(a) Each state agency, as defined in § 4-166, shall accept payment in cash or by check, draft or money order for any license issued by such agency pursuant to the provisions of the general statutes.

(b) Except as provided by any other provision of the general statutes, the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management may authorize any state agency to accept payment of any fee, cost or fine payable to such agency by means of a credit card, charge card or debit card or an electronic payment service, provided each state agency that accepts payment by means of a credit card, charge card or debit card shall charge the payor using such card a service fee, except that such service fee may be waived by such state agency for a category of fee, cost or fine, if such waiver has been approved by said secretary.

(c) (1) Any service fee imposed pursuant to subsection (b) of this section shall (A) be for the purpose of defraying the cost of service, (B) not exceed any charge by the credit card, charge card or debit card issuer or processor, including any discount rate, and (C) be applied only when allowed by the operating rules and regulations of the credit card, charge card or debit card issuer or processor involved or when authorized in writing by such issuer or processor.

(2) Each state agency that charges a service fee pursuant to this section or any other provision of the general statutes shall disclose such service fee to a payor prior to the imposition of such service fee. Such disclosure shall be made in accordance with any requirements for disclosure set forth by the card issuer or processor.

(d) Payments by credit card, charge card, debit card or an electronic payment service shall be made at such times and under such conditions as the secretary may prescribe in regulations adopted in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54.

(e) Payment of a fee, cost or fine, and any applicable service fee, by credit card, charge card, debit card or an electronic payment service shall constitute full payment of such fee, cost, fine or service fee, regardless of any discount applied by a credit card company.