Senate Bill sb0252c1

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    Florida Senate - 2007                            CS for SB 252

    By the Committee on Commerce; and Senator Aronberg





    577-1858-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code;

  3         repealing s. 15.091, F.S., relating to

  4         processing fees for filings of financial

  5         statements and other written documents under

  6         the Uniform Commerical Code; amending s.

  7         671.101, F.S.; providing scope of chapter and a

  8         short title; amending s. 671.102, F.S.;

  9         authorizing certain timeframes to be fixed by

10         agreement; amending s. 671.106, F.S.; making

11         editorial changes; amending s. 671.107, F.S.;

12         providing for the discharge of a claim or right

13         under certain circumstances; amending s.

14         671.201, F.S.; providing, revising, and

15         deleting definitions; amending ss. 671.202 and

16         671.203, F.S.; making editorial changes;

17         amending s. 671.204, F.S.; revising criteria

18         determining when an action is taken within a

19         reasonable time and seasonably; amending s.

20         671.205, F.S.; defining "course of

21         performance"; revising the definition of

22         "course of dealing"; providing that course of

23         performance and course of dealing may be used

24         for certain purposes; revising uses for express

25         terms of an agreement; specifying when course

26         of performance, course of dealing, or usage of

27         trade prevails; providing that course of

28         performance is relevant to show a waiver or

29         modification in certain circumstances;

30         repealing s. 671.206, F.S., relating to statute

31         of frauds for kinds of personal property not

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 1         otherwise covered; amending s. 671.208, F.S.;

 2         making editorial changes; creating s. 671.209,

 3         F.S.; providing definitions; specifying when

 4         notice, knowledge, or notification becomes

 5         effective with the exercise of due diligence;

 6         creating s. 671.21, F.S.; providing that

 7         whenever the code creates certain presumptions,

 8         the trier of fact must find the existence of

 9         the fact presumed unless evidence is introduced

10         which supports a finding of its nonexistence;

11         creating s. 671.211, F.S.; providing in what

12         instances a person gives value for rights;

13         creating s. 671.212, F.S.; providing that the

14         code modifies, limits, and supersedes certain

15         provisions of the federal Electronic Signatures

16         in Global and National Commerce Act; creating

17         s. 671.213, F.S.; authorizing the subordination

18         of certain obligations; authorizing the

19         registry to use the fees collected to fund its

20         operations; amending s. 679.525, F.S.; deleting

21         the filing fees for electronically filing a

22         financing statement or an amendment thereto;

23         amending ss. 559.9232, 563.022, 668.50,

24         670.106, 670.204, 675.102, 680.518, 680.519,

25         680.527, and 680.528, F.S.; conforming

26         cross-references; amending s. 713.901, F.S.;

27         specifying fees under the Florida Uniform

28         Federal Lien Registration Act previously

29         provided through cross-reference; reducing a

30         fee and deleting a cross-reference to conform

31  

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 1         to changes made by the act; providing an

 2         effective date.

 3  

 4  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

 5  

 6         Section 1.  Section 15.091, Florida Statutes, is

 7  repealed.

 8         Section 2.  Section 671.101, Florida Statutes, is

 9  amended to read:

10         671.101  Short title; scope of chapter.--

11         (1)  Chapters 670-680 may be cited as the "Uniform

12  Commercial Code."

13         (2)  This chapter applies to a transaction to the

14  extent that it is governed by another chapter of this code and

15  may be cited as the "Uniform Commercial Code--General

16  Provisions."

17         Section 3.  Section 671.102, Florida Statutes, is

18  amended to read:

19         671.102  Purposes; rules of construction; variation by

20  agreement.--

21         (1)  This code shall be liberally construed and applied

22  to promote its underlying purposes and policies, which.

23         (2)  Underlying purposes and policies of this code are:

24         (a)  To simplify, clarify, and modernize the law

25  governing commercial transactions.;

26         (b)  To permit the continued expansion of commercial

27  practices through custom, usage, and agreement of the

28  parties.;

29         (c)  To make uniform the law among the various

30  jurisdictions.

31  

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 1         (2)(a)(3)  Except as otherwise provided in this code,

 2  the effect of provisions of this code may be varied by

 3  agreement., except as otherwise provided in this code and

 4  except that

 5         (b)  The obligations of good faith, diligence,

 6  reasonableness, and care prescribed by this code may not be

 7  disclaimed by agreement, but the parties may by agreement

 8  determine the standards by which the performance of such

 9  obligations is to be measured if such standards are not

10  manifestly unreasonable. Whenever this code requires an action

11  to be taken within a reasonable time, a time that is not

12  manifestly unreasonable may be fixed by agreement.

13         (c)(4)  The presence in certain provisions of this code

14  of the words "unless otherwise agreed" or words of similar

15  import does not imply that the effect of other provisions may

16  not be varied by agreement under this subsection (3).

17         (3)(5)  In this code, unless the context otherwise

18  requires:

19         (a)  Words in the singular number include the plural,

20  and words in the plural include the singular.;

21         (b)  Gender-specific language includes the other gender

22  and neuter, and when the sense so indicates Words of either

23  the neuter gender also may refer to the other any gender.

24         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 671.106, Florida

25  Statutes, is amended to read:

26         671.106  Remedies to be liberally administered.--

27         (1)  The remedies provided by this code must shall be

28  liberally administered to the end that the aggrieved party may

29  be put in as good a position as if the other party had fully

30  performed, but neither consequential or special nor penal

31  

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 1  damages may be had except as specifically provided in this

 2  code or by other rule of law.

