Sec. 132.007. INFORMATION, SERVICES, AND PAYMENT THROUGH THE INTERNET. (a) A county or municipality may provide through the Internet:

(1) access to information;

(2) collection of payments for taxes, fines, fees, court costs, or other charges; or

(3) other county and municipal services authorized by law.

(b) A county or municipality may charge a reasonable fee for providing access, collecting payments, or providing services authorized by this section.

(c) A county or municipality that provides access to information or provides services through the Internet under Subsection (a)(1) or (3):

(1) may only charge a fee for the access or service if the fee is designed to recover the costs directly and reasonably incurred in providing the access or service; and

(2) may charge the fee only if the governing body of the county or municipality determines that providing access to the information or providing the service through the Internet would not be feasible without the imposition of the charge.

(d) A county or municipality may contract with a vendor to provide access, collect payments, or provide services authorized by Subsection (a). A vendor must promptly submit to the county or municipality all payments collected on behalf of the county or municipality under this section. The county or municipality must approve any fee charged by a vendor under a contract authorized by this subsection.

Added by Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 94, Sec. 1, eff. May 11, 2001. Amended by Acts 2003, 78th Leg., ch. 1304, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 2003.