Alabama § 11-103-1 - Authorization of Payment by Credit Cards.

§ 11-103-1. Authorization of Payment by Credit Cards.

(a) The use of credit cards for any payments made to a county or municipal office, department, agency, board, or commission may be authorized by the county commission or municipal governing body in which the office, department, agency, board, or commission is located as provided in Section 11-103-2, and if authorized, shall be accepted pursuant to rules and regulations promulgated by the county commission or municipal governing body in which the office, department, agency, board, or commission is located. The rules and regulations shall include specific procedures for the acceptance of credit card payments, including, but not limited to, provision for the payment of any discount or administrative fee charged by the credit card issuer or processor. The county or municipal governing body is authorized, but not required to impose the assessment of a surcharge or convenience fee from the person paying by credit card in an amount not greater than the transaction fee charged by the credit card issuer or processor. If no such election is made, the county or municipal governing body may withhold the cost of any discount or administrative fee charged by the credit card issuer or processor from each governmental entity entitled to the proceeds from the payment made by the credit card issuer. In this event, each governmental entity shall be assessed the percentage of the cost equivalent to its pro rata share of the payment.

(b) Except as otherwise provided, this chapter shall be construed to allow acceptance of credit card payments of any types of amounts payable to a county or a municipality as authorized by the county commission or municipal governing body, including, but not limited to, taxes, license and registration fees, fines, and penalties. For purposes of this chapter, the term “credit card” shall include credit cards, charge cards, and debit cards issued by any bank, foreign lender, domestic lender, or credit card bank as defined in Section 5-20-3.