 3         Section 5.  Section 671.107, Florida Statutes, is

 4  amended to read:

 5         671.107  Waiver or renunciation of claim or right after

 6  breach.--A Any claim or right arising out of an alleged breach

 7  can be discharged in whole or in part without consideration by

 8  agreement of a written waiver or renunciation signed and

 9  delivered by the aggrieved party in an authenticated record.

10         Section 6.  Section 671.201, Florida Statutes, is

11  amended to read:

12         671.201  General definitions.--Unless the context

13  otherwise requires, words or phrases defined in this section,

14  or in the additional definitions contained in other chapters

15  of this code which apply to particular chapters or parts

16  thereof, have the meanings stated. Subject to additional

17  definitions contained in other the subsequent chapters of this

18  code which apply which are applicable to particular specific

19  chapters or parts thereof, the term and unless the context

20  otherwise requires, in this code:

21         (1)  "Action," in the sense of a judicial proceeding,

22  includes recoupment, counterclaim, setoff, suit in equity, and

23  any other proceedings in which rights are determined.

24         (2)  "Aggrieved party" means a party entitled to pursue

25  resort to a remedy.

26         (3)  "Agreement," as distinguished from "contract,"

27  means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their

28  language or inferred by implication from other circumstances,

29  including course of dealing, or usage of trade, or course of

30  performance as provided in this code (ss. 671.205 and

31  672.208). Whether an agreement has legal consequences is

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 1  determined by the provisions of this code, if applicable;

 2  otherwise by the law of contracts (s. 671.103). (Compare

 3  "contract.")

 4         (4)  "Bank" means a any person engaged in the business

 5  of banking and includes a savings bank, a savings and loan

 6  association, a credit union, and a trust company.

 7         (5)  "Bearer" means a the person in possession of a

 8  negotiable an instrument, document of title, or certificated

 9  security that is payable to bearer or indorsed in blank.

10         (6)  "Bill of lading" means a document evidencing the

11  receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in

12  the business of transporting or forwarding goods, and includes

13  an airbill. "Airbill" means a document serving for air

14  transportation as a bill of lading does for marine or rail

15  transportation, and includes an air consignment note or air

16  waybill.

17         (7)  "Branch" includes a separately incorporated

18  foreign branch of a bank.

19         (8)  "Burden of establishing" a fact means the burden

20  of persuading the triers of fact that the existence of the

21  fact is more probable than its nonexistence.

22         (9)  "Buyer in ordinary course of business" means a

23  person who, in ordinary course, buys goods in good faith,

24  without knowledge that the sale violates the rights of another

25  person in the goods, and in the ordinary course from a person,

26  other than a pawnbroker, in the business of selling goods of

27  that kind. A person buys goods in the ordinary course if the

28  sale to the person comports with the usual or customary

29  practices in the kind of business in which the seller is

30  engaged or with the seller's own usual or customary practices.

31  A person who sells oil, gas, or other minerals at the wellhead

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 1  or minehead is a person in the business of selling goods of

 2  that kind. A buyer in the ordinary course of business may buy

 3  for cash, by exchange of other property, or on secured or

 4  unsecured credit and may acquire goods or documents of title

 5  under a preexisting contract for sale. Only a buyer who takes

 6  possession of the goods or has a right to recover the goods

 7  from the seller under chapter 672 may be a buyer in the

 8  ordinary course of business. "Buyer in ordinary course of

 9  business" does not include a person who acquires goods in a

10  transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial

11  satisfaction of a money debt is not a buyer in the ordinary

12  course of business.

13         (10)  A term or clause is "Conspicuous," with reference

14  to a term, means when it is so written, displayed, or

15  presented that a reasonable person against whom it is to

16  operate ought to have noticed it. Whether a term is

17  "conspicuous" is a decision for the court. Conspicuous terms

18  include the following:

19         (a)  A printed heading in capitals in a size equal to

20  or larger than that of the surrounding text or in a (as:

21  NONNEGOTIABLE BILL OF LADING) is conspicuous. Language in the

22  body of a form is conspicuous if it is in larger or other

23  contrasting type, font, or color in contrast to the

24  surrounding text of the same or lesser size.

25         (b)  Language in the body of a record or display in

26  type larger than that of the surrounding text; in a type,

27  font, or color in contrast to the surrounding text of the same

28  size; or set off from surrounding text of the same size by

29  symbols or other marks that call attention to the language.

30  But in a telegram any stated term is conspicuous. Whether a

31  

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 1  term or clause is conspicuous or not is for decision by the

 2  court.

 3         (11)  "Consumer" means an individual who enters into a

 4  transaction primarily for personal, family, or household

 5  purposes.

 6         (12)(11)  "Contract," as distinguished from

 7  "agreement," means the total legal obligation that which

 8  results from the parties' agreement as determined affected by

 9  this code and as supplemented by any other applicable laws

10  rules of law. (Compare "agreement.")

11         (13)(12)  "Creditor" includes a general creditor, a

12  secured creditor, a lien creditor, and any representative of

13  creditors, including an assignee for the benefit of creditors,

14  a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver in equity, and an executor

15  or administrator of an insolvent debtor's or assignor's

16  estate.

17         (14)(13)  "Defendant" includes a person in the position

18  of defendant in a cross-action or counterclaim, cross-claim,

19  or third-party claim.

