Section 16-1-32

Debit cards; authorized uses; debit card programs to comply with this section; per transaction fee.

(a) The board of trustees or any other governing body of a public institution of higher education as defined in Section 16-5-1 may establish a program which provides students enrolled at the institution with debit cards issued by the institution.

(b) A student issued a debit card under the program may use the card to purchase merchandise or service available through the institution or at the institution through a person authorized to sell merchandise or service at the institution as determined by the board of trustees or the governing body.

(c) The debit card program shall allow a person who operates an off-campus college bookstore which sells merchandise or service of the same kind as the merchandise or service that a student may purchase at a bookstore operated on the campus of the institution under subsection (b) to participate in the program under the same or equivalent terms applicable to a person authorized to sell merchandise under subsection (b) and accept a debit card payment from a student to whom a debit card has been issued under the program for purchase of that merchandise or service.

(d) A debit card issued by a public institution of higher education shall be used only for the uses specified in subsections (b) and (c) and for no other purposes.

(e) A public institution of higher education may not administer or sponsor a debit card program for students of the institution that does not conform to this section.

(f) A student debit card program offered by a public institution of higher education shall comply with this section not later than August 15, 1997.

(g) A per transaction fee, not to exceed 3.25 percent of the total purchase price may be charged the off-campus bookstore by the institution administering the debit card program.

(Acts 1997, No. 97-226, p. 371, §1.)