| 1 | 1 | | By: Estes S.B. No. 474 |
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| 2 | 2 | | |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | A BILL TO BE ENTITLED |
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| 5 | 5 | | AN ACT |
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| 6 | 6 | | relating to the comptroller of public accounts' use of electronic |
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| 7 | 7 | | paycards to make certain payments. |
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| 8 | 8 | | BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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| 9 | 9 | | SECTION 1. Section 403.016, Government Code, is amended by |
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| 10 | 10 | | adding Subsection (k) to read as follows: |
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| 11 | 11 | | (k) Notwithstanding another provision of this section, the |
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| 12 | 12 | | comptroller may make a payment in any amount to a state employee |
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| 13 | 13 | | under Subsection (b) or to an annuitant under Subsection (c)(1) or |
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| 14 | 14 | | other law on an electronic paycard if the employee or annuitant |
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| 15 | 15 | | agrees to accept payment by that method. |
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| 16 | 16 | | SECTION 2. Subchapter B, Chapter 403, Government Code, is |
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| 17 | 17 | | amended by adding Section 403.0161 to read as follows: |
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| 18 | 18 | | Sec. 403.0161. CONTRACTS FOR ELECTRONIC PAYCARD SERVICES. |
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| 19 | 19 | | The comptroller shall contract with one or more vendors for the |
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| 20 | 20 | | provision of electronic paycard services. A contract under this |
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| 21 | 21 | | section must be by competitive bid. The comptroller shall specify |
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| 22 | 22 | | the qualifications for bidders, which must include requirements |
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| 23 | 23 | | that the entity that issues the paycard must: |
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| 24 | 24 | | (1) be federally insured or possess sufficient |
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| 25 | 25 | | financial resources to ensure protection of payees; and |
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| 26 | 26 | | (2) demonstrate adequate 24-hour customer service to |
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| 27 | 27 | | ensure that all payees are able to reasonably access their funds |
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| 28 | 28 | | worldwide at any time. |
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| 29 | 29 | | SECTION 3. Section 659.084, Government Code, is amended to |
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| 30 | 30 | | read as follows: |
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| 31 | 31 | | Sec. 659.084. ELECTRONIC FUNDS TRANSFER. Salaries for |
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| 32 | 32 | | state officers and employees paid once a month shall be paid through |
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| 33 | 33 | | electronic funds transfer under Section 403.016 unless paid on an |
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| 34 | 34 | | electronic paycard or warrant as permitted under that section. |
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| 35 | 35 | | SECTION 4. This Act takes effect January 1, 2010. |
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