Minnesota Session Laws - 2000, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 475-H.F.No. 3229 
                  An act relating to Hennepin county; providing for 
                  payment of county obligations by electronic transfer 
                  or credit card; amending Minnesota Statutes 1998, 
                  section 383B.116, subdivision 2, and by adding a 
                  subdivision; proposing coding for new law in Minnesota 
                  Statutes, chapter 383B. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 383B.116, 
        subdivision 2, is amended to read: 
           Subd. 2.  [PAYMENT BY WARRANT METHODS.] Payments of claims 
        and obligations of the county shall may be made by warrant, 
        check, or all forms of electronic or wire funds transfer.  
        Section 471.38 does not apply to any claim for which payment is 
        made by electronic or wire funds transfer.  Where the county is 
        authorized by law to make investments, persons designated by the 
        board may, in accordance with rules and procedures established 
        by the administrator, the county may make electronic or wire 
        transfers of funds notwithstanding any other law to the contrary.
           Sec. 2.  Minnesota Statutes 1998, section 383B.116, is 
        amended by adding a subdivision to read: 
           Subd. 6.  [AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD OR 
        OTHER METHODS.] The county may accept payment by use of a credit 
        card, debit card, or all forms of electronic or wire funds 
        transfer.  Subject to any other law to the contrary, the county 
        may add to the amount due a service charge for the acceptance of 
        a payment method authorized in this subdivision.  The county 
        shall adopt policies and procedures regarding the payments.  
           Sec. 3.  [383B.1161] [ELECTRONIC APPROVALS.] 
           "Electronic approval" means any electronic identifier 
        intended by the person making, executing, or adopting it to 
        authenticate and validate a county administrative action.  
        Notwithstanding any other general or special law to the 
        contrary, the county may use electronic approvals.  The 
        electronic approval has the same validity and consequences as 
        the actual signing by the person.  The county shall establish 
        policies and procedures to ensure the validity of electronic 
        approvals.  
           Sec. 4.  [383B.1162] [CREDIT CARDS.] 
           The county may allow officials, officers, and employees of 
        the county to incur charges for county purposes by use of county 
        credit cards.  The county shall adopt policies and procedures 
        regarding such credit card usage to establish individual 
        accountability. 
           Sec. 5.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           This act is effective the day following its final enactment.
           Presented to the governor May 11, 2000 
           Signed by the governor May 15, 2000, 10:45 a.m.