Senate Bill 0878c1

    Florida Senate - 2000                            CS for SB 878

    By the Committee on Education and Senator Kirkpatrick





    304-1932-00

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the State University System;

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

  4         universities in the system to accept credit

  5         cards, charge cards, and debit cards and to

  6         absorb the costs of using such cards; providing

  7         an effective date.

  8

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

10

11         Section 1.  Section 240.289, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         240.289  Credit card, charge card, and debit card use

14  in university system; authority.--

15         (1)  The several universities in the State University

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

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

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

19  fees in accordance with rules established by the Board of

20  Regents.

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

22  authorized to accept credit cards, charge cards, and debit

23  cards for the payment of tuition and fees without the

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

25  costs incurred by the several universities in accepting credit

26  cards and debit cards may be absorbed by the universities as a

27  cost of doing business. The universities may use any source of

28  nonappropriated funds to cover the costs of accepting such

29  cards. Subject to approval by the State Treasurer,

30  universities also may negotiate credit card contracts, charge

31  card contracts, and debit card contracts with financial

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






    Florida Senate - 2000                            CS for SB 878
    304-1932-00




  1  institutions whereby a compensating balance may be placed on

  2  deposit with the financial institutions to cover the costs of

  3  accepting credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards. The

  4  several universities may accept credit card, charge card, or

  5  debit card payments at any location where compensation is

  6  received for goods, services, tuition, or fees, whether the

  7  payor makes payment in person or by electronic means.

  8         (3)  Each university shall ensure that students are

  9  provided opportunities to become educated as to the proper use

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

11  manage debt responsibly. Each university shall develop

12  internal policies to ensure that such education is made

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

14  not limited to, use of informational seminars held routinely

15  on campus and a freshman life-skills class or similar course

16  designed to orient new students to the college environment and

17  issues students typically confront while in college, including

18  the financially responsible use of credit cards.

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

20  law.

21

22          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
23                              SB 878

24

25  Authorizes state universities to accept charge cards in
    addition to credit cards and debit cards as payment of tuition
26  and fees.

27  State Treasurer approval is required for a university to
    negotiate contracts with financial institutions to maintain a
28  compensating balance on deposit to cover costs of accepting
    credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards.
29
    State universities will be required to provide students with
30  opportunities to learn how to use credit cards responsibly,
    manage debt, and avoid indebtedness.
31

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