The Florida Senate

532.01  Payment by check, draft, or other order for payment.

532.02  Payment by other device.

532.04  Payment by direct deposit of funds.

532.01  Payment by check, draft, or other order for payment.--Any order, check, draft, note, memorandum, or other acknowledgment of indebtedness issued in payment of wages or salary due or to become due must be negotiable and payable in cash, on demand, without discount, at some established place of business in the state, the name and address of which must appear on the instrument, and at the time of its issuance, and for a reasonable time thereafter, which must be at least 30 days, the maker or drawer must have sufficient funds or credit, arrangement, or understanding with the drawee for its payment.

History.--s. 1, ch. 6914, 1915; RGS 2522; CGL 3944; s. 1, ch. 18004, 1937; s. 1, ch. 71-324.

532.02  Payment by other device.--Any person issuing coupons, punch-outs, tickets, tokens, or other device in lieu of cash as payment for labor, whether redeemable either wholly or partially in goods or merchandise, at the person's or any other place of business, shall, on demand of any legal holder thereof:

(1)  Be liable for the full face value thereof in current money of the United States, on or after the 30th day succeeding the day of issuance.

(2)  Be liable for payment in current money of the United States, notwithstanding any contrary stipulation or provision, which may be therein contained.

(3)  Be subject to suit brought thereon in any court of competent jurisdiction, upon failure to comply with either subsection (1) or subsection (2), wherein any legal holder's recovery shall include the full face value of any such device, with legal interest from demand and, in the court's discretion, 10 percent of said amount as attorney's fees in the same suit.

History.--s. 2, ch. 6914, 1915; RGS 2523; CGL 3945; s. 1, ch. 71-324; s. 732, ch. 97-103.

532.04  Payment by direct deposit of funds.--

(1)  None of the provisions of this chapter shall be deemed or construed to prohibit the payor of wages or salary from causing the amount of such wages or salary to be deposited directly to the account of the payee in a financial institution by electronic or other medium if such direct deposit has been authorized in writing by the payee and if the payee has designated in writing the financial institution of her or his choice in which such deposit is to be made. However, at the time the order for payment of such direct deposit is received by the drawee, the payor of such wages or salary must have sufficient funds or credit or an arrangement or understanding with the drawee for payment thereof.

(2)  No employer or payor of wages or salary shall terminate the employment of any employee or payee solely for refusing to authorize such direct deposit of wages or salary.

(3)  An employee or payee of wages or salary may bring a civil action against any person violating subsection (2). Upon rendition of a judgment or decree by any of the courts of this state against the person violating subsection (2) and in favor of the employee or payee of wages or salary, the trial court, or, in event of an appeal in which the employee or payee prevails, the appellate court, shall adjudge or decree against the person violating subsection (2) and in favor of the employee or payee a reasonable sum as fees for the employee's or payee's attorney prosecuting the suit in which the recovery is had. The court may, in its discretion, provide such equitable relief as it deems necessary or proper, including enjoining the defendant from further violation of subsection (2). If it appears to the court that the suit brought by the plaintiff was ill-founded or brought for purposes of harassment, the plaintiff shall be liable for reasonable attorney's fees incurred by the defendant. When so awarded, attorney's fees shall be included in the judgment or decree rendered in the case.

History.--s. 1, ch. 77-296; s. 733, ch. 97-103.