The department must create billing and charging rules for telecommunications services, charge each served entity enough to cover costs, and keep enough money in the revolving fund account to pay system bills.
Sec. 2170.057. PAYMENT FOR SERVICES. (a) The department shall develop a system of billings and charges for services provided in operating and administering the consolidated telecommunications system that allocates the total state cost to each entity served by the system based on proportionate usage. The department shall set and charge a fee to each entity that receives services provided under this chapter in an amount sufficient to cover the direct and indirect costs of providing the service. Revenue derived from the collection of fees imposed under this subsection may be appropriated to the department for: (1) developing statewide information resources technology policies and planning under Chapter 2054; and (2) providing shared information resources technology services under Chapter 2054. (b) The comptroller shall establish in the state treasury a revolving fund account for the administration of this chapter. The account shall be used as a depository for money received from entities served. Receipts attributable to the centralized capitol complex telephone system shall be deposited into the account but separately identified within the account. (c) To provide an adequate cash flow as necessary for purposes of this chapter, using state agencies and other entities, on proper notification, shall make monthly payments into the telecommunications revolving fund account from appropriated or other available money. The legislature may appropriate money for operating the system directly to the department, in which case the revolving fund account shall be used to receive money due from local governmental entities and other agencies to the extent that their money is not subject to legislative appropriation. (d) The department shall maintain in the revolving fund account sufficient amounts to pay the bills of the consolidated telecommunications system and the centralized capitol complex telephone system. Added by Acts 1995, 74th Leg., ch. 41, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1995. Amended by Acts 1999, 76th Leg., ch. 1499, Sec. 1.31, eff. Sept. 1, 1999; Acts 2001, 77th Leg., ch. 1422, Sec. 4.26, eff. Sept. 1, 2001. Amended by: Acts 2011, 82nd Leg., 1st C.S., Ch. 4 (S.B. 1), Sec. 23.07, eff. September 28, 2011. Acts 2025, 89th Leg., R.S., Ch. 331 (H.B. 150), Sec. 48, eff. September 1, 2025.