Senate Bill sb0252c2

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    Florida Senate - 2007                     CS for CS for SB 252

    By the Committees on Judiciary; Commerce; and Senators
    Aronberg and Lynn




    590-1997-07

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Uniform Commercial Code;

  3         repealing s. 15.091, F.S., relating to

  4         processing fees for filings of financial

  5         statements and other written documents under

  6         the Uniform Commerical Code; amending s.

  7         671.101, F.S.; providing scope of chapter and a

  8         short title; amending s. 671.102, F.S.;

  9         authorizing certain timeframes to be fixed by

10         agreement; amending s. 671.106, F.S.; making

11         editorial changes; amending s. 671.107, F.S.;

12         providing for the discharge of a claim or right

13         under certain circumstances; amending s.

14         671.201, F.S.; providing, revising, and

15         deleting definitions; amending ss. 671.202 and

16         671.203, F.S.; making editorial changes;

17         amending s. 671.204, F.S.; revising criteria

18         determining when an action is taken within a

19         reasonable time and seasonably; amending s.

20         671.205, F.S.; defining "course of

21         performance"; revising the definition of

22         "course of dealing"; providing that course of

23         performance and course of dealing may be used

24         for certain purposes; revising uses for express

25         terms of an agreement; specifying when course

26         of performance, course of dealing, or usage of

27         trade prevails; providing that course of

28         performance is relevant to show a waiver or

29         modification in certain circumstances;

30         repealing s. 671.206, F.S., relating to statute

31         of frauds for kinds of personal property not

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 1         otherwise covered; amending s. 671.208, F.S.;

 2         making editorial changes; creating s. 671.209,

 3         F.S.; providing definitions; specifying when

 4         notice, knowledge, or notification becomes

 5         effective with the exercise of due diligence;

 6         creating s. 671.21, F.S.; providing that

 7         whenever the code creates certain presumptions,

 8         the trier of fact must find the existence of

 9         the fact presumed unless evidence is introduced

10         which supports a finding of its nonexistence;

11         creating s. 671.211, F.S.; providing in what

12         instances a person gives value for rights;

13         creating s. 671.212, F.S.; providing that the

14         code modifies, limits, and supersedes certain

15         provisions of the federal Electronic Signatures

16         in Global and National Commerce Act; creating

17         s. 671.213, F.S.; authorizing the subordination

18         of certain obligations; authorizing the

19         registry to use the fees collected to fund its

20         operations; amending s. 679.525, F.S.; deleting

21         the filing fees for electronically filing a

22         financing statement or an amendment thereto;

23         amending ss. 559.9232, 563.022, 668.50,

24         670.106, 670.204, 675.102, 680.518, 680.519,

25         680.527, and 680.528, F.S.; conforming

26         cross-references; amending s. 713.901, F.S.;

27         specifying fees under the Florida Uniform

28         Federal Lien Registration Act previously

29         provided through cross-reference; deleting a

30         cross-reference to conform to changes made by

31         the act; providing an effective date.

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

 2  

 3         Section 1.  Section 15.091, Florida Statutes, is

 4  repealed.

 5         Section 2.  Section 671.101, Florida Statutes, is

 6  amended to read:

 7         671.101  Short title; scope of chapter.--

 8         (1)  Chapters 670-680 may be cited as the "Uniform

 9  Commercial Code."

10         (2)  This chapter applies to a transaction to the

11  extent that it is governed by another chapter of this code and

12  may be cited as the "Uniform Commercial Code--General

13  Provisions."

14         Section 3.  Section 671.102, Florida Statutes, is

15  amended to read:

16         671.102  Purposes; rules of construction; variation by

17  agreement.--

18         (1)  This code shall be liberally construed and applied

19  to promote its underlying purposes and policies, which.

20         (2)  Underlying purposes and policies of this code are:

21         (a)  To simplify, clarify, and modernize the law

22  governing commercial transactions.;

23         (b)  To permit the continued expansion of commercial

24  practices through custom, usage, and agreement of the

25  parties.;

26         (c)  To make uniform the law among the various

27  jurisdictions.

28         (2)(a)(3)  Except as otherwise provided in this code,

29  the effect of provisions of this code may be varied by

30  agreement., except as otherwise provided in this code and

31  except that

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 1         (b)  The obligations of good faith, diligence,

 2  reasonableness, and care prescribed by this code may not be

 3  disclaimed by agreement, but the parties may by agreement

 4  determine the standards by which the performance of such

 5  obligations is to be measured if such standards are not

 6  manifestly unreasonable. Whenever this code requires an action

 7  to be taken within a reasonable time, a time that is not

 8  manifestly unreasonable may be fixed by agreement.

 9         (c)(4)  The presence in certain provisions of this code

10  of the words "unless otherwise agreed" or words of similar

11  import does not imply that the effect of other provisions may

12  not be varied by agreement under this subsection (3).

13         (3)(5)  In this code, unless the context otherwise

14  requires:

15         (a)  Words in the singular number include the plural,

16  and words in the plural include the singular.;

17         (b)  Gender-specific language includes the other gender

18  and neuter, and when the sense so indicates Words of either

19  the neuter gender also may refer to the other any gender.

20         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 671.106, Florida

21  Statutes, is amended to read:

22         671.106  Remedies to be liberally administered.--

23         (1)  The remedies provided by this code must shall be

24  liberally administered to the end that the aggrieved party may

25  be put in as good a position as if the other party had fully

26  performed, but neither consequential or special nor penal

27  damages may be had except as specifically provided in this

28  code or by other rule of law.

