DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part of the
legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute part of the law
or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HB 638 Original 2015 Regular Session Ivey
Abstract: Provides relative to the collection of fees associated with payments to state agencies made
by a customer thorough credit cards, debit cards, or other forms of electronic payments.
Present law authorizes state agencies to accept credit cards, debit cards, and similar payment devices
approved by the treasurer and provides for the treasurer to establish fees for such transactions (R.S.
49:316.1). Further provides for a separate authorization for the Dept. of Public Safety and
Corrections, public safety services to accept similar payments (R.S. 40:1322).
Present law (R.S. 40:1322) authorizes the collection of convenience fees on credit card transactions
authorized for the Dept. of Public Safety and Corrections including a $1 fee for transactions through
a telephone or Internet and a fee on transactions where the customer appears in person with a
minimum charge of $1 and a maximum charge of $150 allowed. Present law further provides that
the percentage rate used to calculate the fee on in-person transactions is the percentage rate used by
the bank to calculate its processing fee.
Proposed law changes the provisions regarding the amount of the convenience fee from a required
minimum and maximum allowed amount to a fee that may either be a uniform dollar amount or a
percentage of the transaction.
Present law (R.S. 49:316.1) requires agencies that accept credit card payments to assess certain fees,
as established by the treasurer, when accepting payment as authorized in present law. Proposed law
removes requirement to assess such fee and provides that the assessment of the fee is permissive.
Proposed law changes one of the payment methods authorized to be accepted from "similar
payment devices" to "other forms of electronic payments" to broaden the forms of payment that can
be accepted by state agencies.
Present law allows certain agencies to use a third-party processor to collect a convenience fee on
payments authorized in present law. Further, the amount of the convenience fee shall be approved
by the Senate Committee on Revenue and Fiscal Affairs and The House Committee on Ways and
Means. The agencies permitted in present law to use the third-party processor are the following:
(1) Department of Revenue.
(2)Department of Insurance Department of Transportation and Development. (3) Department of Public Safety and Corrections.
(4) Department of Wildlife and Fisheries.
(5)Department of Environmental Quality.
Proposed law changes the term of the third-party that is authorized in present law from "third- party
processor" to "third-party solution" and further defines third-party solution.
Proposed law changes the agencies allowed to use a third-party solution to collect a convenience fee
from those agencies specifically authorized in present law to any state entity.
(Amends R.S. 40:1322(B)(2) and R.S. 49:316.1)