The online versions of legislation provided on this website are not official. Enrolled bills are the final version passed by the Ohio General Assembly and presented to the Governor for signature. The official version of acts signed by the Governor are available from the Secretary of State's Office in the Continental Plaza, 180 East Broad St., Columbus.
|
***
An attempt was made to recreate these historic documents. The original text was retained, however, during the process some errors in formatting may have been introduced. The official version of the act may be obtained from the Secretary of State's Office listed above.
***
|
(122nd General Assembly)(Amended Substitute House Bill Number 515)
AN ACT
To amend section 301.27 and to enact section 301.28 of the
Revised Code to allow the use of county credit cards to pay for
work-related transportation and Internet
service provider
expenses and to authorize a board of county commissioners to
pass a resolution specifying financial transaction devices that may
be accepted for the payment of expenses
to county
offices.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Ohio:
SECTION 1 . That section 301.27 be amended and section 301.28 of the Revised
Code be enacted to read as follows:
Sec. 301.27. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Credit card" includes a gasoline credit card and a
telephone credit card. (2) "Officer" includes an individual who also is an
appointing authority. (3) "Gasoline and oil expenses," "minor motor vehicle
maintenance expenses," and "emergency motor vehicle repair
expenses" refer to only those expenses incurred for motor
vehicles owned or leased by the county. (B) A credit card held by a board of county commissioners
or the office of any other county appointing authority shall be
used only to pay work-related food, transportation, gasoline and
oil, minor motor
vehicle maintenance, emergency motor vehicle repair, telephone,
and lodging, and internet service provider expenses. (C) A county appointing authority may apply to the board
of county commissioners for authorization to have an officer or
employee of the appointing authority use a credit card held by
that appointing authority. The authorization request shall state
whether the card is to be issued only in the name of the office
of the appointing authority itself or whether the issued card
shall also include the name of a specified officer or employee. (D) The debt incurred as a result of the use of a credit
card pursuant to this section shall be paid from moneys
appropriated to the appointing authority for work-related food,
transportation,
gasoline and oil, minor motor vehicle maintenance, emergency
motor vehicle repair, telephone, and lodging, and internet
service provider expenses. (E)(1) Except as otherwise provided in division (E)(2) of
this section, every officer or employee authorized to use a
credit card held by the board or appointing authority shall
submit to the board by the first day of each month an estimate of
the officer's or employee's work-related food, transportation,
gasoline and
oil, minor motor vehicle
maintenance, emergency motor vehicle repair, telephone, and
lodging, and internet service provider expenses for that month,
unless the board authorizes, by
resolution, the officer or employee to submit to the board such
an estimate for a period longer than one month. The board may
revise the estimate and determine the amount it approves, if any,
not to exceed the estimated amount. The board shall certify the
amount of its determination to the county auditor along with the
necessary information for the auditor to determine the
appropriate appropriation line item from which such expenditures
are to be made. After receiving certification from the county
auditor that the determined sum of money is in the treasury or in
the process of collection to the credit of the appropriate
appropriation line item for which the credit card is approved for
use, and is free from previous and then-outstanding obligations
or certifications, the board shall authorize the officer or
employee to incur debt for such expenses against the county's
credit up to the authorized amount. (2) In lieu of following the procedure set forth in
division (E)(1) of this section, a board of county commissioners
may adopt a resolution authorizing an officer or employee of an
appointing authority to use a county credit card to pay for
specific classes of the work-related expenses listed in division
(B) of this section, or use a specific credit card for any of
those work-related expenses listed in division (B) of this
section, without submitting an estimate of those expenses to the
board as required by division (E)(1) of this section. Prior to
adopting the resolution, the board shall notify the county
auditor. The resolution shall specify whether the officer's or
employee's exemption extends to the use of a specific card, which
card shall be identified by its number, or to one or more
specific work-related uses from the classes of uses permitted
under division (B) of this section. Before any credit card
exempted for specific uses may be used to make purchases for
uses other than those specific uses listed in the resolution, the
procedures outlined in division (E)(1) of this section must be
followed or the use shall be considered an unauthorized use. Use
of any credit card under division (E)(2) of this section shall be
limited to the amount appropriated and encumbered in a specific
appropriation line item for the permitted use or uses designated