29         Section 5.  Section 671.107, Florida Statutes, is

30  amended to read:

31  

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 1         671.107  Waiver or renunciation of claim or right after

 2  breach.--A Any claim or right arising out of an alleged breach

 3  can be discharged in whole or in part without consideration by

 4  agreement of a written waiver or renunciation signed and

 5  delivered by the aggrieved party in an authenticated record.

 6         Section 6.  Section 671.201, Florida Statutes, is

 7  amended to read:

 8         671.201  General definitions.--Unless the context

 9  otherwise requires, words or phrases defined in this section,

10  or in the additional definitions contained in other chapters

11  of this code which apply to particular chapters or parts

12  thereof, have the meanings stated. Subject to additional

13  definitions contained in other the subsequent chapters of this

14  code which apply which are applicable to particular specific

15  chapters or parts thereof, the term and unless the context

16  otherwise requires, in this code:

17         (1)  "Action," in the sense of a judicial proceeding,

18  includes recoupment, counterclaim, setoff, suit in equity, and

19  any other proceedings in which rights are determined.

20         (2)  "Aggrieved party" means a party entitled to pursue

21  resort to a remedy.

22         (3)  "Agreement," as distinguished from "contract,"

23  means the bargain of the parties in fact, as found in their

24  language or inferred by implication from other circumstances,

25  including course of dealing, or usage of trade, or course of

26  performance as provided in this code (ss. 671.205 and

27  672.208). Whether an agreement has legal consequences is

28  determined by the provisions of this code, if applicable;

29  otherwise by the law of contracts (s. 671.103). (Compare

30  "contract.")

31  

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 1         (4)  "Bank" means a any person engaged in the business

 2  of banking and includes a savings bank, a savings and loan

 3  association, a credit union, and a trust company.

 4         (5)  "Bearer" means a the person in possession of a

 5  negotiable an instrument, document of title, or certificated

 6  security that is payable to bearer or indorsed in blank.

 7         (6)  "Bill of lading" means a document evidencing the

 8  receipt of goods for shipment issued by a person engaged in

 9  the business of transporting or forwarding goods, and includes

10  an airbill. "Airbill" means a document serving for air

11  transportation as a bill of lading does for marine or rail

12  transportation, and includes an air consignment note or air

13  waybill.

14         (7)  "Branch" includes a separately incorporated

15  foreign branch of a bank.

16         (8)  "Burden of establishing" a fact means the burden

17  of persuading the triers of fact that the existence of the

18  fact is more probable than its nonexistence.

19         (9)  "Buyer in ordinary course of business" means a

20  person who, in ordinary course, buys goods in good faith,

21  without knowledge that the sale violates the rights of another

22  person in the goods, and in the ordinary course from a person,

23  other than a pawnbroker, in the business of selling goods of

24  that kind. A person buys goods in the ordinary course if the

25  sale to the person comports with the usual or customary

26  practices in the kind of business in which the seller is

27  engaged or with the seller's own usual or customary practices.

28  A person who sells oil, gas, or other minerals at the wellhead

29  or minehead is a person in the business of selling goods of

30  that kind. A buyer in the ordinary course of business may buy

31  for cash, by exchange of other property, or on secured or

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 1  unsecured credit and may acquire goods or documents of title

 2  under a preexisting contract for sale. Only a buyer who takes

 3  possession of the goods or has a right to recover the goods

 4  from the seller under chapter 672 may be a buyer in the

 5  ordinary course of business. "Buyer in ordinary course of

 6  business" does not include a person who acquires goods in a

 7  transfer in bulk or as security for or in total or partial

 8  satisfaction of a money debt is not a buyer in the ordinary

 9  course of business.

10         (10)  A term or clause is "Conspicuous," with reference

11  to a term, means when it is so written, displayed, or

12  presented that a reasonable person against whom it is to

13  operate ought to have noticed it. Whether a term is

14  "conspicuous" is a decision for the court. Conspicuous terms

15  include the following:

16         (a)  A printed heading in capitals in a size equal to

17  or larger than that of the surrounding text or in a (as:

18  NONNEGOTIABLE BILL OF LADING) is conspicuous. Language in the

19  body of a form is conspicuous if it is in larger or other

20  contrasting type, font, or color in contrast to the

21  surrounding text of the same or lesser size.

22         (b)  Language in the body of a record or display in

23  type larger than that of the surrounding text; in a type,

24  font, or color in contrast to the surrounding text of the same

25  size; or set off from surrounding text of the same size by

26  symbols or other marks that call attention to the language.

27  But in a telegram any stated term is conspicuous. Whether a

28  term or clause is conspicuous or not is for decision by the

29  court.

30  

31  

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 1         (11)  "Consumer" means an individual who enters into a

 2  transaction primarily for personal, family, or household

 3  purposes.

 4         (12)(11)  "Contract," as distinguished from

 5  "agreement," means the total legal obligation that which

 6  results from the parties' agreement as determined affected by

 7  this code and as supplemented by any other applicable laws

 8  rules of law. (Compare "agreement.")

 9         (13)(12)  "Creditor" includes a general creditor, a

10  secured creditor, a lien creditor, and any representative of

11  creditors, including an assignee for the benefit of creditors,

12  a trustee in bankruptcy, a receiver in equity, and an executor

13  or administrator of an insolvent debtor's or assignor's

14  estate.

15         (14)(13)  "Defendant" includes a person in the position

16  of defendant in a cross-action or counterclaim, cross-claim,

17  or third-party claim.

18         (15)(14)  "Delivery," with respect to an instrument

19  instruments, document documents of title, or chattel paper, or

20  certificated securities means voluntary transfer of

21  possession.

