House Bill 2257

    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HB 2257

        By the Committee on Utilities & Communications and
    Representative Rojas





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to financial matters; amending

  3         s. 215.322, F.S.; revising legislative intent;

  4         specifying circumstances under which

  5         governmental agencies or the judicial branch

  6         may accept credit cards, charge cards, or debit

  7         cards; prescribing duties of the State

  8         Technology Office; removing a limitation on

  9         convenience fees; providing an effective date.

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

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13         Section 1.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section

14  215.322, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

15         215.322  Acceptance of credit cards, charge cards, or

16  debit cards by state agencies, units of local government, and

17  the judicial branch.--

18         (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage

19  state agencies, the judicial branch and units of local

20  government to make their goods, services, and information more

21  convenient to the public through the and to reduce the

22  administrative costs of government by acceptance of payments

23  by credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards to the maximum

24  extent practicable when the benefits to the participating

25  agency and the public substantiate the cost of accepting these

26  types of payments.

27         (2)  A state agency as defined in s. 216.011, or the

28  judicial branch, may accept credit cards, charge cards, or

29  debit cards in payment for goods and services upon the

30  recommendation of the Office of Planning and Budgeting and

31  with the prior approval of the Treasurer. When the Internet or

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HB 2257

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  1  other related electronic methods are to be used as the

  2  collection medium, the State Technology Office shall review

  3  and recommend to the Treasurer whether to approve the request

  4  with regard to the process or procedure to be used.

  5         (3)  The Treasurer shall adopt rules governing the

  6  establishment and acceptance of credit cards, charge cards, or

  7  debit cards by state agencies or the judicial branch,

  8  including, but not limited to, the following:

  9         (a)  Utilization of a standardized contract between the

10  financial institution or other appropriate intermediaries and

11  the agency or judicial branch which shall be developed by the

12  Treasurer or approval by the Treasurer of a substitute

13  agreement.

14         (b)  Procedures which permit an agency or officer

15  accepting payment by credit card, charge card, or debit card

16  to impose a convenience fee upon the person making the

17  payment. However, the total amount of such convenience fees

18  shall not exceed the total cost to the state agency of

19  contracting for such card services. A convenience fee is not

20  refundable to the payor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this

21  section shall not be construed to permit surcharges on any

22  other credit card purchase in violation of s. 501.0117.

23         (c)  All service fees payable pursuant to this section

24  when practicable shall be invoiced and paid by state warrant

25  or such other manner that is satisfactory to the Comptroller

26  in accordance with the time periods specified in s. 215.422.

27         (d)  Submission of information to the Treasurer

28  concerning the acceptance of credit cards, charge cards, or

29  debit cards by all state agencies or the judicial branch.

30         (e)  A methodology for agencies to use when completing

31  the cost-benefit analysis referred to in subsection (1). The

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                HB 2257

    193-154-00






  1  methodology must consider all quantifiable cost reductions,

  2  other benefits to the agency, and potential impact on general

  3  revenue. The methodology must also consider nonquantifiable

  4  benefits such as the convenience to individuals and businesses

  5  that would benefit from the ability to pay for state goods and

  6  services through the use of credit cards, charge cards, and

  7  debit cards.

  8         Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2000.

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11                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Specifies circumstances under which governmental agencies
13    or the judicial branch may accept credit cards, charge
      cards, or debit cards. Prescribes duties of the State
14    Technology Office. Removes a limitation on convenience
      fees. See bill for details.
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