmmt with inmffficient funds.
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<br />Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, ell Sept. 1, 19~7.
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<br />§ 132.005. Encumbrance of Credit Cards; Fee
<br />
<br /> A county or manicipality may contract x~th a com-
<br />pany that issues credit cards to collect and seize credit
<br />cards issued by the company that are outdated or
<br />othem~ise unauthorized. The emmty or municipality
<br />may charge the company a fee for the return of the
<br />credit pards.
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<br />Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, § 1, eft. Sept. 1, 1987.
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<br />§ 132.006. Disposition of Fees and Charges
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<br /> (al The county or precinct officer collecting a fee or
<br />charge under thk~ chapter shall deposit the fee or
<br />charge in the general fund of the count,,/.
<br />
<br /> (b) The municipal official collecting a fee or charge
<br />under this chapter shall deposit the fee or charge in
<br />the general fund of the municipality.
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<br />Acts 1987, 70th Leg.. ch. 149. § 1, eft. Sept. 1, 1957.
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<br /> [Chapters 133 to 139 reserved for expansion]
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