22         (16)(15)  "Document of title" includes bill of lading,

23  dock warrant, dock receipt, warehouse receipt or order for the

24  delivery of goods, and also any other document that which in

25  the regular course of business or financing is treated as

26  adequately evidencing that the person in possession of it is

27  entitled to receive, hold, and dispose of the document and the

28  goods it covers. To be a document of title, a document must

29  purport to be issued by or addressed to a bailee and purport

30  to cover goods in the bailee's possession which are either

31  identified or are fungible portions of an identified mass.

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 1         (17)(16)  "Fault" means a default, breach, or wrongful

 2  act or, omission or breach.

 3         (18)(17)  "Fungible goods" with respect to goods or

 4  securities means:

 5         (a)  Goods or securities of which any unit is, by

 6  nature or usage of trade, is the equivalent of any other like

 7  unit; or.

 8         (b)  Goods which are not fungible shall be deemed

 9  fungible for the purposes of this code to the extent that, by

10  under a particular agreement, or document unlike units are

11  treated as equivalents.

12         (19)(18)  "Genuine" means free of forgery or

13  counterfeiting.

14         (20)(19)  "Good faith," except as otherwise provided in

15  this code, means honesty in fact and in the observance of

16  reasonable commercial standards of fair dealing conduct or

17  transaction concerned.

18         (21)(20)  "Holder," with respect to a negotiable

19  instrument, means:

20         (a)  The person in possession of a negotiable if the

21  instrument that is payable either to bearer or, in the case of

22  an instrument payable to an identified person that is, if the

23  identified person is in possession; or. "Holder," with respect

24  to a document of title, means

25         (b)  The person in possession of a document of title if

26  the goods are deliverable either to bearer or to the order of

27  the person in possession.

28         (21)  To "honor" is to pay or to accept and pay, or

29  where a credit so engages to purchase or discount a draft

30  complying with the terms of the credit.

31  

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 1         (22)  "Insolvency proceeding proceedings" includes an

 2  any assignment for the benefit of creditors or other

 3  proceeding proceedings intended to liquidate or rehabilitate

 4  the estate of the person involved.

 5         (23)  A person is "Insolvent" means:

 6         (a)  Having who either has ceased to pay his or her

 7  debts in the ordinary course of business other than as a

 8  result of a bona fide dispute;

 9         (b)  Being unable to or cannot pay his or her debts as

10  they become due; or

11         (c)  Being is insolvent within the meaning of the

12  Federal Bankruptcy Law.

13         (24)  "Money" means a medium of exchange currently

14  authorized or adopted by a domestic or foreign government. The

15  term and includes a monetary unit of account established by an

16  intergovernmental organization or by agreement between two or

17  more countries nations.

18         (25)  A person has "notice" of a fact when

19         (a)  He or she has actual knowledge of it; or

20         (b)  He or she has received a notice or notification of

21  it; or

22         (c)  From all the facts and circumstances known to the

23  person at the time in question he or she has reason to know

24  that it exists.

25  

26  A person "knows" or has "knowledge" of a fact when he or she

27  has actual knowledge of it. "Discover" or "learn" or a word or

28  phrase of similar import refers to knowledge rather than to

29  reason to know. The time and circumstances under which a

30  notice or notification may cease to be effective are not

31  determined by this code.

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 1         (26)  A person "notifies" or "gives" a notice or

 2  notification to another by taking such steps as may be

 3  reasonably required to inform the other in ordinary course

 4  whether or not such other actually comes to know of it. A

 5  person "receives" a notice or notification when

 6         (a)  It comes to his or her attention; or

 7         (b)  It is duly delivered at the place of business

 8  through which the contract was made or at any other place held

 9  out by the person as the place for receipt of such

10  communications.

11         (27)  Notice, knowledge or a notice or notification

12  received by an organization is effective for a particular

13  transaction from the time when it is brought to the attention

14  of the individual conducting that transaction, and in any

15  event from the time when it would have been brought to his or

16  her attention if the organization had exercised due diligence.

17  An organization exercises due diligence if it maintains

18  reasonable routines for communicating significant information

19  to the person conducting the transaction and there is

20  reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does

21  not require an individual acting for the organization to

22  communicate information unless such communication is part of

23  his or her regular duties or unless the individual has reason

24  to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be

25  materially affected by the information.

26         (25)(28)  "Organization" means a person other than an

27  individual includes a corporation, government or governmental

28  subdivision or agency, business trust, estate, trust,

29  partnership or association, two or more persons having a joint

30  or common interest, or any other legal or commercial entity.

31  

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 1         (26)(29)  "Party," as distinguished distinct from

 2  "third party," means a person who has engaged in a transaction

 3  or made an agreement subject to within this code.

 4         (27)(30)  "Person" means includes an individual;

 5  corporation; business trust; estate; trust; partnership;

 6  limited liability company; association; joint venture;

 7  government; governmental subdivision, agency, or

 8  instrumentality; public corporation; or any other legal or

 9  commercial entity or an organization (see s. 671.102).

10         (28)  "Present value" means the amount as of a date

11  certain of one or more sums payable in the future, discounted

12  to the date certain by use of either an interest rate

13  specified by the parties if that rate is not manifestly

14  unreasonable at the time the transaction is entered into or,

15  if an interest rate is not so specified, a commercially

16  reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and

17  circumstances at the time the transaction is entered into.

18         (31)  "Presumption" or "presumed" means that the trier

19  of fact must find the existence of the fact presumed unless

20  and until evidence is introduced which would support a finding

21  of its nonexistence.