in the authorizing resolution, or, in the case of a resolution
that authorizes use of a specific credit card, for each of the
permitted uses listed in division (B) of this section, but only
to the extent the moneys in such appropriations are not otherwise
encumbered. (F)(1) Any time a county credit card approved for use for
an authorized amount under division (E)(1) of this section is
used for more than that authorized amount, the appointing
authority may request the board of county commissioners to
authorize after the fact the expenditure of any amount charged
beyond the originally authorized amount if, upon the board's
request, the county auditor certifies that sum of money is in the
treasury or in the process of collection to the credit of the
appropriate appropriation line item for which the credit card was
used and is free from previous and then-outstanding obligations
or certifications. If the card is used for more than the amount
originally authorized and if for any reason that amount is not
authorized after the fact, then the county treasury shall be
reimbursed for any amount spent beyond the originally authorized
amount in the following manner: (a) If the card is issued in the name of a specific
officer or employee, then that officer or employee is liable in
person and upon any official bond the officer or employee has
given to the county to
reimburse the county treasury for the amount charged to the
county beyond the originally authorized amount. (b) If the card was issued to the office of the appointing
authority, then the appointing authority is liable in person and
upon any official bond the appointing authority has given to
the county for the amount
charged to the county beyond the originally authorized amount. (2) Any time a county credit card authorized for use under
division (E)(2) of this section is used for more than the amount
appropriated under that division, the appointing authority may
request the board of county commissioners to issue a supplemental
appropriation or make a transfer to the proper line item account
as permitted in section 5705.40 of the Revised Code, to cover the
amount charged beyond the originally appropriated amount. If the
card is used for more than the amount originally appropriated and
if for any reason that amount is not appropriated or transferred
as permitted by this section, then the county treasury shall be
reimbursed for any amount spent beyond the originally
appropriated amount in the following manner: (a) If the card is issued in the name of a specific
officer or employee, then that officer or employee is liable in
person and upon any official bond the officer or employee has
given to the county for
reimbursing the county treasury for any amount charged on the
card beyond the originally appropriated amount. (b) If the card is issued in the name of the office of the
appointing authority, then the appointing authority is liable in
person and upon any official bond the appointing authority
has given to the county for
reimbursement for any amount charged on the card beyond the
originally appropriated amount. (3) Whenever any officer or employee authorized to use a
credit card held by the board or the office of any other county
appointing authority suspects the loss, theft, or possibility of
unauthorized use of the county credit card the officer or
employee is authorized to
use, the officer or employee shall so notify
the officer's or employee's appointing authority or the board
immediately and in writing. (4) If the county auditor determines there has been a
credit card expenditure beyond the appropriated or authorized
amount as provided in division (E) of this section, the auditor
immediately shall notify the board of county
commissioners of this
fact. When the board of county commissioners determines on its
own or after notification from the county auditor that the county
treasury should be reimbursed for credit card expenditures beyond
the appropriated or authorized amount as provided in divisions
(F)(1) and (2) of this section, it shall give written notice to
the officer or employee or appointing authority
liable to the
treasury as provided in divisions (F)(1) and (2) of this section.
If, within thirty days after issuance of this written notice the
county treasury is not reimbursed for the amount shown on the
written notice, the prosecuting attorney of the county shall
recover that amount from the officer or employee or appointing
authority who is liable under this section by civil action in any
court of appropriate jurisdiction. (G) Use of a county credit card for any use other than
those permitted under division (B) of this section is a violation
of law for the purposes of division (D) of section
2913.21 of the Revised Code. Sec. 301.28. (A) As used in this section: (1) "Financial transaction device" includes a credit
card, debit card, charge card, or prepaid or stored value card. (2) "County expenses" includes fees, costs, taxes,
assessments, fines, penalties, payments, or any other expense a
person owes to a county office under the authority of a county
elected official. (3) "County elected official" includes the county
auditor, county treasurer, county engineer, county recorder,
county prosecuting attorney, county sheriff, and county coroner, and the
clerk of the court of common pleas, the clerk of a
county-operated municipal court, and the clerk of a county
court. (B) Notwithstanding any other section Of the Revised Code and except as provided
in division (D) of this section, a board of county
commissioners may adopt a resolution authorizing the acceptance
