Senate Bill 2472

    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2472

    By Senator Latvala





    19-1633B-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to financial matters; amending

  3         s. 215.322, F.S.; providing intent; specifying

  4         circumstances under which governmental agencies

  5         or the judicial branch may accept credit cards,

  6         charge cards, or debit cards; prescribing

  7         duties of the State Technology Office; removing

  8         a limitation on convenience fees; providing an

  9         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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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2472
    19-1633B-00




  1  other electronic methods are to be used as the collection

  2  medium, the State Technology Office shall review and recommend

  3  to the Treasurer whether to approve the request.

  4         (3)  The Treasurer shall adopt rules governing the

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

  6  debit cards by state agencies or the judicial branch,

  7  including, but not limited to, the following:

  8         (a)  Utilization of a standardized contract between the

  9  financial institution or other appropriate intermediaries and

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

11  Treasurer or approval by the Treasurer of a substitute

12  agreement.

13         (b)  Procedures which permit an agency or officer

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

15  to impose a convenience fee upon the person making the

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

17  shall not exceed the total cost to the state of contracting

18  for such card services. A convenience fee is not refundable to

19  the payor. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this section shall

20  not be construed to permit surcharges on any other credit card

21  purchase in violation of s. 501.0117.

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

23  when practicable shall be invoiced and paid by state warrant

24  or such other manner that is satisfactory to the Comptroller

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

26         (d)  Submission of information to the Treasurer

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

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

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

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

31  methodology must consider all quantifiable cost reductions,

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    Florida Senate - 2000                                  SB 2472
    19-1633B-00




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

  2  revenue. The methodology must also consider nonquantifiable

  3  benefits such as the convenience to individuals and businesses

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

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

  6  debit cards.

  7         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  8  law.

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11                          SENATE SUMMARY

12    Revises provisions governing the acceptance by
      governmental agencies and the judicial branch of credit
13    cards, charge cards, or debit cards for goods and
      services. Removes a limitation on convenience fees.
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