What authority does a city have to hire a vendor for collection of fines?

The authority for a city to hire a vendor for the collection of fines is found in Article 103.0031 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CCP). This specific provision allows municipalities to engage third-party vendors to assist in the collection of fines, fees, or costs associated with municipal court judgments. This authority enables cities to streamline their collection processes, potentially increasing their efficiency in receiving payments owed to them.

While city ordinances and state law provisions may provide general frameworks for operations, it is this particular section of the CCP that specifically addresses the hiring of vendors focused on the collection of fines. Municipal contract regulations would ensure that any agreement formed with such a vendor is legally binding and follows proper procurement procedures, but they do not specifically grant the authority to hire such vendors in the first place. Therefore, Article 103.0031 is the key legal foundation for this practice.