of payments by financial transaction devices for county
expenses. The resolution shall include the following: (1) A specification of those county elected officials who are authorized
to accept payments by financial transaction devices; (2) A list of county expenses that may be paid for
through the use of a financial transaction device; (3) Specific identification of financial transaction
devices that the board authorizes
as acceptable means of payment for county expenses. Uniform
acceptance of financial transaction devices among different
types of county expenses is not required. (4) The amount, if any, authorized as a surcharge or
convenience fee under division (E) of this section for persons using
a financial transaction
device. Uniform application of surcharges or convenience fees
among different types of county expenses is not required. (5) A specific provision as provided in division (G) of this
section requiring the payment of a penalty if a payment made by means of a
financial transaction device is returned or dishonored for any reason. The board's resolution shall also designate the county treasurer as an
administrative agent to solicit proposals, within guidelines established by
the board in the resolution and in compliance with the procedures provided in
division (C) of this section, from financial institutions, issuers of
financial
transaction devices, and processors of financial transaction devices, to make
recommendations about those proposals to the board, and to
assist county offices in implementing the county's financial transaction
devices program. The county treasurer may decline this responsibility within
thirty days after receiving a copy of the board's resolution by notifying the
board in writing within that period. If the treasurer so notifies the board,
the board shall perform the duties of the administrative agent. If the county treasurer is the administrative agent and fails to administer
the county financial transaction devices program in accordance with the
guidelines in the board's resolution, the board shall notify the treasurer in
writing of the board's findings, explain the failures, and give the treasurer
six months to correct the failures. If the treasurer fails to make the
appropriate corrections within that six-month period, the board may pass a
resolution declaring the board to be the administrative agent. The board may
later rescind that resolution at its discretion. (C) THE COUNTY SHALL FOLLOW THE PROCEDURES PROVIDED IN THIS DIVISION
WHENEVER IT PLANS TO CONTRACT WITH FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, ISSUERS OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES, OR PROCESSORS OF
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SECTION. THE
ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL REQUEST PROPOSALS FROM AT LEAST THREE FINANCIAL
INSTITUTIONS, ISSUERS OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES, OR PROCESSORS OF
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES, AS APPROPRIATE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE
RESOLUTION
ADOPTED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION. PRIOR TO SENDING ANY
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, ISSUER, OR PROCESSOR A COPY OF ANY SUCH REQUEST, THE
COUNTY SHALL ADVERTISE ITS INTENT TO REQUEST PROPOSALS IN A NEWSPAPER OF
GENERAL CIRCULATION IN THE COUNTY ONCE A WEEK FOR TWO CONSECUTIVE WEEKS. THE
NOTICE SHALL STATE THAT THE COUNTY INTENDS TO REQUEST PROPOSALS; SPECIFY THE
PURPOSE OF THE REQUEST; INDICATE THE DATE, WHICH SHALL BE AT LEAST TEN DAYS
AFTER THE SECOND PUBLICATION, ON WHICH THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS WILL BE
MAILED
TO FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ISSUERS, OR PROCESSORS; AND REQUIRE THAT ANY
FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, ISSUER, OR PROCESSOR, WHICHEVER IS APPROPRIATE,
INTERESTED IN RECEIVING THE REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS SUBMIT WRITTEN NOTICE OF THIS
INTEREST TO THE COUNTY NOT LATER THAN NOON OF THE DAY ON WHICH THE REQUEST FOR
PROPOSALS WILL BE MAILED. UPON RECEIVING THE PROPOSALS, THE ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT SHALL REVIEW THEM AND
MAKE A RECOMMENDATION TO THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ON WHICH PROPOSALS
TO ACCEPT. THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS SHALL CONSIDER THE AGENT'S
RECOMMENDATION AND REVIEW ALL PROPOSALS SUBMITTED, AND THEN MAY CHOOSE TO
CONTRACT
WITH ANY OR ALL OF THE ENTITIES SUBMITTING PROPOSALS, AS APPROPRIATE. THE
BOARD SHALL PROVIDE ANY FINANCIAL INSTITUTION, ISSUER, OR PROCESSOR THAT
SUBMITTED A PROPOSAL BUT WITH WHICH THE BOARD DOES NOT ENTER INTO A CONTRACT,
NOTICE THAT ITS PROPOSAL IS REJECTED. THE NOTICE SHALL STATE THE REASONS FOR
THE REJECTION, INDICATE WHOSE PROPOSALS WERE ACCEPTED, AND PROVIDE A COPY OF
THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE SUCCESSFUL BIDS. (D) A board of county commissioners adopting a resolution
under this section shall send a copy of the
resolution to each county elected official in the county who is authorized by
the resolution to
accept payments by financial transaction devices. After receiving the
resolution and before accepting payments by financial
transaction devices, a county elected official shall provide written
notification to the board of county commissioners of the official's intent to
implement the resolution within the official's office. EACH COUNTY OFFICE
SUBJECT TO THE
