Iowa Code Title V. Agriculture [Chs. 159-215A] § 159.35. Assistance services--collection of moneys

1. A contract executed under this subchapter may require that a depositary provide for the receipt, acceptance, and transmission of moneys owed to the department by a person in order to satisfy a liability arising from the operation of law which is limited to filing document fees and civil penalties. These moneys are public funds or public deposits as provided in chapter 12. The depositary shall transfer the moneys to the department for deposit into the general fund of the state unless the disposition of the moneys is specifically provided for under other law.

2. A depositary may commit its assets to lines of credit pursuant to credit arrangements, including but not limited to agreements with credit and debit cardholders and with other credit or debit card issuers. The depositary may accept forms of payment including credit cards, debit cards, or electronic funds transfer.

3. The moneys owed to the department shall not exceed the amount required to satisfy the liability arising from the operation of law. However, the contract executed under this subchapter may provide for assistance service charges, including service delivery fees, credit card fees, debit card fees, and electronic funds transfer charges payable to the depositary or another party and not to the state. An assistance service charge shall not exceed that permitted by statute. The contract may also provide for the retention of interest earned on moneys under the control of the depositary. These moneys are not considered public funds or public deposits as provided in chapter 12.

4. The depositary, as required by the department for purposes of determining compliance, shall send information to the department including payment information for an identified filing document fee or the payment of a specific civil penalty.

5. Each calendar year, the auditor of state shall conduct an annual audit of the activities of the depositary.