House Bill 0525

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                 HB 525

        By Representative Waters






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the State University System;

  3         amending s. 240.289, F.S.; authorizing

  4         institutions in the State University System to

  5         accept payment of tuition and fees by credit

  6         cards or debit cards without imposing a

  7         convenience fee for card use; authorizing such

  8         institutions to absorb the costs of using such

  9         cards; authorizing such institutions to enter

10         into contracts with financial institutions for

11         certain purposes; requiring universities to

12         provide certain education relating to credit

13         card use and debt management; providing an

14         effective date.

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

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18         Section 1.  Section 240.289, Florida Statutes, is

19  amended to read:

20         240.289  Credit card, charge card, and debit card use

21  in university system; authority; education.--

22         (1)  The several universities in the State University

23  System are authorized, pursuant to s. 215.322, to enter into

24  agreements and accept credit card, charge card, or debit card

25  payments as compensation for goods, services, tuition, and

26  fees in accordance with rules established by the Board of

27  Regents.

28         (2)  In addition, the several universities are also

29  authorized to accept credit cards and debit cards for the

30  payment of tuition and fees without the imposition of a

31  convenience fee for such card services. The costs incurred by

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                 HB 525

    722-112A-00






  1  the several universities in accepting credit cards and debit

  2  cards may be absorbed by the universities as a cost of doing

  3  business. The universities may use any source of

  4  nonappropriated funds to cover the costs of accepting such

  5  cards. Subject to approval by the State Treasurer,

  6  universities also may negotiate credit card contracts and

  7  debit card contracts with financial institutions whereby a

  8  compensating balance may be placed on deposit with the

  9  financial institutions to cover the costs of accepting credit

10  cards and debit cards. The several universities may accept

11  credit card or debit card payments at any location where

12  compensation is received for goods, services, tuition, or

13  fees, whether the payor makes payment in person or by

14  electronic means.

15         (3)  Each university shall ensure that students are

16  provided opportunities to become educated as to the proper use

17  of credit cards, methods to avoid indebtedness, and how to

18  manage debt responsibly. Each university shall develop

19  internal policies to ensure that such education is made

20  available to each student at the university, including, but

21  not limited to, use of informational seminars held routinely

22  on campus and a freshman life skills class or similar course

23  designed to orient new students to the college environment and

24  issues students typically confront while in college, including

25  the financially responsible use of credit cards.

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

27  law.

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                 HB 525

    722-112A-00






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  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Authorizes institutions in the State University System to
  4    accept payment of tuition and fees by credit cards or
      debit cards without imposing a convenience fee for card
  5    use and authorizes such institutions to absorb the costs
      of using such cards. Authorizes such institutions to
  6    enter into contracts with financial institutions to cover
      the costs of using such cards. Requires universities to
  7    provide student education on credit card use and debt
      management.
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