House Bill 0525c1

    Florida House of Representatives - 2000              CS/HB 525

        By the Committee on Colleges & Universities and
    Representatives Waters, J. Miller, Greenstein, Cosgrove and
    Logan




  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, charge cards, or debit cards without

  7         imposing a convenience fee for card use;

  8         authorizing such institutions to absorb the

  9         costs of using such cards; authorizing such

10         institutions to enter into contracts with

11         financial institutions for certain purposes;

12         requiring universities to provide certain

13         education relating to credit card use and debt

14         management; providing an 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, charge cards, and debit

30  cards for the payment of tuition and fees without the

31  imposition of a convenience fee for such card services. The

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000              CS/HB 525

    184-293-00






  1  costs incurred by the several universities in accepting credit

  2  cards, charge cards, and debit cards may be absorbed by the

  3  universities as a cost of doing business. The universities may

  4  use any source of nonappropriated funds to cover the costs of

  5  accepting such cards. Subject to approval by the State

  6  Treasurer, universities also may negotiate credit card

  7  contracts, charge card contracts, and debit card contracts

  8  with financial institutions whereby a compensating balance may

  9  be placed on deposit with the financial institutions to cover

10  the costs of accepting credit cards, charge cards, and debit

11  cards. The several universities may accept credit card, charge

12  card, or debit card payments at any location where

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

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

15  electronic means.

16         (3)  Each university shall ensure that students are

17  provided opportunities to become educated as to the proper use

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

19  manage debt responsibly. Each university shall develop

20  internal policies to ensure that such education is made

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

22  not limited to, use of informational seminars held routinely

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

24  designed to orient new students to the college environment and

25  issues students typically confront while in college, including

26  the financially responsible use of credit cards.

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

28  law.

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    Florida House of Representatives - 2000              CS/HB 525

    184-293-00






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  2                          HOUSE SUMMARY

  3
      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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