Sec. 132.003. REIMBURSEMENT FEE FOR PROCESSING CERTAIN PAYMENTS. (a) The commissioners court shall set a reimbursement fee in an amount that is reasonably related to the expense incurred by the county or precinct officer in processing the payment by credit card. However, the court may not set the fee authorized by this subsection in an amount that exceeds five percent of the amount of the fee, court cost, or other charge being paid.

(b) The governing body of a municipality shall set the reimbursement fee in an amount that is reasonably related to the expense incurred by the municipal official in processing the payment by credit card. However, the governing body may not set the fee authorized by this subsection in an amount that exceeds five percent of the amount of the fee, fine, court cost, or other charge being paid.

(c) If the commissioners court authorizes collection of a reimbursement fee for processing a payment by electronic means under Section 132.002(d), the reimbursement fee shall be set:

(1) at a flat rate that does not exceed $5 for each payment transaction; or

(2) at a rate that is reasonably related to the expense incurred by the county or precinct officer in processing a payment by electronic means and that does not exceed five percent of the amount of the fee, court cost, or other charge being paid.

(d) In addition to the reimbursement fee set under Subsection (a), the commissioners court of a county may authorize a county or precinct officer to collect on behalf of the county from a person making payment by credit card a reimbursement fee in an amount equal to the amount of any transaction fee charged to the county by a vendor providing services in connection with payments made by credit card. The limitation prescribed by Subsection (a) on the amount of a reimbursement fee under that subsection does not apply to a reimbursement fee collected under this subsection.

Acts 1987, 70th Leg., ch. 149, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1987. Amended by Acts 1997, 75th Leg., ch. 148, Sec. 7, eff. Sept. 1, 1997; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 126, Sec. 1, eff. May 15, 2001.

Amended by:

Acts 2019, 86th Leg., R.S., Ch. 1352 (S.B. 346), Sec. 2.53, eff. January 1, 2020.