Bill Text: MS HB473 | 2017 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Counties and municipalities; revise how rates for electronic payments are assessed.
Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Republican 1-0)
Status: (Failed) 2017-01-31 - Died In Committee [HB473 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2017-HB473-Introduced.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2017 Regular Session
To: County Affairs; Municipalities
By: Representative Baker
House Bill 473
AN ACT TO AMEND SECTION 17-25-1, MISSISSIPPI CODE OF 1972, TO REVISE HOW A COUNTY OR MUNICIPALITY MAY SET THE PROCESSING RATE FOR ELECTRONIC PAYMENTS; AND FOR RELATED PURPOSES.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI:
SECTION 1. Section 17-25-1, Mississippi Code of 1972, is amended as follows:
17-25-1. The board of
supervisors of any county and the governing authorities of any municipality may
allow the payment of various taxes, fees and other accounts receivable to the
county or municipality, and the payment for
retail merchandise sold by the county or municipality, by credit cards,
charge cards, debit cards and other forms of electronic payment, in accordance
with policies established by the State Auditor. Except
as otherwise provided in this section, any fees or charges associated
with the use of such electronic payments shall be assessed to the user of the
electronic payment as an additional charge for processing the electronic
payment, so that the user will pay the full cost of using the electronic
payment. * * * The county or municipality
shall evaluate the average charge of processing the electronic payments and may
charge a flat rate for all transactions based on the percentage of the
transaction. If a flat rate is used, it shall be reasonably related to the
overall and average per transaction processing fees and internal costs, not to
exceed four percent (4%) per transaction. Notice of such rate shall be posted
in a location, where the consumer can easily see such rates before making an
electronic payment. For purposes of this section, the term "accounts
receivable" includes, but is not limited to, judgments, fines, costs and penalties imposed upon
conviction for criminal and traffic offenses. A county or municipality may bear the full cost of
processing such electronic payments for retail merchandise sold by the county
or municipality.
SECTION 2. This act shall take effect and be in force from and after July 1, 2017.
