By: Menendez (Senate Sponsor - Carona) H.B. No. 3068
         (In the Senate - Received from the House April 29, 2013;
  May 7, 2013, read first time and referred to Committee on Business
  and Commerce; May 15, 2013, reported adversely, with favorable
  Committee Substitute by the following vote:  Yeas 8, Nays 1;
  May 15, 2013, sent to printer.)
 
  COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR H.B. No. 3068 By:  Carona
 
 
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
 
AN ACT
 
  relating to debit card or stored value card surcharges.
         BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
         SECTION 1.  Chapter 59, Finance Code, is amended by adding
  Subchapter E to read as follows:
  SUBCHAPTER E. PROHIBITION OF SURCHARGE
         Sec. 59.401.  DEFINITIONS. In this subchapter:
               (1)  "Cardholder" means the person named on the face of
  a debit or stored value card to whom or for whose benefit the card is
  issued.
               (2)  "Debit card" has the meaning in Section 502.001,
  Business & Commerce Code.
               (3)  "Merchant" means a person in the business of
  selling or leasing goods or services.
               (4)  "Stored value card" has the meaning as defined in
  Section 604.001(1), Business & Commerce Code, but does not include
  the meaning as defined in Section 604.001(2), Business & Commerce
  Code.
         Sec. 59.402.  IMPOSITION OF SURCHARGE FOR USE OF DEBIT OR
  STORED VALUE CARD.  (a) In a sale of goods or services, a merchant
  may not impose a surcharge on a buyer who uses a debit or stored
  value card instead of cash, a check, credit card, or a similar means
  of payment.
         (b)  This section does not apply to a state agency, county,
  local governmental entity, or other governmental entity that
  accepts a debit or stored value card for the payment of fees, taxes,
  or other charges.
         SECTION 2.  This Act takes effect September 1, 2013.
 
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