22         (29)(32)  "Purchase" means includes taking by sale,

23  lease, discount, negotiation, mortgage, pledge, lien, security

24  interest, issue or reissue, gift, or any other voluntary

25  transaction creating an interest in property.

26         (30)(33)  "Purchaser" means a person who takes by

27  purchase.

28         (31)  "Record" means information that is inscribed on a

29  tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other

30  medium and is retrievable in perceivable form.

31  

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 1         (32)(34)  "Remedy" means any remedial right to which an

 2  aggrieved party is entitled with or without resort to a

 3  tribunal.

 4         (33)(35)  "Representative" means a person empowered to

 5  act for another, including includes an agent, an officer of a

 6  corporation or association, and a trustee, executor, or

 7  administrator of an estate, or any other person empowered to

 8  act for another.

 9         (34)(36)  "Right Rights" includes "remedy" remedies.

10         (35)(37)  "Security interest" means an interest in

11  personal property or fixtures which secures payment or

12  performance of an obligation. "Security interest" The term

13  also includes any interest of a consignor and a buyer of

14  accounts, chattel paper, a payment intangible, or a promissory

15  note in a transaction that which is subject to chapter 679.

16  "Security interest" does not include the special property

17  interest of a buyer of goods on identification of those goods

18  to a contract for sale under s. 672.401 is not a security

19  interest, but a buyer may also acquire a security interest by

20  complying with chapter 679. Except as otherwise provided in s.

21  672.505, the right of a seller or lessor of goods under

22  chapter 672 or chapter 680 to retain or acquire possession of

23  the goods is not a security interest, but a seller or lessor

24  may also acquire a security interest by complying with chapter

25  679. The retention or reservation of title by a seller of

26  goods, notwithstanding shipment or delivery to the buyer under

27  (s. 672.401), is limited in effect to a reservation of a

28  security interest. Whether a transaction in the form of a

29  lease creates a lease or security interest is determined by

30  the facts of each case; however:

31  

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 1         (a)  A transaction in the form of a lease creates a

 2  security interest if the consideration that the lessee is to

 3  pay the lessor for the right to possession and use of the

 4  goods is an obligation for the term of the lease not subject

 5  to termination by the lessee, and:;

 6         1.  The original term of the lease is equal to or

 7  greater than the remaining economic life of the goods;

 8         2.  The lessee is bound to renew the lease for the

 9  remaining economic life of the goods or is bound to become the

10  owner of the goods;

11         3.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease for the

12  remaining economic life of the goods for no additional

13  consideration or nominal additional consideration upon

14  compliance with the lease agreement; or

15         4.  The lessee has an option to become the owner of the

16  goods for no additional consideration or nominal additional

17  consideration upon compliance with the lease agreement.

18         (b)  A transaction does not create a security interest

19  merely because it provides that:

20         1.  The present value of the consideration the lessee

21  is obligated to pay the lessor for the right to possession and

22  use of the goods is substantially equal to or is greater than

23  the fair market value of the goods at the time the lease is

24  entered into;

25         2.  The lessee assumes the risk of loss of the goods or

26  agrees to pay taxes; insurance; filing, recording, or

27  registration fees; or service or maintenance costs with

28  respect to the goods;

29         3.  The lessee agrees to pay, with respect to the

30  goods, taxes; insurance; filing, recording, or registration

31  fees; or service or maintenance costs;

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 1         4.3.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease or to

 2  become the owner of the goods;

 3         5.4.  The lessee has an option to renew the lease for a

 4  fixed rent that is equal to or greater than the reasonably

 5  predictable fair market rent for the use of the goods for the

 6  term of the renewal at the time the option is to be performed;

 7  or

 8         6.5.  The lessee has an option to become the owner of

 9  the goods for a fixed price that is equal to or greater than

10  the reasonably predictable fair market value of the goods at

11  the time the option is to be performed.

12         (c)  For purposes of this subsection:

13         1.  Additional consideration is not nominal if it is

14  less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of

15  performing under the lease agreement if the option is not

16  exercised. Additional consideration is not nominal if:,

17         1.  When the option to renew the lease is granted to

18  the lessee, the rent is stated to be the fair market rent for

19  the use of the goods for the term of the renewal determined at

20  the time the option is to be performed; or if,

21         2.  When the option to become the owner of the goods is

22  granted to the lessee, the price is stated to be the fair

23  market value of the goods determined at the time the option is

24  to be performed. Additional consideration is nominal if it is

25  less than the lessee's reasonably predictable cost of

26  performing under the lease agreement if the option is not

27  exercised.

28         (d)2.  The "Reasonably predictable" and "remaining

29  economic life of the goods" and "reasonably predictable" fair

30  market rent, fair market value, or cost of performing under

31  the lease agreement must are to be determined with reference

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 1  to the facts and circumstances at the time the transaction is

 2  entered into.

 3         3.  "Present value" means the amount as of a date

 4  certain of one or more sums payable in the future, discounted

 5  to the date certain. The discount is determined by the

 6  interest rate specified by the parties if the rate is not

 7  manifestly unreasonable at the time the transaction is entered

 8  into; otherwise, the discount is determined by a commercially

 9  reasonable rate that takes into account the facts and

10  circumstances of each case at the time the transaction was

11  entered into.

12         (36)(38)  "Send," in connection with a any writing,

13  record, or notice, means:

14         (a)  To deposit in the mail or deliver for transmission

15  by any other usual means of communication with postage or cost

16  of transmission provided for and properly addressed and, in

17  the case of an instrument, to an address specified thereon or

18  otherwise agreed, or, if there be none, to any address

19  reasonable under the circumstances; or.

20         (b)  In any other way to cause to be received The

21  receipt of any record writing or notice within the time at

22  which it would have arrived if properly sent has the effect of

23  a proper sending.

