THE BILL ITSELF
CS/HB 967
Electronic Payments Made to Units of Local Governments
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An act relating to electronic payments made to units
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of local governments; amending s. 215.322, F.S.;
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revising legislative intent; requiring units of local
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government to accept certain forms of payments;
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providing an exception; requiring such local
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governments to accept payments online; providing an
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effective date.
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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Section 1. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 215.322,
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Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
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215.322 Acceptance of credit cards, charge cards, debit
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cards, or electronic funds transfers by state agencies, units of
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local government, and the judicial branch; acceptance of online
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payments by units of local governments.—
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(1)(a) It is the intent of the Legislature to encourage
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state agencies, and the judicial branch, and require units of
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local government to make their goods, services, and information
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more convenient to the public through the acceptance of payments
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by credit cards, charge cards, debit cards, or other means of
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electronic funds transfers to the maximum extent practicable
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when the benefits to the participating agency and the public
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substantiate the cost of accepting these types of payments.
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(b) It is the intent of the Legislature to require units
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of local government to accept payments online.
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(5)(a) Each A unit of local government, including a
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municipality, special district, or board of county commissioners
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or other governing body of a county, a consolidated or
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metropolitan government, and any clerk of the circuit court,
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sheriff, property appraiser, tax collector, or supervisor of
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elections, shall is authorized to accept payment by use of
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credit cards, charge cards, bank debit cards, and electronic
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funds transfers for financial obligations that are owing to such
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unit of local government, except when another form of payment is
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required by law, and is authorized to surcharge the person who
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uses a credit card, charge card, bank debit card, or electronic
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funds transfer in payment of taxes, license fees, tuition,
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fines, civil penalties, court-ordered payments, or court costs,
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or other statutorily prescribed revenues an amount sufficient to
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pay the service fee charges by the financial institution,
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vending service company, or credit card company for such
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services. Such A unit of local government shall verify both the
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validity of any credit card, charge card, bank debit card, or
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electronic funds transfer used pursuant to this subsection and
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the existence of appropriate credit with respect to the person
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using the card or transfer. The unit of local government does
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not incur any liability as a result of such verification or any
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subsequent action taken.
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(b) A unit of local government accepting payment under
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paragraph (a) is required to have a method for accepting such
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payment online.
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Section 2. This act shall take effect January 1, 2027.