20         (15)(14)  "Delivery," with respect to an instrument

21  instruments, document documents of title, or chattel paper, or

22  certificated securities means voluntary transfer of

23  possession.

24         (16)(15)  "Document of title" includes bill of lading,

25  dock warrant, dock receipt, warehouse receipt or order for the

26  delivery of goods, and also any other document that which in

27  the regular course of business or financing is treated as

28  adequately evidencing that the person in possession of it is

29  entitled to receive, hold, and dispose of the document and the

30  goods it covers. To be a document of title, a document must

31  purport to be issued by or addressed to a bailee and purport

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 1  to cover goods in the bailee's possession which are either

 2  identified or are fungible portions of an identified mass.

 3         (17)(16)  "Fault" means a default, breach, or wrongful

 4  act or, omission or breach.

 5         (18)(17)  "Fungible goods" with respect to goods or

 6  securities means:

 7         (a)  Goods or securities of which any unit is, by

 8  nature or usage of trade, is the equivalent of any other like

 9  unit; or.

10         (b)  Goods which are not fungible shall be deemed

11  fungible for the purposes of this code to the extent that, by

12  under a particular agreement, or document unlike units are

13  treated as equivalents.

14         (19)(18)  "Genuine" means free of forgery or

15  counterfeiting.

16         (20)(19)  "Good faith," except as otherwise provided in

17  this code, means honesty in fact and in the observance of

18  reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing conduct or

19  transaction concerned.

20         (21)(20)  "Holder," with respect to a negotiable

21  instrument, means:

22         (a)  The person in possession of a negotiable if the

23  instrument that is payable either to bearer or, in the case of

24  an instrument payable to an identified person that is, if the

25  identified person is in possession; or. "Holder," with respect

26  to a document of title, means

27         (b)  The person in possession of a document of title if

28  the goods are deliverable either to bearer or to the order of

29  the person in possession.

30  

31  

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 1         (21)  To "honor" is to pay or to accept and pay, or

 2  where a credit so engages to purchase or discount a draft

 3  complying with the terms of the credit.

 4         (22)  "Insolvency proceeding proceedings" includes an

 5  any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other

 6  proceeding proceedings intended to liquidate or rehabilitate

 7  the estate of the person involved.

 8         (23)  A person is "Insolvent" means:

 9         (a)  Having who either has ceased to pay his or her

10  debts in the ordinary course of business other than as a

11  result of a bona fide dispute;

12         (b)  Being unable to or cannot pay his or her debts as

13  they become due; or

14         (c)  Being is insolvent within the meaning of the

15  Federal Bankruptcy Law.

16         (24)  "Money" means a medium of exchange currently

17  authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government. The

18  term and includes a monetary unit of account established by an

19  intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or

20  more countries nations.

21         (25)  A person has "notice" of a fact when

22         (a)  He or she has actual knowledge of it; or

23         (b)  He or she has received a notice or notification of

24  it; or

25         (c)  From all the facts and circumstances known to the

26  person at the time in question he or she has reason to know

27  that it exists.

28  

29  A person "knows" or has "knowledge" of a fact when he or she

30  has actual knowledge of it. "Discover" or "learn" or a word or

31  phrase of similar import refers to knowledge rather than to

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 1  reason to know. The time and circumstances under which a

 2  notice or notification may cease to be effective are not

 3  determined by this code.

 4         (26)  A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or

 5  notification to another by taking such steps as may be

 6  reasonably required to inform the other in ordinary course

 7  whether or not such other actually comes to know of it. A

 8  person "receives" a notice or notification when

 9         (a)  It comes to his or her attention; or

10         (b)  It is duly delivered at the place of business

11  through which the contract was made or at any other place held

12  out by the person as the place for receipt of such

13  communications.

14         (27)  Notice, knowledge or a notice or notification

15  received by an organization is effective for a particular

16  transaction from the time when it is brought to the attention

17  of the individual conducting that transaction, and in any

18  event from the time when it would have been brought to his or

19  her attention if the organization had exercised due diligence.

20  An organization exercises due diligence if it maintains

21  reasonable routines for communicating significant information

22  to the person conducting the transaction and there is

23  reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does

24  not require an individual acting for the organization to

25  communicate information unless such communication is part of

26  his or her regular duties or unless the individual has reason

27  to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be

28  materially affected by the information.

29         (25)(28)  "Organization" means a person other than an

30  individual includes a corporation, government or governmental

31  subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust,

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 1  partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint

 2  or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

 3         (26)(29)  "Party," as distinguished distinct from

 4  "third party," means a person who has engaged in a transaction

 5  or made an agreement subject to within this code.

 6         (27)(30)  "Person" means includes an individual;

 7  corporation; business trust; estate; trust; partnership;

 8  limited liability company; association; joint venture;

 9  government; governmental subdivision, agency, or

10  instrumentality; public corporation; or any other legal or

11  commercial entity or an organization (see s. 671.102).

12         (28)  "Present value" means the amount as of a date

13  certain of one or more sums payable in the future, discounted

14  to the date certain by use of either an interest rate

15  specified by the parties if that rate is not manifestly

16  unreasonable at the time the transaction is entered into or,

17  if an interest rate is not so specified, a commercially

18  reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and

19  circumstances at the time the transaction is entered into.

20         (31)  "Presumption" or "presumed" means that the trier

21  of fact must find the existence of the fact presumed unless

22  and until evidence is introduced which would support a finding

23  of its nonexistence.