24         (37)(39)  "Signed" means bearing includes any symbol

25  executed or adopted by a party with present intention to adopt

26  or accept authenticate a writing.

27         (38)  "State" means a state of the United States, the

28  District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the United States Virgin

29  Islands, or any territory or insular possession subject to the

30  jurisdiction of the United States.

31  

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 1         (39)(40)  "Surety" includes a guarantor or other

 2  secondary obligor.

 3         (41)  "Telegram" includes a message transmitted by

 4  radio, teletype, cable, any mechanical method of transmission,

 5  or the like.

 6         (40)(42)  "Term" means a that portion of an agreement

 7  which relates to a particular matter.

 8         (41)(43)  "Unauthorized" signature" means a signature

 9  one made without actual, implied, or apparent authority. The

10  term and includes a forgery.

11         (44)  "Value." Except as otherwise provided with

12  respect to negotiable instruments and bank collections (ss.

13  673.3031, 674.2101, and 674.2111), a person gives value for

14  rights if he or she acquires them:

15         (a)  In return for a binding commitment to extend

16  credit or for the extension of immediately available credit

17  whether or not drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is

18  provided for in the event of difficulties in collection;

19         (b)  As security for or in total or partial

20  satisfaction of a preexisting claim;

21         (c)  By accepting delivery pursuant to a preexisting

22  contract for purchase; or

23         (d)  Generally, in return for any consideration

24  sufficient to support a simple contract.

25         (42)(45)  "Warehouse receipt" means a written receipt

26  or an electronic notification of receipt issued by a person

27  engaged in the business of storing goods for hire.

28         (43)(46)  "Written" or "Writing" includes printing,

29  typewriting, or any other intentional reduction to tangible

30  form. "Written" has a corresponding meaning.

31  

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 1         Section 7.  Section 671.202, Florida Statutes, is

 2  amended to read:

 3         671.202  Prima facie evidence by third-party

 4  documents.--A document in due form purporting to be a bill of

 5  lading, policy or certificate of insurance, official weigher's

 6  or inspector's certificate, consular invoice, or any other

 7  document authorized or required by the contract to be issued

 8  by a third party is shall be prima facie evidence of its own

 9  authenticity and genuineness and of the facts stated in the

10  document by the third party.

11         Section 8.  Section 671.203, Florida Statutes, is

12  amended to read:

13         671.203  Obligation of good faith.--Every contract or

14  duty within this code imposes an obligation of good faith in

15  its performance and or enforcement.

16         Section 9.  Section 671.204, Florida Statutes, is

17  amended to read:

18         671.204  Actions taken within Time; reasonable time;

19  "seasonably."--

20         (1)  Whether a time for taking an action required by

21  Whenever this code is requires any action to be taken within a

22  reasonable time, any time which is not manifestly unreasonable

23  may be fixed by agreement.

24         (2)  What is a reasonable time for taking any action

25  depends on the nature, purpose, and circumstances of the such

26  action.

27         (2)(3)  An action is taken "seasonably" if when it is

28  taken at or within the time agreed or, if no time is agreed,

29  at or within a reasonable time.

30         Section 10.  Section 671.205, Florida Statutes, is

31  amended to read:

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 1         671.205  Course of performance; course of dealing; and

 2  usage of trade.--

 3         (1)  A "course of performance" is a sequence of conduct

 4  between the parties to a particular transaction that exists

 5  if:

 6         (a)  The agreement of the parties with respect to the

 7  transaction involves repeated occasions for performance by a

 8  party; and

 9         (b)  The other party, with knowledge of the nature of

10  the performance and opportunity for objection to it, accepts

11  the performance or acquiesces in it without objection.

12         (2)(1)  A "course of dealing" is a sequence of previous

13  conduct concerning previous transactions between the parties

14  to a particular transaction which is fairly to be regarded as

15  establishing a common basis of understanding for interpreting

16  their expressions and other conduct.

17         (3)(2)  A "usage of trade" is any practice or method of

18  dealing having such regularity of observance in a place,

19  vocation, or trade as to justify an expectation that it will

20  be observed with respect to the transaction in question. The

21  existence and scope of such a usage are to be proved as facts.

22  If it is established that such a usage is embodied in a

23  written trade code or similar record, writing the

24  interpretation of the record writing is a question of law for

25  the court.

26         (4)(3)  A course of performance or a course of dealing

27  between the parties or and any usage of trade in the vocation

28  or trade in which they are engaged or of which they are or

29  should be aware is relevant in ascertaining the give

30  particular meaning of the parties' to and supplement or

31  qualify terms of an agreement, may give particular meaning to

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 1  specific terms of the agreement, and may supplement or qualify

 2  the terms of the agreement. A usage of trade applicable in the

 3  place in which part of the performance under the agreement is

 4  to occur may be so utilized as to that part of the

 5  performance.

 6         (5)(4)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (6),

 7  the express terms of an agreement and any an applicable course

 8  of performance, course of dealing, or usage of trade must

 9  shall be construed whenever wherever reasonable as consistent

10  with each other. If; but when such a construction is

11  unreasonable:

12         (a)  Express terms prevail over control both course of

13  performance, course of dealing, and usage of trade;

14         (b)  Course of performance prevails over course of

15  dealing and usage of trade; and

16         (c)  Course of dealing prevails over controls usage of

17  trade.

18         (6)  A course of performance is relevant to show a

19  waiver or modification of any term inconsistent with the

20  course of performance.

21         (5)  An applicable usage of trade in the place where

22  any part of performance is to occur shall be used in

23  interpreting the agreement as to that part of the performance.

