F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 35 2024
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to acceptance of cash payments by
3 businesses; creating s. 559.96, F.S.; providing
4 definitions; requiring certain businesses to accept
5 cash payments for certain transactions; prohibiting
6 fees or conditions for such transactions; providing
7 applicability and civil penalties; requiring the
8 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to
9 adopt rules; providing an effective date.
10
11 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13 Section 1. Section 559.96, Florida Statutes, is created to
14 read:
15 559.96 Acceptance of cash payments by businesses. —
16 (1) As used in this section, the term:
17 (a) "Business" means any business operating at a fixed,
18 permanent physical premises, from a vehicle or other mobile
19 space, or from a temporary physical premises.
20 (b) "Cash" means legal tender of the United States in the
21 form of coins or currency.
22 (c) "Department" means the Department of Agriculture and
23 Consumer Services.
24 (2)(a) A business must accept an offer of payment in cash
25 for any transaction involving the purchase of any tangible good
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HB 35 2024
26 or any service if, in connection with such transaction, the
27 business would accept one or more other forms of payment and the
28 customer seeking to engage in such transaction is physically
29 present at the place of business.
30 (b) A business may not charge a fee or place any other
31 condition on its acceptance of cash as required by paragraph
32 (a).
33 (3) This section does not apply to:
34 (a) Sales that are not conducted in person, including
35 telephone, mail, Internet-based transactions, or other
36 electronic transactions.
37 (b) A parking facility owned by a municipality regardless
38 of who operates the facility.
39 (c) A parking facility that accepts electronic funds
40 transfer.
41 (d) A business providing services by accountants,
42 architects, attorneys, engineers, financial advisers, insurance
43 agents, interior designers, software developers, and management
44 and other consultants, not including services provided by
45 licensed medical or allied health care practitioners.
46 (e) Sales in which the business suspects the use of
47 counterfeit cash.
48 (f) The use of cash denominations larger than $20 by a
49 customer.
50 (g) Single transactions more than $5,000.
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51 (4) A business that violates this section is subject to a
52 civil penalty of up to $2,500 for a first offense, up to $5,000
53 for a second offense, and up to $10,000 for a third or
54 subsequent offense to be assessed by the department.
55 (5) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
56 section.
57 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.
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