24         (29)(32)  "Purchase" means includes taking by sale,

25  lease, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, security

26  interest, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary

27  transaction creating an interest in property.

28         (30)(33)  "Purchaser" means a person who takes by

29  purchase.

30  

31  

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 1         (31)  "Record" means information that is inscribed on a

 2  tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other

 3  medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

 4         (32)(34)  "Remedy" means any remedial right to which an

 5  aggrieved party is entitled with or without resort to a

 6  tribunal.

 7         (33)(35)  "Representative" means a person empowered to

 8  act for another, including includes an agent, an officer of a

 9  corporation or association, and a trustee, executor, or

10  administrator of an estate, or any other person empowered to

11  act for another.

12         (34)(36)  "Right Rights" includes "remedy" remedies.

13         (35)(37)  "Security interest" means an interest in

14  personal property or fixtures which secures payment or

15  performance of an obligation. "Security interest" The term

16  also includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of

17  accounts, chattel paper, a payment intangible, or a promissory

18  note in a transaction that which is subject to chapter 679.

19  "Security interest" does not include the special property

20  interest of a buyer of goods on identification of those goods

21  to a contract for sale under s. 672.401 is not a security

22  interest, but a buyer may also acquire a security interest by

23  complying with chapter 679. Except as otherwise provided in s.

24  672.505, the right of a seller or lessor of goods under

25  chapter 672 or chapter 680 to retain or acquire possession of

26  the goods is not a security interest, but a seller or lessor

27  may also acquire a security interest by complying with chapter

28  679. The retention or reservation of title by a seller of

29  goods, notwithstanding shipment or delivery to the buyer under

30  (s. 672.401), is limited in effect to a reservation of a

31  security interest. Whether a transaction in the form of a

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 1  lease creates a lease or security interest is determined by

 2  the facts of each case; however:

 3         (a)  A transaction in the form of a lease creates a

 4  security interest if the consideration that the lessee is to

 5  pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the

 6  goods is an obligation for the term of the lease not subject

 7  to termination by the lessee, and:;

 8         1.  The original term of the lease is equal to or

 9  greater than the remaining economic life of the goods;

10         2.  The lessee is bound to renew the lease for the

11  remaining economic life of the goods or is bound to become the

12  owner of the goods;

13         3.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease for the

14  remaining economic life of the goods for no additional

15  consideration or nominal additional consideration upon

16  compliance with the lease agreement; or

17         4.  The lessee has an option to become the owner of the

18  goods for no additional consideration or nominal additional

19  consideration upon compliance with the lease agreement.

20         (b)  A transaction does not create a security interest

21  merely because it provides that:

22         1.  The present value of the consideration the lessee

23  is obligated to pay the lessor for the right to possession and

24  use of the goods is substantially equal to or is greater than

25  the fair market value of the goods at the time the lease is

26  entered into;

27         2.  The lessee assumes the risk of loss of the goods or

28  agrees to pay taxes; insurance; filing, recording, or

29  registration fees; or service or maintenance costs with

30  respect to the goods;

31  

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 1         3.  The lessee agrees to pay, with respect to the

 2  goods, taxes; insurance; filing, recording, or registration

 3  fees; or service or maintenance costs;

 4         4.3.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease or to

 5  become the owner of the goods;

 6         5.4.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease for a

 7  fixed rent that is equal to or greater than the reasonably

 8  predictable fair market rent for the use of the goods for the

 9  term of the renewal at the time the option is to be performed;

10  or

11         6.5.  The lessee has an option to become the owner of

12  the goods for a fixed price that is equal to or greater than

13  the reasonably predictable fair market value of the goods at

14  the time the option is to be performed.

15         (c)  For purposes of this subsection:

16         1.  Additional consideration is not nominal if it is

17  less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of

18  performing under the lease agreement if the option is not

19  exercised. Additional consideration is not nominal if:,

20         1.  When the option to renew the lease is granted to

21  the lessee, the rent is stated to be the fair market rent for

22  the use of the goods for the term of the renewal determined at

23  the time the option is to be performed; or if,

24         2.  When the option to become the owner of the goods is

25  granted to the lessee, the price is stated to be the fair

26  market value of the goods determined at the time the option is

27  to be performed. Additional consideration is nominal if it is

28  less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of

29  performing under the lease agreement if the option is not

30  exercised.

31  

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 1         (d)2.  The "Reasonably predictable" and "remaining

 2  economic life of the goods" and "reasonably predictable" fair

 3  market rent, fair market value, or cost of performing under

 4  the lease agreement must are to be determined with reference

 5  to the facts and circumstances at the time the transaction is

 6  entered into.

 7         3.  "Present value" means the amount as of a date

 8  certain of one or more sums payable in the future, discounted

 9  to the date certain. The discount is determined by the

10  interest rate specified by the parties if the rate is not

11  manifestly unreasonable at the time the transaction is entered

12  into; otherwise, the discount is determined by a commercially

13  reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and

14  circumstances of each case at the time the transaction was

15  entered into.

16         (36)(38)  "Send," in connection with a any writing,

17  record, or notice, means:

18         (a)  To deposit in the mail or deliver for transmission

19  by any other usual means of communication with postage or cost

20  of transmission provided for and properly addressed and, in

21  the case of an instrument, to an address specified thereon or

22  otherwise agreed, or, if there be none, to any address

23  reasonable under the circumstances; or.