24         (7)(6)  Evidence of a relevant usage of trade offered

25  by one party is not admissible unless that party and until he

26  or she has given the other party such notice that as the court

27  finds sufficient to prevent unfair surprise to the other party

28  latter.

29         Section 11.  Section 671.206, Florida Statutes, is

30  repealed.

31  

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 1         Section 12.  Section 671.208, Florida Statutes, is

 2  amended to read:

 3         671.208  Option to accelerate at will.--A term

 4  providing that one party or the party's successor in interest

 5  may accelerate payment or performance or require collateral or

 6  additional collateral "at will" or "when she or he deems

 7  herself or himself insecure" or in words of similar import

 8  must shall be construed to mean that she or he has shall have

 9  power to do so only if she or he in good faith believes that

10  the prospect of payment or performance is impaired. The burden

11  of establishing lack of good faith is on the party against

12  whom the power has been exercised.

13         Section 13.  Section 671.209, Florida Statutes, is

14  created to read:

15         671.209  Notice; knowledge.--

16         (1)  Subject to subsection (6), a person has "notice"

17  of a fact if the person:

18         (a)  Has actual knowledge of it;

19         (b)  Has received a notice or notification of it; or

20         (c)  From all the facts and circumstances known to the

21  person at the time in question, has reason to know that it

22  exists.

23         (2)  "Knowledge" means actual knowledge. "Knows" has a

24  corresponding meaning.

25         (3)  "Discover," "learn," or words of similar import

26  refer to knowledge rather than to reason to know.

27         (4)  A person "notifies" or "gives a notice or

28  notification to" another person by taking such steps as may be

29  reasonably required to inform the other person in ordinary

30  course, regardless of whether the other person actually comes

31  to know of it.

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 1         (5)  Subject to subsection (6), a person "receives" a

 2  notice or notification when:

 3         (a)  It comes to that person's attention; or

 4         (b)  It is duly delivered in a form reasonable under

 5  the circumstances at the place of business through which the

 6  contract was made or at another location held out by that

 7  person as the place for receipt of such communications.

 8         (6)  Notice, knowledge, or a notice or notification

 9  received by an organization is effective for a particular

10  transaction from the time it is brought to the attention of

11  the person conducting that transaction and, in any event, from

12  the time it would have been brought to the person's attention

13  if the organization had exercised due diligence. An

14  organization exercises due diligence if it maintains

15  reasonable routines for communicating significant information

16  to the person conducting the transaction and there is

17  reasonable compliance with the routines. Due diligence does

18  not require an individual acting for the organization to

19  communicate information unless the communication is part of

20  the individual's regular duties or the individual has reason

21  to know of the transaction and that the transaction would be

22  materially affected by the information.

23         Section 14.  Section 671.21, Florida Statutes, is

24  created to read:

25         671.21  Presumptions.--Whenever this code creates a

26  "presumption" with respect to a fact or provides that a fact

27  is "presumed," the trier of fact must find the existence of

28  the fact presumed unless evidence is introduced which supports

29  a finding of its nonexistence.

30         Section 15.  Section 671.211, Florida Statutes, is

31  created to read:

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 1         671.211  Value.--Except as otherwise provided with

 2  respect to negotiable instruments and bank collections as

 3  provided in ss. 673.3031, 674.2101, and 674.2111, a person

 4  gives value for rights if the person acquires them:

 5         (1)  In return for a binding commitment to extend

 6  credit or for the extension of immediately available credit

 7  whether or not drawn upon and whether or not a charge-back is

 8  provided for in the event of difficulties in collection;

 9         (2)  As security for, or in total or partial

10  satisfaction of, a preexisting claim;

11         (3)  By accepting delivery under a preexisting contract

12  for purchase; or

13         (4)  In return for any consideration sufficient to

14  support a simple contract.

15         Section 16.  Section 671.212, Florida Statutes, is

16  created to read:

17         671.212  Relation to Electronic Signatures in Global

18  and National Commerce Act.--This code modifies, limits, and

19  supersedes the federal Electronic Signatures in Global and

20  National Commerce Act, 15 U.S.C. ss. 7001 et seq., except that

21  nothing in this code modifies, limits, or supersedes 15 U.S.C.

22  s. 7001(c) or authorizes electronic delivery of any of the

23  notices described in 15 U.S.C. s. 7003(b).

24         Section 17.  Section 671.213, Florida Statutes, is

25  created to read:

26         671.213  Subordinated obligations.--An obligation may

27  be issued as subordinated to performance of another obligation

28  of the person obligated, or a creditor may subordinate its

29  right to performance of an obligation by agreement with either

30  the person obligated or another creditor of the person

31  obligated. Subordination does not create a security interest

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 1  as against either the common debtor or a subordinated

 2  creditor.

 3         Section 18.  Subsection (2) of section 559.9232,

 4  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         559.9232  Definitions; exclusion of rental-purchase

 6  agreements from certain regulations.--

 7         (2)  A rental-purchase agreement that complies with

 8  this act shall not be construed to be, nor be governed by, any

 9  of the following:

10         (a)  A lease or agreement that which constitutes a

11  credit sale as defined in 12 C.F.R. s. 226.2(a)(16) and s.

12  1602(g) of the federal Truth in Lending Act, 15 U.S.C. ss.

13  1601 et seq.;

14         (b)  A lease that which constitutes a "consumer lease"

15  as defined in 12 C.F.R. s. 213.2(a)(6);

16         (c)  Any lease for agricultural, business, or

17  commercial purposes;

18         (d)  Any lease made to an organization;

19         (e)  A lease or agreement that which constitutes a

20  "retail installment contract" or "retail installment

21  transaction" as those terms are defined in s. 520.31; or

22         (f)  A security interest as defined in s. 671.201(35)

23  s. 671.201(37).

