| (a) Intent. The comptroller has been granted authority by Government
Code, §403.023(a)(1), to authorize a state agency to accept credit, charge
and debit cards for the payment of fees, taxes and other charges assessed
by the state agency if the comptroller determines that the best interest of
the state will be promoted.
(b) Purpose.
(1) The purpose of these rules is to provide a uniform procedure
through which the comptroller may authorize a state agency to accept credit,
charge and debit cards for the payment of fees, taxes and other charges assessed
by the state agency.
(2) These rules do not apply to a particular state agency's
authority to accept credit, charge and debit cards if:
(A) another law specifically authorizes, requires, prohibits,
or otherwise regulates the acceptance of credit, charge and debit cards;
(B) acceptance of credit or charge cards would affect a contract
that the state agency has entered into that is in effect on September 1, 1993;
or
(C) acceptance of charge or debit cards would affect a contract
that the state agency has entered into that is in effect on September 1, 1999.
(3) The comptroller may authorize a state agency to contract
directly with vendors or with the comptroller. A state agency may not contract
directly with vendors without prior approval of the comptroller.
(4) The comptroller will act as an information resource to
state agencies authorized by the comptroller to accept credit, charge and
debit cards.
(c) Definitions. The following words and terms, when used in
this chapter, shall have the following meanings, unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise.
(1) Chargeback--The return of a transaction when a consumer,
bank, or vendor determines that a transaction is not valid resulting in the
vendor's debit of the comptroller's designated account for the amount in question.
(2) Coding block--The state agency's USAS information that
will be submitted with each transaction. This information should consist of
a transaction code, fund number, program cost account and comptroller object
or state agency object.
(3) Merchant number--The unique identification number(s) assigned
by the vendor to each state agency or each state agency location, if requested
by the state agency.
(4) State agency--The meaning assigned by Government Code, §403.023(e).
(5) State treasury--The meaning assigned by Government Code, §404.001(8).
(6) USAS--The state's uniform statewide accounting system.
(7) Vendor--A company or financial institution that provides
a variety of merchant services including credit, charge and debit card billing,
reporting, customer service, authorization and settlement services.
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