24         (b)  In any other way to cause to be received The

25  receipt of any record writing or notice within the time at

26  which it would have arrived if properly sent has the effect of

27  a proper sending.

28         (37)(39)  "Signed" means bearing includes any symbol

29  executed or adopted by a party with present intention to adopt

30  or accept authenticate a writing.

31  

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 1         (38)  "State" means a state of the United States, the

 2  District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin

 3  Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the

 4  jurisdiction of the United States.

 5         (39)(40)  "Surety" includes a guarantor or other

 6  secondary obligor.

 7         (41)  "Telegram" includes a message transmitted by

 8  radio, teletype, cable, any mechanical method of transmission,

 9  or the like.

10         (40)(42)  "Term" means a that portion of an agreement

11  which relates to a particular matter.

12         (41)(43)  "Unauthorized" signature" means a signature

13  one made without actual, implied, or apparent authority. The

14  term and includes a forgery.

15         (44)  "Value." Except as otherwise provided with

16  respect to negotiable instruments and bank collections (ss.

17  673.3031, 674.2101, and 674.2111), a person gives value for

18  rights if he or she acquires them:

19         (a)  In return for a binding commitment to extend

20  credit or for the extension of immediately available credit

21  whether or not drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is

22  provided for in the event of difficulties in collection;

23         (b)  As security for or in total or partial

24  satisfaction of a preexisting claim;

25         (c)  By accepting delivery pursuant to a preexisting

26  contract for purchase; or

27         (d)  Generally, in return for any consideration

28  sufficient to support a simple contract.

29         (42)(45)  "Warehouse receipt" means a written receipt

30  or an electronic notification of receipt issued by a person

31  engaged in the business of storing goods for hire.

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 1         (43)(46)  "Written" or "Writing" includes printing,

 2  typewriting, or any other intentional reduction to tangible

 3  form. "Written" has a corresponding meaning.

 4         Section 7.  Section 671.202, Florida Statutes, is

 5  amended to read:

 6         671.202  Prima facie evidence by third-party

 7  documents.--A document in due form purporting to be a bill of

 8  lading, policy or certificate of insurance, official weigher's

 9  or inspector's certificate, consular invoice, or any other

10  document authorized or required by the contract to be issued

11  by a third party is shall be prima facie evidence of its own

12  authenticity and genuineness and of the facts stated in the

13  document by the third party.

14         Section 8.  Section 671.203, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         671.203  Obligation of good faith.--Every contract or

17  duty within this code imposes an obligation of good faith in

18  its performance and or enforcement.

19         Section 9.  Section 671.204, Florida Statutes, is

20  amended to read:

21         671.204  Actions taken within Time; reasonable time;

22  "seasonably."--

23         (1)  Whether a time for taking an action required by

24  Whenever this code is requires any action to be taken within a

25  reasonable time, any time which is not manifestly unreasonable

26  may be fixed by agreement.

27         (2)  What is a reasonable time for taking any action

28  depends on the nature, purpose, and circumstances of the such

29  action.

30  

31  

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 1         (2)(3)  An action is taken "seasonably" if when it is

 2  taken at or within the time agreed or, if no time is agreed,

 3  at or within a reasonable time.

 4         Section 10.  Section 671.205, Florida Statutes, is

 5  amended to read:

 6         671.205  Course of performance; course of dealing; and

 7  usage of trade.--

 8         (1)  A "course of performance" is a sequence of conduct

 9  between the parties to a particular transaction that exists

10  if:

11         (a)  The agreement of the parties with respect to the

12  transaction involves repeated occasions for performance by a

13  party; and

14         (b)  The other party, with knowledge of the nature of

15  the performance and opportunity for objection to it, accepts

16  the performance or acquiesces in it without objection.

17         (2)(1)  A "course of dealing" is a sequence of previous

18  conduct concerning previous transactions between the parties

19  to a particular transaction which is fairly to be regarded as

20  establishing a common basis of understanding for interpreting

21  their expressions and other conduct.

22         (3)(2)  A "usage of trade" is any practice or method of

23  dealing having such regularity of observance in a place,

24  vocation, or trade as to justify an expectation that it will

25  be observed with respect to the transaction in question. The

26  existence and scope of such a usage are to be proved as facts.

27  If it is established that such a usage is embodied in a

28  written trade code or similar record, writing the

29  interpretation of the record writing is a question of law for

30  the court.

31  

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 1         (4)(3)  A course of performance or a course of dealing

 2  between the parties or and any usage of trade in the vocation

 3  or trade in which they are engaged or of which they are or

 4  should be aware is relevant in ascertaining the give

 5  particular meaning of the parties' to and supplement or

 6  qualify terms of an agreement, may give particular meaning to

 7  specific terms of the agreement, and may supplement or qualify

 8  the terms of the agreement. A usage of trade applicable in the

 9  place in which part of the performance under the agreement is

10  to occur may be so utilized as to that part of the

11  performance.

12         (5)(4)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6),

13  the express terms of an agreement and any an applicable course

14  of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade must

15  shall be construed whenever wherever reasonable as consistent

16  with each other. If; but when such a construction is

17  unreasonable:

18         (a)  Express terms prevail over control both course of

19  performance, course of dealing, and usage of trade;

20         (b)  Course of performance prevails over course of

21  dealing and usage of trade; and

22         (c)  Course of dealing prevails over controls usage of

23  trade.

