Title: Collection of Delinquent Financial Obligations

Summary: Authorizes board of county commissioners or governing body of municipality to pursue collection of certain delinquent obligations to which it is entitled or refer account to other specified individuals for collection; authorizes collection fee & attorney's fee to be added to outstanding balance that is referred for collection; limits amount that may be added to outstanding balance of account referred for collection.

Full Text:
An act relating to the collection of delinquent financial obligations; creating s. 215.125, F.S.; authorizing a board of county commissioners or governing body of a municipality to pursue collection of certain delinquent obligations to which it is entitled or refer the account to other specified individuals for collection; authorizing a collection fee and an attorney's fee to be added to the outstanding balance that is referred for collection; limiting the amount that may be added to the outstanding balance of an account referred for collection; providing an effective date. 14 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 16 Section 1. Section 215.125, Florida Statutes, is created to read: 215.125 Collection of delinquent financial obligations payable to a county or municipality.-The board of county commissioners or the governing body of a municipality may pursue the collection of any fees, service charges, fines, or costs to which it is entitled which remain unpaid for days or more, or refer the account to a private attorney who is a member in good standing of The Florida Bar or collection agent who is registered and in good standing pursuant to chapter 559. The collection fee, including any reasonable attorney's fee, paid to any attorney or collection agent retained by the board of county commissioners or the governing body of a municipality may be added to the balance owed at the time the account is referred to the attorney or agents for collection and may not exceed the amount authorized by s. 938.35. Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.