Governor signs bill that will now allow private schools to pass along a “convenience fee” to families choosing to pay tuition, fees or other student account charges by credit card. The bill goes into effect on July 1, 2016.
Prior to July 1, 2016, Christian schools that accepted credit cards could not recover the cost of processing by passing those charges on to parents. But, starting July 1, Christian schools can add convenience fees to recover the cost of processing credit cards for tuition and other school related expenses.
The new law states:
“A convenience fee imposed upon a student or family paying tuition, fees, or other student account charges by credit card…to a private school, as defined in s. 1002.01, is not considered to be a surcharge and is exempt from this section if the amount of the convenience fee does not exceed the total cost charged by the credit card company to the institution. The term “credit card” includes those cards for which unpaid balances are payable on demand. This section does not apply to the offering of a discount for the purpose of inducing payment by cash, check, or other means not involving the use of a credit card, if the discount is offered to all prospective customers.
(2) A person who violates the provisions of subsection (1) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. Section 2.
House Bill 145 by Rep. Kionne McGhee (D, Cutler Bay) was one of 26 bills that were signed into law by Gov. Scott on Thursday, March 10, 2016.
[button size=”large” type=”normal” style=”square” color=”primary” icon=”” new_window=”yes” link=”https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2016/0145/BillText/er/PDF”]Read the Bill[/button]