24         (6)  A course of performance is relevant to show a

25  waiver or modification of any term inconsistent with the

26  course of performance.

27         (5)  An applicable usage of trade in the place where

28  any part of performance is to occur shall be used in

29  interpreting the agreement as to that part of the performance.

30         (7)(6)  Evidence of a relevant usage of trade offered

31  by one party is not admissible unless that party and until he

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 1  or she has given the other party such notice that as the court

 2  finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise to the other party

 3  latter.

 4         Section 11.  Section 671.206, Florida Statutes, is

 5  repealed.

 6         Section 12.  Section 671.208, Florida Statutes, is

 7  amended to read:

 8         671.208  Option to accelerate at will.--A term

 9  providing that one party or the party's successor in interest

10  may accelerate payment or performance or require collateral or

11  additional collateral "at will" or "when she or he deems

12  herself or himself insecure" or in words of similar import

13  must shall be construed to mean that she or he has shall have

14  power to do so only if she or he in good faith believes that

15  the prospect of payment or performance is impaired. The burden

16  of establishing lack of good faith is on the party against

17  whom the power has been exercised.

18         Section 13.  Section 671.209, Florida Statutes, is

19  created to read:

20         671.209  Notice; knowledge.--

21         (1)  Subject to subsection (6), a person has "notice"

22  of a fact if the person:

23         (a)  Has actual knowledge of it;

24         (b)  Has received a notice or notification of it; or

25         (c)  From all the facts and circumstances known to the

26  person at the time in question, has reason to know that it

27  exists.

28         (2)  "Knowledge" means actual knowledge. "Knows" has a

29  corresponding meaning.

30         (3)  "Discover," "learn," or words of similar import

31  refer to knowledge rather than to reason to know.

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 1         (4)  A person "notifies" or "gives a notice or

 2  notification to" another person by taking such steps as may be

 3  reasonably required to inform the other person in ordinary

 4  course, regardless of whether the other person actually comes

 5  to know of it.

 6         (5)  Subject to subsection (6), a person "receives" a

 7  notice or notification when:

 8         (a)  It comes to that person's attention; or

 9         (b)  It is duly delivered in a form reasonable under

10  the circumstances at the place of business through which the

11  contract was made or at another location held out by that

12  person as the place for receipt of such communications.

13         (6)  Notice, knowledge, or a notice or notification

14  received by an organization is effective for a particular

15  transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of

16  the person conducting that transaction and, in any event, from

17  the time it would have been brought to the person's attention

18  if the organization had exercised due diligence. An

19  organization exercises due diligence if it maintains

20  reasonable routines for communicating significant information

21  to the person conducting the transaction and there is

22  reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does

23  not require an individual acting for the organization to

24  communicate information unless the communication is part of

25  the individual's regular duties or the individual has reason

26  to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be

27  materially affected by the information.

28         Section 14.  Section 671.21, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         671.21  Presumptions.--Whenever this code creates a

31  "presumption" with respect to a fact or provides that a fact

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 1  is "presumed," the trier of fact must find the existence of

 2  the fact presumed unless evidence is introduced which supports

 3  a finding of its nonexistence.

 4         Section 15.  Section 671.211, Florida Statutes, is

 5  created to read:

 6         671.211  Value.--Except as otherwise provided with

 7  respect to negotiable instruments and bank collections as

 8  provided in ss. 673.3031, 674.2101, and 674.2111, a person

 9  gives value for rights if the person acquires them:

10         (1)  In return for a binding commitment to extend

11  credit or for the extension of immediately available credit

12  whether or not drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is

13  provided for in the event of difficulties in collection;

14         (2)  As security for, or in total or partial

15  satisfaction of, a preexisting claim;

16         (3)  By accepting delivery under a preexisting contract

17  for purchase; or

18         (4)  In return for any consideration sufficient to

19  support a simple contract.

20         Section 16.  Section 671.212, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         671.212  Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global

23  and National Commerce Act.--This code modifies, limits, and

24  supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and

25  National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 7001 et seq., except that

26  nothing in this code modifies, limits, or supersedes s.

27  7001(c) of that act or authorizes electronic delivery of any

28  of the notices described in s. 7003(b) of that act.

29         Section 17.  Section 671.213, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31  

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 1         671.213  Subordinated obligations.--An obligation may

 2  be issued as subordinated to performance of another obligation

 3  of the person obligated, or a creditor may subordinate its

 4  right to performance of an obligation by agreement with either

 5  the person obligated or another creditor of the person

 6  obligated. Subordination does not create a security interest

 7  as against either the common debtor or a subordinated

 8  creditor.

 9         Section 18.  Subsection (2) of section 559.9232,

10  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

11         559.9232  Definitions; exclusion of rental-purchase

12  agreements from certain regulations.--

13         (2)  A rental-purchase agreement that complies with

14  this act shall not be construed to be, nor be governed by, any

15  of the following:

16         (a)  A lease or agreement that which constitutes a

17  credit sale as defined in 12 C.F.R. s. 226.2(a)(16) and s.

18  1602(g) of the federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. ss.

19  1601 et seq.;

20         (b)  A lease that which constitutes a "consumer lease"

21  as defined in 12 C.F.R. s. 213.2(a)(6);

22         (c)  Any lease for agricultural, business, or

23  commercial purposes;

24         (d)  Any lease made to an organization;

25         (e)  A lease or agreement that which constitutes a

26  "retail installment contract" or "retail installment

27  transaction" as those terms are defined in s. 520.31; or

28         (f)  A security interest as defined in s. 671.201(35)

29  s. 671.201(37).