BOARD'S RESOLUTION ADOPTED UNDER DIVISION (B) OF THIS SECTION MAY USE
ONLY THE FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS, ISSUERS OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES, AND
PROCESSORS OF FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICES WITH WHICH THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS CONTRACTS, AND EACH SUCH OFFICE IS SUBJECT TO THE TERMS OF THOSE
CONTRACTS. If a county office
under the authority of a county elected official
is directly responsible for collecting one or more county expenses and the
county elected
official determines not to accept payments by financial
transaction devices for one or more of those expenses, the
office shall not be required to accept payments by financial
transaction devices, notwithstanding the adoption of a
resolution by the board of county commissioners under this section. Any office of a clerk of the court of common pleas that accepts financial
transaction devices on or before July 1, 1999, and any other county
office that accepted such devices before January 1, 1998,
may continue to accept such devices without being subject to any resolution
passed by the board of county commissioners under division (B) of
this section, or any other oversight by the board of the office's financial
transaction devices program. Any such office may use surcharges or
convenience fees in any manner the county elected official in charge of the
office determines to be appropriate, and, if the county treasurer consents,
may appoint the county treasurer to be the office's administrative agent for
purposes of accepting financial transaction devices. In order not to be
subject to the resolution of the board of county commissioners adopted under
division (B) of this section, a county office shall notify the board
in writing within thirty days after the effective date of this section that it
accepted financial transaction devices prior to
January 1, 1998, or, in the case of the office of a clerk of the
court
of common pleas, the clerk has accepted or will accept such devices on or
before July
1, 1999. Each such notification shall explain how processing costs associated
with financial transaction devices are being paid and shall indicate whether
surcharge or convenience fees are being passed on to consumers. (E) A board of county
commissioners may establish a surcharge or convenience fee that may be imposed
upon a person making payment by a financial transaction device.
The surcharge or convenience fee shall not be
imposed unless authorized or otherwise permitted by the rules
prescribed by an agreement governing the use and acceptance of
the financial transaction device. IF A SURCHARGE OR CONVENIENCE FEE IS IMPOSED, EVERY COUNTY OFFICE ACCEPTING
PAYMENT BY A FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE, REGARDLESS OF WHETHER THAT OFFICE
IS SUBJECT TO A RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY A BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS, SHALL
CLEARLY POST A NOTICE IN THAT OFFICE AND SHALL NOTIFY EACH PERSON MAKING A
PAYMENT BY SUCH A DEVICE ABOUT THE SURCHARGE OR FEE. NOTICE TO EACH PERSON
MAKING A PAYMENT SHALL BE PROVIDED REGARDLESS OF THE MEDIUM USED TO MAKE THE
PAYMENT AND IN A MANNER APPROPRIATE TO THAT MEDIUM. EACH NOTICE
SHALL INCLUDE ALL OF THE FOLLOWING: (1) A STATEMENT THAT THERE IS A SURCHARGE OR CONVENIENCE FEE FOR USING A
FINANCIAL TRANSACTION DEVICE; (2) THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE CHARGE OR FEE EXPRESSED IN DOLLARS AND CENTS FOR
EACH TRANSACTION, OR THE RATE of the charge or fee EXPRESSED AS A
percentage of THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF THE TRANSACTION, WHICHEVER IS
APPLICABLE; (3) A CLEAR STATEMENT THAT THE SURCHARGE OR CONVENIENCE FEE IS NONREFUNDABLE. (F) If a person elects
to make a payment to the county by a financial transaction
device and a surcharge or convenience fee is imposed, the
payment of the surcharge or fee shall be considered voluntary
and the surcharge or fee is not refundable. (G) If a person makes
payment by financial transaction device and the payment is
returned or dishonored for any reason, the person is liable to
the county for payment of a penalty over and above the amount of
the expense due. The board of county commissioners shall
determine the amount of the penalty, which may be either a fee
not to exceed twenty dollars or payment of the amount necessary to reimburse
the county for banking charges, legal fees, or other expenses
incurred by the county in collecting the returned or dishonored
payment. The remedies and
procedures provided in this section are in addition to any other
available civil or criminal remedies provided by law. (H) No person making any
payment by financial transaction device to a county office shall be relieved
from liability for the underlying obligation except to the extent
that the county realizes final payment of the underlying
obligation in cash or its equivalent. If final payment is not
made by the financial transaction device issuer or other guarantor of payment
in the transaction, the underlying obligation shall
survive and the county shall retain all remedies for enforcement
that would have applied if the transaction had not
occurred. (I) A county elected
official or employee who accepts a financial transaction device payment in
accordance with this section and any applicable state or local
policies or rules is immune from personal
liability for the final collection of such payments. SECTION 2 . That existing section 301.27 of the Revised Code is
hereby repealed.
|