(a) Texas Online is a project of the Texas Department ofInformation Resources (DIR), a state agency charged with establishing a common electronic infrastructure through which state agencies and local governments may electronically send and receive documents and required payments.(b) To become registered to electronically file documents, filers must follow registration procedures outlined by TexasOnline. The procedure can be accessed from TexasOnline's website at www.texasonline.com.(c) Filers do not electronically file documents directly with the justice of the peace court. Rather, filers indirectly file with the justice ofthe peace court by electronically transmitting thedocumenttoanelectronicfiling serviceprovider(EFSP),whichelectronicallytransmits the document to TexasOnline, which then electronically transmits the document to the justice of the peace court. A filer filing a document must have a valid account with a TexasOnline EFSP.(d) Consistent with standards promulgated by the Judicial Committee on Information Technology (JCIT), TexasOnline will specify the permissible formats for documents that will be electronically filed and electronically served.(e) Filers who electronically file documents will pay regular filing fees to the justice of the peace court indirectly through TexasOnline by a method set forth by TexasOnline.(f) An EFSP may charge filers a convenience fee to electronically file documents. This fee will be in addition to regular filing fees.(g) TexasOnline will charge filers a convenience fee to electronically file documents. This fee will be in addition to regular filing fees and will be in an amount not to exceed the amount approved by the DIR Board.(h) The justice of the peace court may charge filers a convenience fee to electronically file documents,inan amount not toexceed the amountapprovedby the DIR Board.This feewill be in addition to regular filing fees, credit card fees, or other fees.Tex. R. eFiling Just. Ct. 4.1
Effective January 1, 2008.