Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 1210
       
       
       
       By Senator Norman
       
       
       
       
       12-00670A-11                                          20111210__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to counties and municipalities;
    3         creating ss. 125.01052 and 166.0498, F.S.; authorizing
    4         the board of county commissioners and the governing
    5         body of a municipality to pursue the collection of
    6         delinquent fees, service charges, fines, or costs
    7         through the use of a private attorney or a collection
    8         agent; providing that the collection fee, including
    9         attorney’s fees, may be added to the balance owed;
   10         limiting the amount of the fee; providing an effective
   11         date.
   12  
   13  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   14  
   15         Section 1. Section 125.01052, Florida Statutes, is created
   16  to read:
   17         125.01052 Collection of delinquent financial obligations.
   18  The board of county commissioners may pursue the collection of
   19  any fees, service charges, fines, or costs to which it is
   20  entitled and which remain unpaid for 90 days or more, or refer
   21  the account to a private attorney who is a member in good
   22  standing of The Florida Bar or a collection agent who is
   23  registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter 559. The
   24  collection fee, including any reasonable attorney’s fee, paid to
   25  any attorney or collection agent may be added to the balance
   26  owed at the time the account is referred to the attorney or
   27  agent for collection and may not exceed 40 percent of the amount
   28  owed at the time the account is referred for collection.
   29         Section 2. Section 166.0498, Florida Statutes, is created
   30  to read:
   31         166.0498 Collection of delinquent financial obligations.
   32  The governing body of a municipality may pursue the collection
   33  of any fees, service charges, fines, or costs to which it is
   34  entitled and which remain unpaid for 90 days or more, or refer
   35  the account to a private attorney who is a member in good
   36  standing of The Florida Bar or a collection agent who is
   37  registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter 559. The
   38  collection fee, including any reasonable attorney’s fee, paid to
   39  any attorney or collection agent may be added to the balance
   40  owed at the time the account is referred to the attorney or
   41  agent for collection and may not exceed 40 percent of the amount
   42  owed at the time the account is referred for collection.
   43         Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.