Sec. 132.002. PAYMENT OF FEES OR COSTS BY CREDIT CARD OR ELECTRONIC MEANS. (a) The commissioners court of a county may authorize a county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by credit card, the electronic processing of checks, or other electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge. The commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer to collect and retain a reimbursement fee for processing the payment by credit card, the electronic processing of checks, or other electronic means.

(b) The governing body of a municipality may authorize a municipal official who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other charges to:

(1) accept payment by credit card of a fee, fine, court cost, or other charge; and

(2) collect a reimbursement fee for processing the payment by credit card.

(c) The governing body of a municipality may authorize the acceptance of payment by credit card without requiring collection of a reimbursement fee.

(d) The commissioners court may authorize a county or precinct officer who collects fees, fines, court costs, or other charges on behalf of the county or the state to accept payment by electronic means of a fee, fine, court costs, or other charge. The commissioners court may also authorize a county or precinct officer to collect and retain a reimbursement fee for processing the payment by electronic means.

(e) A commissioners court may authorize the acceptance of payment by credit card or by electronic means without requiring collection of a reimbursement fee.

(f) The director of a community supervision and corrections department, with the approval of the judges described by Section 76.002, Government Code, may authorize a community supervision official who collects fees, fines, court costs, and other charges to:

(1) accept payment by debit card or credit card of a fee, fine, court cost, or other charge; and

(2) collect a reimbursement fee for processing the payment by debit card or credit card.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 6, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 569, Sec. 1, eff. June 11, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2007, 80th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1205 (H.B. 1678), Sec. 9, eff. September 1, 2007.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1022 (H.B. 2717), Sec. 4, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., R.S., Ch. 1341 (S.B. 1233), Sec. 17, eff. June 17, 2011.

Acts 2013, 83rd Leg., R.S., Ch. 161 (S.B. 1093), Sec. 12.002, eff. September 1, 2013.

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.52, eff. January 1, 2020.