30         Section 19.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section

31  563.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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 1         563.022  Relations between beer distributors and

 2  manufacturers.--

 3         (2)  DEFINITIONS.--In construing this section, unless

 4  the context otherwise requires, the word, phrase, or term:

 5         (g)  "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct

 6  or transaction concerned as defined and interpreted under s.

 7  671.201(20) s. 671.201(19).

 8         Section 20.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and

 9  paragraph (d) of subsection (16) of section 668.50, Florida

10  Statutes, are amended to read:

11         668.50  Uniform Electronic Transaction Act.--

12         (3)  SCOPE.--

13         (b)  This section does not apply to a transaction to

14  the extent the transaction is governed by:

15         1.  A provision of law governing the creation and

16  execution of wills, codicils, or testamentary trusts;

17         2.  The Uniform Commercial Code other than s. ss.

18  671.107 and 671.206 and chapters 672 and 680;

19         3.  The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act;

20  or

21         4.  Rules relating to judicial procedure.

22         (16)  TRANSFERABLE RECORDS.--

23         (d)  Except as otherwise agreed, a person having

24  control of a transferable record is the holder, as defined in

25  s. 671.201(21) s. 671.201(20), of the transferable record and

26  has the same rights and defenses as a holder of an equivalent

27  record or writing under the Uniform Commercial Code,

28  including, if the applicable statutory requirements under s.

29  673.3021, s. 677.501, or s. 679.308 are satisfied, the rights

30  and defenses of a holder in due course, a holder to which a

31  negotiable document of title has been duly negotiated, or a

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 1  purchaser, respectively. Delivery, possession, and indorsement

 2  are not required to obtain or exercise any of the rights under

 3  this paragraph.

 4         Section 21.  Subsection (1) of section 670.106, Florida

 5  Statutes, is amended to read:

 6         670.106  Time payment order is received.--

 7         (1)  The time of receipt of a payment order or

 8  communication canceling or amending a payment order is

 9  determined by the rules applicable to receipt of a notice

10  stated in s. 671.209 s. 671.201(27). A receiving bank may fix

11  a cut-off time or times on a funds-transfer business day for

12  the receipt and processing of payment orders and

13  communications canceling or amending payment orders. Different

14  cut-off times may apply to payment orders, cancellations, or

15  amendments or to different categories of payment orders,

16  cancellations, or amendments. A cut-off time may apply to

17  senders generally, or different cut-off times may apply to

18  different senders or categories of payment orders. If a

19  payment order or communication canceling or amending a payment

20  order is received after the close of a funds-transfer business

21  day or after the appropriate cut-off time on a funds-transfer

22  business day, the receiving bank may treat the payment order

23  or communication as received at the opening of the next

24  funds-transfer business day.

25         Section 22.  Subsection (2) of section 670.204, Florida

26  Statutes, is amended to read:

27         670.204  Refund of payment and duty of customer to

28  report with respect to unauthorized payment order.--

29         (2)  Reasonable time under subsection (1) may be fixed

30  by agreement as stated in s. 671.204(1), but the obligation of

31  

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 1  a receiving bank to refund payment as stated in subsection (1)

 2  may not otherwise be varied by agreement.

 3         Section 23.  Subsection (3) of section 675.102, Florida

 4  Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         675.102  Scope.--

 6         (3)  With the exception of this subsection, subsections

 7  (1) and (4), ss. 675.103(1)(i) and (j), 675.106(4), and

 8  675.114(4), and except to the extent prohibited in ss.

 9  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 675.117(4), the effect of this

10  chapter may be varied by agreement or by a provision stated or

11  incorporated by reference in an undertaking. A term in an

12  agreement or undertaking generally excusing liability or

13  generally limiting remedies for failure to perform obligations

14  is not sufficient to vary obligations prescribed by this

15  chapter.

16         Section 24.  Subsection (1) of section 679.525, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         679.525  Processing fees.--

19         (1)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3),

20  the nonrefundable processing fee for filing and indexing a

21  record under this part, other than an initial financing

22  statement of the kind described in s. 679.5021(3), is:

23         (a)  For filing an initial financing statement, $25 for

24  the first page, which shall include the cost of filing a

25  termination statement for the financing statement;

26         (b)  For filing an amendment, $12 for the first page;

27         (c)  For indexing by additional debtor, secured party,

28  or assignee, $3 per additional name indexed;

29         (d)  For use of a nonapproved form, $5;

30         (e)  For each additional page attached to a record, $3;

31  

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 1         (f)  For filing a financing statement communicated by

 2  an electronic filing process authorized by the filing office,

 3  $15 with no additional fees for multiple names or attached

 4  pages;

 5         (g)  For filing an amendment communicated by an

 6  electronic filing process authorized by the filing office, $5

 7  with no additional fees for multiple names or attached pages;

 8         (f)(h)  For a certified copy of a financing statement

 9  and any and all associated amendments, $30; and

10         (g)(i)  For a photocopy of a filed record, $1 per page.