24         Section 19.  Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) of section

25  563.022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

26         563.022  Relations between beer distributors and

27  manufacturers.--

28         (2)  DEFINITIONS.--In construing this section, unless

29  the context otherwise requires, the word, phrase, or term:

30  

31  

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 1         (g)  "Good faith" means honesty in fact in the conduct

 2  or transaction concerned as defined and interpreted under s.

 3  671.201(20) s. 671.201(19).

 4         Section 20.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) and

 5  paragraph (d) of subsection (16) of section 668.50, Florida

 6  Statutes, are amended to read:

 7         668.50  Uniform Electronic Transaction Act.--

 8         (3)  SCOPE.--

 9         (b)  This section does not apply to a transaction to

10  the extent the transaction is governed by:

11         1.  A provision of law governing the creation and

12  execution of wills, codicils, or testamentary trusts;

13         2.  The Uniform Commercial Code other than s. ss.

14  671.107 and 671.206 and chapters 672 and 680;

15         3.  The Uniform Computer Information Transactions Act;

16  or

17         4.  Rules relating to judicial procedure.

18         (16)  TRANSFERABLE RECORDS.--

19         (d)  Except as otherwise agreed, a person having

20  control of a transferable record is the holder, as defined in

21  s. 671.201(21) s. 671.201(20), of the transferable record and

22  has the same rights and defenses as a holder of an equivalent

23  record or writing under the Uniform Commercial Code,

24  including, if the applicable statutory requirements under s.

25  673.3021, s. 677.501, or s. 679.308 are satisfied, the rights

26  and defenses of a holder in due course, a holder to which a

27  negotiable document of title has been duly negotiated, or a

28  purchaser, respectively. Delivery, possession, and indorsement

29  are not required to obtain or exercise any of the rights under

30  this paragraph.

31  

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 1         Section 21.  Subsection (1) of section 670.106, Florida

 2  Statutes, is amended to read:

 3         670.106  Time payment order is received.--

 4         (1)  The time of receipt of a payment order or

 5  communication canceling or amending a payment order is

 6  determined by the rules applicable to receipt of a notice

 7  stated in s. 671.209 s. 671.201(27). A receiving bank may fix

 8  a cut-off time or times on a funds-transfer business day for

 9  the receipt and processing of payment orders and

10  communications canceling or amending payment orders. Different

11  cut-off times may apply to payment orders, cancellations, or

12  amendments or to different categories of payment orders,

13  cancellations, or amendments. A cut-off time may apply to

14  senders generally, or different cut-off times may apply to

15  different senders or categories of payment orders. If a

16  payment order or communication canceling or amending a payment

17  order is received after the close of a funds-transfer business

18  day or after the appropriate cut-off time on a funds-transfer

19  business day, the receiving bank may treat the payment order

20  or communication as received at the opening of the next

21  funds-transfer business day.

22         Section 22.  Subsection (2) of section 670.204, Florida

23  Statutes, is amended to read:

24         670.204  Refund of payment and duty of customer to

25  report with respect to unauthorized payment order.--

26         (2)  Reasonable time under subsection (1) may be fixed

27  by agreement as stated in s. 671.204(1), but the obligation of

28  a receiving bank to refund payment as stated in subsection (1)

29  may not otherwise be varied by agreement.

30         Section 23.  Subsection (3) of section 675.102, Florida

31  Statutes, is amended to read:

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 1         675.102  Scope.--

 2         (3)  With the exception of this subsection, subsections

 3  (1) and (4), ss. 675.103(1)(i) and (j), 675.106(4), and

 4  675.114(4), and except to the extent prohibited in ss.

 5  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 675.117(4), the effect of this

 6  chapter may be varied by agreement or by a provision stated or

 7  incorporated by reference in an undertaking. A term in an

 8  agreement or undertaking generally excusing liability or

 9  generally limiting remedies for failure to perform obligations

10  is not sufficient to vary obligations prescribed by this

11  chapter.

12         Section 24.  Subsection (1) of section 679.525, Florida

13  Statutes, is amended to read:

14         679.525  Processing fees.--

15         (1)  Except as otherwise provided in subsection (3),

16  the nonrefundable processing fee for filing and indexing a

17  record under this part, other than an initial financing

18  statement of the kind described in s. 679.5021(3), is:

19         (a)  For filing an initial financing statement, $25 for

20  the first page, which shall include the cost of filing a

21  termination statement for the financing statement;

22         (b)  For filing an amendment, $12 for the first page;

23         (c)  For indexing by additional debtor, secured party,

24  or assignee, $3 per additional name indexed;

25         (d)  For use of a nonapproved form, $5;

26         (e)  For each additional page attached to a record, $3;

27         (f)  For filing a financing statement communicated by

28  an electronic filing process authorized by the filing office,

29  $15 with no additional fees for multiple names or attached

30  pages;

31  

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 1         (g)  For filing an amendment communicated by an

 2  electronic filing process authorized by the filing office, $5

 3  with no additional fees for multiple names or attached pages;

 4         (f)(h)  For a certified copy of a financing statement

 5  and any and all associated amendments, $30; and

 6         (g)(i)  For a photocopy of a filed record, $1 per page.

