87R7755 TSS-D     By: Dominguez H.B. No. 3840       A BILL TO BE ENTITLED   AN ACT   relating to the electronic filing system used for the filing of   documents in courts of this state; authorizing the imposition of a   fee for use of that system in certain counties.          BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:          SECTION 1.  Section 72.031, Government Code, is amended by   amending Subsection (d) and adding Subsections (d-1), (d-2), and   (g) to read as follows:          (d)  A local government or [appellate] court that uses the   electronic filing system may accept electronic payment methods,   including payments made with credit and debit cards.          (d-1)  Cameron, Hidalgo, and Webb Counties may each charge a   fee of not more than $2 for each electronic filing transaction filed   in a court in the county through an electronic filing system if:                (1)  the fee is necessary to reimburse the county for   the system operating costs reasonably incurred by the county to:                      (A)  accept electronic payment methods;                      (B)  communicate with other technology   information systems; or                      (C)  improve and maintain cybersecurity systems   or equipment;                (2)  the fee does not include an amount to reimburse   county employee costs, other than the direct costs incurred in   maintaining the system;                (3)  the commissioners court of the county approves the   imposition of the fee using the county's standard fee approval   process; and                (4)  the county and district clerks in the county   annually certify to the commissioners court of the county that the   fee is necessary to reimburse the county for the costs specified in   Subdivision (1).          (d-2)  The clerk of a court in a county authorized to charge a   fee under Subsection (d-1) shall collect the fee in the manner   provided for other court costs and shall deliver the fee to the   county treasurer, or the person who performs the duties of the   county treasurer, of the county in which the court sits.  The county   treasurer, or the person who performs the duties of the county   treasurer, shall deposit the fees received into the fund or account   from which the county spent the system operating costs described by   Subsection (d-1)(1).          (g)  The comptroller may audit the records of a county   related to fees collected under this section.          SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2021.