11         Section 25.  Subsection (2) of section 680.518, Florida

12  Statutes, is amended to read:

13         680.518  Cover; substitute goods.--

14         (2)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

15  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

16  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

17  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if a lessee's cover is

18  by lease agreement substantially similar to the original lease

19  agreement and the new lease agreement is made in good faith

20  and in a commercially reasonable manner, the lessee may

21  recover from the lessor as damages:

22         (a)  The present value, as of the date of the

23  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement, of the

24  rent under the new lease agreement and applicable to that

25  period of the new lease term which is comparable to the then

26  remaining term of the original lease agreement minus the

27  present value as of the same date of the total rent for the

28  then remaining lease term of the original lease agreement; and

29         (b)  Any incidental or consequential damages, less

30  expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default.

31  

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 1         Section 26.  Subsection (1) of section 680.519, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         680.519  Lessee's damages for nondelivery, repudiation,

 4  default, or breach of warranty in regard to accepted goods.--

 5         (1)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

 6  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

 7  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

 8  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if a lessee elects not

 9  to cover or a lessee elects to cover and the cover is by lease

10  agreement, whether or not the lease agreement qualifies for

11  treatment under s. 680.518(2), or is by purchase or otherwise,

12  the measure of damages for nondelivery or repudiation by the

13  lessor or for rejection or revocation of acceptance by the

14  lessee is the present value, as of the date of the default, of

15  the then market rent minus the present value as of the same

16  date of the original rent, computed for the remaining lease

17  term of the original lease agreement, together with incidental

18  and consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence

19  of the lessor's default.

20         Section 27.  Subsection (2) of section 680.527, Florida

21  Statutes, is amended to read:

22         680.527  Lessor's rights to dispose of goods.--

23         (2)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

24  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

25  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

26  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if the disposition is

27  by lease agreement substantially similar to the original lease

28  agreement and the new lease agreement is made in good faith

29  and in a commercially reasonable manner, the lessor may

30  recover from the lessee as damages:

31  

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 1         (a)  Accrued and unpaid rent as of the date of the

 2  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement;

 3         (b)  The present value, as of the same date, of the

 4  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement of the

 5  total rent for the then remaining lease term of the original

 6  lease agreement minus the present value, as of the same date,

 7  of the rent under the new lease agreement applicable to that

 8  period of the new lease term which is comparable to the then

 9  remaining term of the original lease agreement; and

10         (c)  Any incidental damages allowed under s. 680.53,

11  less expenses saved in consequence of the lessee's default.

12         Section 28.  Subsection (1) of section 680.528, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         680.528  Lessor's damages for nonacceptance or

15  repudiation.--

16         (1)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

17  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

18  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

19  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 580.503), if a lessor elects to

20  retain the goods or a lessor elects to dispose of the goods

21  and the disposition is by lease agreement that for any reason

22  does not qualify for treatment under s. 680.527(2), or is by

23  sale or otherwise, the lessor may recover from the lessee as

24  damages a default of the type described in s. 680.523(1) or

25  (3)(a), or if agreed, for other default of the lessee:

26         (a)  Accrued and unpaid rent as of the date of default

27  if the lessee has never taken possession of the goods, or, if

28  the lessee has taken possession of the goods, as of the date

29  the lessor repossesses the goods or an earlier date on which

30  the lessee makes a tender of the goods to the lessor.

31  

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 1         (b)  The present value as of the date determined under

 2  paragraph (a) of the total rent for the then remaining lease

 3  term of the original lease agreement minus the present value

 4  as of the same date of the market rent at the place where the

 5  goods were located on that date computed for the same lease

 6  term.

 7         (c)  Any incidental damages allowed under s. 680.53,

 8  less expenses saved in consequence of the lessee's default.

 9         Section 29.  Subsection (6) of section 713.901, Florida

10  Statutes, is amended to read:

11         713.901  Florida Uniform Federal Lien Registration

12  Act.--

13         (6)  FEES.--The charges or fees of the Secretary of

14  State, with respect to a notice or certificate filed under

15  this section, or for searching records with respect thereto,

16  are:

17         (a)  For filing any financing statement, $25 for the

18  first page, which fee shall include the cost of filing a

19  termination statement for the financing statement.

20         (b)  For filing a continuation, release, amendment,

21  assignment, or any other writing permitted by chapter 679, $12

22  for the first page.

23         (c)  For indexing by multiple debtors or secured

24  parties, $3 for each additional debtor or secured party.

25         (d)  For each additional facing page attached to a

26  financing statement, continuation, release, amendment,

27  assignment, or any other writing, $3.

28         (e)  For certifying any record, $10 for the first 10

29  file numbers certified and $10 for each subsequent group of 10

30  file numbers.

31  

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 1         (f)  For use, pursuant to s. 679.525(1)(d), of a

 2  nonapproved form, $5 shall be the same as prescribed in s.

 3  15.091.

 4  

 5  The charges or fees of the clerks of the circuit court with

 6  respect to a notice or certificate filed under this section

 7  shall be the same as prescribed in s. 28.24, relating to

 8  instruments recorded in the official records.

 9         Section 30.  This act shall take effect January 1,

10  2008.

11  

12          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
13                         Senate Bill 252

14                                 

15  The Committee Substitute makes the following changes:

16  --   Repeals s. 15.091, F.S., related to processing fees for
         UCC filings, the substance of which has been moved to s.
17       713.901, F.S.;

18  --   Amends s. 679.525, F.S, related to processing fees for
         UCC filings, to delete the fees for electronic filing;
19       and

20  --   Corrects a scrivener's error in section 29 of the bill,
         to change a proposed fee from $3 to $5.
21  

22  

23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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