Minnesota Session Laws - 2004, Regular Session

                            CHAPTER 152-S.F.No. 1958 
                  An act relating to local government; authorizing 
                  townships to make payments by electronic or wire 
                  transfer, and accept payment by credit card or other 
                  methods; authorizing townships to use electronic 
                  approvals; amending Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 
                  471.381. 
        BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF MINNESOTA: 
           Section 1.  Minnesota Statutes 2002, section 471.381, is 
        amended to read: 
           471.381 [CITY, TOWN, AND COUNTY OBLIGATIONS AND PAYMENTS.] 
           Subdivision 1.  [PAYMENT METHODS.] Payments of claims and 
        obligations of a statutory or home rule charter city, town, or 
        county may be made by warrant, check, or all forms of electronic 
        or wire funds transfer.  If the city, town, or county may make 
        investments, it may make electronic or wire transfers of funds 
        notwithstanding any other law to the contrary. 
           Subd. 2.  [AUTHORITY TO ACCEPT PAYMENT BY CREDIT CARD OR 
        OTHER METHODS.] A statutory or home rule charter city, town, or 
        a 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 city, town, or county may add 
        to the amount due a service charge for the acceptance of a 
        payment method authorized in this subdivision.  The city, town, 
        or county shall adopt policies and procedures regarding the 
        payments.  The payment of property taxes by credit card is 
        subject to section 276.02.  
           Subd. 3.  [ELECTRONIC APPROVAL.] "Electronic approval" 
        means any electronic identifier intended by the person making, 
        executing, or adopting it to authenticate and validate a city, 
        town, or county administrative action.  Notwithstanding any 
        other general or special law to the contrary, a statutory or 
        home rule charter city, a town, or a county may use electronic 
        approvals, which have the same validity and consequences as an 
        actual signature.  The city, town, or county must establish 
        policies and procedures to ensure the validity of electronic 
        approvals. 
           Sec. 2.  [EFFECTIVE DATE.] 
           Section 1 is effective the day following final enactment. 
           Presented to the governor April 2, 2004 
           Signed by the governor April 6, 2004, 10:40 a.m.