(a) Except as provided in Section 6159, the Director of General Services, or his or her designee, may negotiate and enter into any contracts necessary to implement or facilitate the acceptance of credit cards or other payment devices by state agencies. The authority granted to the director pursuant to this section shall include the discretion to negotiate and agree to specific terms applicable to each state agency, including, but not limited to, the terms regarding any payment of fees to third parties for the acceptance of credit cards or other payment devices, types of payments, any limitations on amounts and limits of liabilities that would be eligible for payment by credit card or other payment device, and operational requirements.

(b) The director may negotiate master contracts or other contracts that allow the cost-effective acceptance of payment by credit card or other payment device. Additionally, the director or any state agency negotiating these contracts shall use its best efforts to minimize the financial impact of credit card or other payment device acceptance on the state agency, taxpayers, and the public who use its services.

(c) The director, in consultation with the Director of e-Government, shall take steps to encourage the adoption of standard payment policies and procedures for all state agencies. Furthermore, a state agency may enter into an interagency agreement with another state agency for the purposes of establishing uniform policies and acquiring equipment to support payment by credit card or other payment device.

(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 427, Sec. 1. Effective January 1, 2002.)