 7         Section 25.  Subsection (2) of section 680.518, Florida

 8  Statutes, is amended to read:

 9         680.518  Cover; substitute goods.--

10         (2)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

11  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

12  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

13  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if a lessee's cover is

14  by lease agreement substantially similar to the original lease

15  agreement and the new lease agreement is made in good faith

16  and in a commercially reasonable manner, the lessee may

17  recover from the lessor as damages:

18         (a)  The present value, as of the date of the

19  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement, of the

20  rent under the new lease agreement and applicable to that

21  period of the new lease term which is comparable to the then

22  remaining term of the original lease agreement minus the

23  present value as of the same date of the total rent for the

24  then remaining lease term of the original lease agreement; and

25         (b)  Any incidental or consequential damages, less

26  expenses saved in consequence of the lessor's default.

27         Section 26.  Subsection (1) of section 680.519, Florida

28  Statutes, is amended to read:

29         680.519  Lessee's damages for nondelivery, repudiation,

30  default, or breach of warranty in regard to accepted goods.--

31  

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 1         (1)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

 2  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

 3  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

 4  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if a lessee elects not

 5  to cover or a lessee elects to cover and the cover is by lease

 6  agreement, whether or not the lease agreement qualifies for

 7  treatment under s. 680.518(2), or is by purchase or otherwise,

 8  the measure of damages for nondelivery or repudiation by the

 9  lessor or for rejection or revocation of acceptance by the

10  lessee is the present value, as of the date of the default, of

11  the then market rent minus the present value as of the same

12  date of the original rent, computed for the remaining lease

13  term of the original lease agreement, together with incidental

14  and consequential damages, less expenses saved in consequence

15  of the lessor's default.

16         Section 27.  Subsection (2) of section 680.527, Florida

17  Statutes, is amended to read:

18         680.527  Lessor's rights to dispose of goods.--

19         (2)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

20  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

21  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

22  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 680.503), if the disposition is

23  by lease agreement substantially similar to the original lease

24  agreement and the new lease agreement is made in good faith

25  and in a commercially reasonable manner, the lessor may

26  recover from the lessee as damages:

27         (a)  Accrued and unpaid rent as of the date of the

28  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement;

29         (b)  The present value, as of the same date, of the

30  commencement of the term of the new lease agreement of the

31  total rent for the then remaining lease term of the original

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 1  lease agreement minus the present value, as of the same date,

 2  of the rent under the new lease agreement applicable to that

 3  period of the new lease term which is comparable to the then

 4  remaining term of the original lease agreement; and

 5         (c)  Any incidental damages allowed under s. 680.53,

 6  less expenses saved in consequence of the lessee's default.

 7         Section 28.  Subsection (1) of section 680.528, Florida

 8  Statutes, is amended to read:

 9         680.528  Lessor's damages for nonacceptance or

10  repudiation.--

11         (1)  Except as otherwise provided with respect to

12  damages liquidated in the lease agreement (s. 680.504) or

13  otherwise determined pursuant to agreement of the parties (ss.

14  671.102(2) ss. 671.102(3) and 580.503), if a lessor elects to

15  retain the goods or a lessor elects to dispose of the goods

16  and the disposition is by lease agreement that for any reason

17  does not qualify for treatment under s. 680.527(2), or is by

18  sale or otherwise, the lessor may recover from the lessee as

19  damages a default of the type described in s. 680.523(1) or

20  (3)(a), or if agreed, for other default of the lessee:

21         (a)  Accrued and unpaid rent as of the date of default

22  if the lessee has never taken possession of the goods, or, if

23  the lessee has taken possession of the goods, as of the date

24  the lessor repossesses the goods or an earlier date on which

25  the lessee makes a tender of the goods to the lessor.

26         (b)  The present value as of the date determined under

27  paragraph (a) of the total rent for the then remaining lease

28  term of the original lease agreement minus the present value

29  as of the same date of the market rent at the place where the

30  goods were located on that date computed for the same lease

31  term.

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 1         (c)  Any incidental damages allowed under s. 680.53,

 2  less expenses saved in consequence of the lessee's default.

 3         Section 29.  Subsection (6) of section 713.901, Florida

 4  Statutes, is amended to read:

 5         713.901  Florida Uniform Federal Lien Registration

 6  Act.--

 7         (6)  FEES.--

 8         (a)  The charges or fees of the Secretary of State,

 9  with respect to a notice or certificate filed under this

10  section, or for searching records with respect thereto, are:

11         1.  For filing a notice of lien, which fee shall

12  include the cost of filing a certificate of release or

13  nonstatement for said notice of lien, $25.

14         2.  For indexing of each additional debtor or secured

15  party, $3.

16         3.  For each additional facing page attached to a

17  notice or certificate, $3.

18         4.  For use of a nonapproved form, $5.

19         5.  For filing a certificate of discharge or

20  subordination, $12.

21         6.  For filing a refiled notice of federal lien, $12.

22         7.  For filing any other document required or permitted

23  to be filed under this act, $12.

24         8.  For certifying any record, $10 shall be the same as

25  prescribed in s. 15.091.

26         (b)  The charges or fees of the clerks of the circuit

27  court with respect to a notice or certificate filed under this

28  section shall be the same as prescribed in s. 28.24, relating

29  to instruments recorded in the official records.

30         Section 30.  This act shall take effect January 1,

31  2008.

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 1          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
 2                        CS Senate Bill 252

 3                                 

 4  This committee substitute changes the underlying committee
    substitute in that it:
 5  
    --   corrects cross references to the Electronic Signatures in
 6       Global and National Commerce Act; and

 7  --   revises the terminology of the fee schedule for filings
         under the Florida Uniform Federal Lien Registration Act.
 8  

 9  

10  

11  

12  

13  

14  

15  

16  

17  

18  

19  

20  

21  

22  

23  

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  

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