HB255 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chad Fincher

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Jamie Ison

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Mobile Co., county officers, credit card payments, fee required to cover costs, Act 99-651, 1999 2nd Sp. Sess. am'd.

Summary

HB255 lets Mobile County officials accept credit card payments for amounts due and requires a user fee to cover processing costs.

What This Bill Does

HB255 amends Act 99-651 to authorize Mobile County elected officials to accept credit card payments for taxes, licenses, fines, penalties, and other amounts payable to the county. If such payments are accepted, the payer must be charged a fee to cover processing or transactional costs charged by the card issuer or bank. Officials may adopt policies and enter agreements with credit card processors, but those agreements cannot offer discounts on the face amount or require an administrative fee, and they may be canceled with notice. The use of credit cards does not relieve the underlying obligation, and the county can pursue remedies if payment is not completed; officials have no personal liability for collecting payments. The act becomes effective immediately after passage and approval.

Who It Affects

• Mobile County elected officials and offices (e.g., Revenue Commissioner, License Commissioner, Judge of Probate, County Commission, Sheriff) – may accept credit card payments and set related policies.
• County residents and businesses paying taxes, licenses, fines, and penalties – may pay by credit card but will be charged a processing fee to cover the county's processing costs.

Key Provisions

• Amends Act 99-651 to authorize acceptance of credit card payments for all amounts payable to Mobile County, including taxes, licenses, fines, and penalties.
• Defines credit card broadly to include credit, charge, or debit cards as defined by Alabama law.
• Allows elected officials to decide whether to accept credit card payments and to adopt policies or enter processor agreements to facilitate acceptance.
• Requires the payer to pay a fee to cover the processing or transactional costs charged by card issuers or banks when paying by credit card; agreements may not provide discounts or charge administrative fees.
• Agreements may be canceled by the elected official with notice; no personal liability for officials in collecting payments; underlying obligations remain enforceable if final payment is not made.
• Effective date: the act becomes effective immediately after passage and approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Mobile County