Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 298
       
       
        
       By Senator Taddeo
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00166-21                                            2021298__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the electronic payment of
    3         governmental fees; amending s. 28.246, F.S.; requiring
    4         clerks of the circuit court to provide an electronic
    5         option for payment of court-related fines and other
    6         fees; amending s. 119.07, F.S.; requiring an agency
    7         subject to ch. 119, F.S., to provide an electronic
    8         option for payment of fees associated with a public
    9         records request; providing that the act fulfills an
   10         important state interest; providing an effective date.
   11          
   12  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   13  
   14         Section 1. Subsection (7) is added to section 28.246,
   15  Florida Statutes, to read:
   16         28.246 Payment of court-related fines or other monetary
   17  penalties, fees, charges, and costs; partial payments;
   18  distribution of funds.—
   19         (7) The clerk of the circuit court shall provide an
   20  electronic option for the payment of court-related fines and any
   21  other monetary penalties, fees, charges, and costs received by
   22  the clerk.
   23         Section 2. Present subsections (5) through (8) of section
   24  119.07, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6)
   25  through (9), respectively, and a new subsection (5) is added to
   26  that section, to read:
   27         119.07 Inspection and copying of records; photographing
   28  public records; fees; exemptions.—
   29         (5) An agency must provide an electronic option for the
   30  payment of any fee associated with a request to inspect or copy
   31  public records.
   32         Section 3. The Legislature determines and declares that
   33  this act fulfills an important state interest.
   34         Section 4. This act shall take effect January 1, 2022.