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S 3086 110th Congress Senate Commerce Administrative law judges Antitrust law Contracts Credit cards Debit cards Fees Finance and Financial Sector Law Retail trade

Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008

Introduced: June 5, 2008 Introduced by: Durbin, Richard J. Democratic · Illinois See on congress.gov
 Everywhere this bill has been 3 steps
Introduced
In committee
Reported out
Passed House
Passed Senate
To President
Became law
Jun 5, 2008
Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.
Jun 5, 2008
Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR S5208-5210)
Jun 5, 2008
Introduced in Senate
 Plain-English summary Congressional Research Service

Credit Card Fair Fee Act of 2008 - Authorizes providers of a single covered electronic payment system (e.g., Visa or Mastercharge credit cards) and any merchants to jointly negotiate and agree upon the fees and terms for access to such a system.

Defines covered electronic payment system as any system that has been used for at least 20% of the combined dollar value of credit and debit card payments processed in the most recent year.

Grants limited antitrust immunity to such providers and merchants, as well as to those providers who jointly determine among themselves the proportionate division of paid access fees.

Sets forth procedures to determine fees and terms for access to a covered electronic payment system.

Creates a panel of three full-time Electronic Payment System Judges, appointed by the Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Antitrust Division of the Department of Justice and the Chairman of the Federal Trade Commission, to determine the schedule of fees and terms for two-year periods. Outlines procedures for correcting overpayments, underpayments, and late payments as determined by the Judges. Subjects any determination of such Judges to judicial review.

Authorizes providers and merchants to engage in voluntarily negotiated access agreements. Declares that such an executed agreement shall supersede any fees or terms established by the Judges.

What's happening now June 5, 2008

Read twice and referred to the Committee on the Judiciary.

 Committees of jurisdiction 1