| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to the collection of delinquent financial |
| 3 | obligations; creating s. 215.125, F.S.; authorizing a |
| 4 | board of county commissioners or governing body of a |
| 5 | municipality to pursue collection of certain delinquent |
| 6 | obligations to which it is entitled or refer the account |
| 7 | to other specified individuals for collection; authorizing |
| 8 | a collection fee and an attorney's fee to be added to the |
| 9 | outstanding balance that is referred for collection; |
| 10 | limiting the amount that may be added to the outstanding |
| 11 | balance of an account referred for collection; providing |
| 12 | an effective date. |
| 13 |
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| 14 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 15 |
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| 16 | Section 1. Section 215.125, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 17 | to read: |
| 18 | 215.125 Collection of delinquent financial obligations |
| 19 | payable to a county or municipality.-The board of county |
| 20 | commissioners or the governing body of a municipality may pursue |
| 21 | the collection of any fees, service charges, fines, or costs to |
| 22 | which it is entitled which remain unpaid for 90 days or more, or |
| 23 | refer the account to a private attorney who is a member in good |
| 24 | standing of The Florida Bar or collection agent who is |
| 25 | registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter 559. The |
| 26 | collection fee, including any reasonable attorney's fee, paid to |
| 27 | any attorney or collection agent retained by the board of county |
| 28 | commissioners or the governing body of a municipality may be |
| 29 | added to the balance owed at the time the account is referred to |
| 30 | the attorney or agents for collection and may not exceed the |
| 31 | amount authorized by s. 938.35. |
| 32 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |