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Studio 67Health, Safety & Justice Legislation
Please navigate below to view a summary or check the status and recent updates of health, safety & justice bills monitored by FAC.
Sponsor: Jones
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Requires each municipal detention facility or county detention facility to administer a pregnancy test to women who are arrested and not released on bond 72 hours after the arrest. The facility also must let females know of their rights to request this test within the initial 72 hours and administer the test within 24 hours after the request. This bill also requires the facility to collect and report data and record it to DOC, DOC will publish this data quarterly on its public website. This data includes: the total number of pregnant women whose sentences stayed, the total number of births and stillbirths, the gestational age and birth weight of each infant at the time of birth or stillbirth, the total number of women who experience complications, and the type of complication, the total number of miscarriages, the total number of women who refuse to provide information regarding their outcome. This information published must exclude personal identifying information.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Berman
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Prohibits possession or use of firearm in sensitive locations, and also defines the term “sensitive location” to including healthcare facilities, certain government buildings- polling locations, courthouses, or law enforcement agencies, parks or recreational facilities operated or controlled by a county, place of worship, public libraries/parks, child care program, and building owned by the Federal, State or Local government entity, homeless shelters, educational institutes, public transportation or public transit, bar or restaurant where alcohol is served, etc.
Effective Date July 1, 2024
Sponsor: Rep. Caruso / Sen. Bradley
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
These bills allow the governing body of a municipality to convene meetings and conduct official business via teleconferencing or other technological means as long as such meetings meet all the requirements of public notice, public access, and public participation two times per calendar year. Meetings that include formal actions on ordinances or are quasi-judicial may not be conducted in such a manner. The limitations placed on meetings conducted via teleconferencing relating to public notice, access, and participation may be suspended upon the declaration of a state of emergency issued by the Governor. The bill takes effect July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Daniels
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, see below:
Proposes changes to Florida Statute 196.102 regarding property tax exemptions for disabled first responders. The bill removes limitations related to disabilities caused by cardiac events, eliminates obsolete provisions, and renumbers and amends various subsections for clarity. This bill requires applicants to provide specific documentation to the county property appraiser. The bill also includes notices to taxpayers and physicians regarding the consequences of providing false information. Effective Date July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Rep. Chambliss
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This Bill seeks to add an amendment to s. 943.17 F.S. and this amendment will create a subsection that will accomplish the following:
- By July 1, 2025, the commission, with consulting from a national organization with expertise in mental health crisis intervention, will create minimum standards for basic skills and continued training for Law Enforcment
- Thereafter, Thereafter, every basic skills course curriculum 32 required for law enforcement officers to obtain their initial 33 certification shall include a 40-hour curriculum on mental 34 health crisis intervention and a minimum of 8 hours of 35 continuing education courses annually.
Sponsors: Rep. Plasencia & Sen. Gruters
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill actions, see below:
Introduces changes related to patient-directed doctor’s orders (PDDO) in various sections of Florida statutes. This bill emphasizes that the absence of a PDDO form does not prevent physicians or others from withholding or withdrawing medical interventions under certain conditions and clarifies that such forms are not required for treatment or admission to a healthcare facility. It also deals with legal and insurance aspects related to PDDO forms and specifies circumstances for health care surrogates to provide consent for PDDO forms. Effective Date: on the same date that HB 219 or similar legislation takes effect.
Sponsor: Rep. Baker
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill addresses exposures of first responders to fentanyl and fentanyl analogs by amending Section 784.07, F.S. It introduces criminal penalties for individuals unlawfully possessing specified controlled substances or mixtures and intentionally exposing state or local law enforcement officers, firefighters, emergency medical technicians, or paramedics to these substances in their official capacity, resulting in serious injury. The bill establishes a mandatory minimum term of 15 years imprisonment for such offenses, categorized as a second-degree felony. Additionally, it imposes enhanced criminal penalties, with a mandatory minimum term of 30 years imprisonment as a first-degree felony, if the exposure leads to death or great bodily harm. The term “expose” is also now defined in this amendment as well as the amendment incorporating minor technical changes to the statute’s wording.
Sponsor: Rep. Shoaf, Rep. Rudman & Sen. Simons
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
CS/SB 644 encompasses various amendments to statutes governing emergency medical services and rural hospitals in Florida. It ensures that general hospitals with emergency departments and rural emergency hospitals provide necessary emergency services regardless of the requester. The bill defines criteria for rural hospitals and emergency services, including staffing and equipment requirements, transfer agreements with trauma centers, and limits on bed capacity. It establishes the process for hospitals to apply for designation as rural emergency hospitals and outlines the conditions under which such designation may be suspended or revoked. Effective from July 1, 2024, the bill aims to enhance emergency medical services accessibility and quality across rural areas of the state.
Sponsor: Sen. Grall / Rep. Silvers
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill aims to address the excess judicial capacity in the First and Second District Courts of Appeal, stemming from the establishment of the Sixth District Court of Appeal due to changes in jurisdictional boundaries. To manage this, the legislation amends section 35.06, Florida Statutes, stipulating that if an event arises leading to a judicial vacancy in either of these districts, the number of judges in that respective district will reduce by one, setting a cap of 12 judges per district. Additionally, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court is mandated to notify the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House whenever such an event that could create a vacancy occurs in either district, as defined in sections 35.06(1) and (2) of the Florida Statutes.
Sponsors: Hooper/Yeager
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations (HMO’s) to reimburse out-of-network ambulance service providers for emergency ambulance services at the greatest of the following rates:
The rate set by the jurisdictional county or municipality in which the services originated
The contracted rate at which an insurer would reimburse a participating or in-network provider
The lesser of either the provider’s billed charges OR 350% of the Medicare rate for the same service
Sponsor: Sen. Ingoglia
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill emphasizes uniform application of rights and privileges throughout the state and its political subdivisions during investigations. Political subdivisions are barred from enacting ordinances pertaining to the processing of misconduct complaints against law enforcement or correctional officers, and civilian oversight of such investigations. The legislation includes a grandfather clause prohibiting existing civilian oversight practices in political subdivisions from convening after July 1, 2024. Additionally, the bill acknowledges a potential fiscal impact on local governments with current citizen advisory boards.
Sponsor: Rep. Duggan,
CoSponsor: Rep. Black, Rep. Roach
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill establishes uniformity in the receipt, processing, and investigation of such complaints throughout the state, prohibiting local governments from passing ordinances or rules related to the civilian oversight of these investigations. The legislation aims to eliminate COAs’ independent investigations into misconduct complaints and restrict their oversight functions, impacting local government expenditures on such investigations. The bill does not, however, affect misconduct investigations by officers’ employing agencies or other authorized entities.
Sponsor: Rep. Yeager / Sen. DeCeglie
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This bill addresses Florida’s Workers’ Compensation Law, focusing on medical treatment for certain public servants like firefighters and law enforcement officers. It introduces provisions allowing these officers to file notices for authorization of treatment from selected medical specialists for compensable, presumptive conditions. Additionally, the bill adjusts the maximum reimbursement for medical specialists to 200 percent of the Medicare allowance, with an effective date of October 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Rep. Bankson / Rep. Stark / Sen. Stewart
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This bill authorizes clerks of court to fund improvements to court technology from filing fees, service charges, court costs, and fines. The bill allows and revises the distribution of a civil penalty in the amounts of $16, $1.50 of which must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the General Revenue Fund, and $9.50 of which must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund, and $5.00 shall be retained by the clerk to be deposited in the Public Records Modernization Trust Fund and used exclusively for funding court-related technology needs of the clerk. In addition to any penalties imposed, an administrative fee of $12.50 must be paid for all noncriminal moving and nonmoving violations under chapters 316, 320, and 322 in state statutes.
Sponsor: Rep. Casello
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
- HB 937
This bill proposes changes to the Purple Alert system in Florida. It introduces two levels of activation: local and statewide. The Purple Alert, designed for cases involving unidentifiable vehicles or missing adults on foot, will now have limited dissemination for local alerts within the specific area where the person may be located. Local law enforcement agencies will develop their own policies for local Purple Alert activation. When activating a local alert, law enforcement must contact media outlets, inform on-duty officers, and communicate with other agencies in the jurisdiction. Statewide Purple Alerts, which involve identifiable vehicles, can be requested by law enforcement agencies. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will then coordinate with various departments for dynamic message signs on state highways, notifications on lottery terminals, and subscriber alerts. The effective date is July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Rep. LaMarca
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill addresses the My Safe Florida Home Program (MSFH Program), focusing on licensed inspectors’ home inspections and financial grants for retrofitting residential properties to reduce vulnerability to hurricane damage. Eligibility for grants includes having a homestead exemption, a dwelling insured at $700,000 or less, and complying with MSFH Program inspections. The bill introduces a public record exemption for MSFH Program application and inspection report information, effective until October 2, 2029. It outlines potential fiscal impacts, including an indeterminate negative impact on state government expenditures and an indeterminate positive impact on the private sector.
Sponsor: Rep. LaMarca
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill introduces a wide array of revisions and additions to Florida’s regulatory framework. Key changes include renaming the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Division of Criminal Investigations and establishing a tax liaison position to aid taxpayers with federal tax issues, along with creating one full-time employee position. It also clarifies benefit types for firefighters undergoing cancer treatment and adjusts regulations for the My Safe Florida Home Program. Administrative processes are streamlined by eliminating the requirement for quarterly reporting on salary indemnification benefits and reimbursements by the State Risk Management Trust Fund. Furthermore, the bill specifies reimbursement methodology for Workers’ Compensation and mandates Department of Financial Services approval for contracts exceeding $100,000 by various associations to ensure competitive procurement. Changes to agent licensing processes, including allowing voluntary submission of cellular telephone numbers for two-factor authentication, are also enacted. Provisions regarding insurance policy renewal notices, fire safety regulations, warranty associations, bail bond agents, and unclaimed property are modified. The bill is accompanied by a fiscal analysis and economic impact statement. Most provisions become effective upon its enactment, with exceptions as specified within the legislation.
- Sponsors: Perry/Overdorf
Status: SUPPORT
To view the latest bill actions, please see below:
Provides for statewide regulation of the wholesale and retail sale of nicotine dispensing devices (NDDs).
This includes:
- Requires manufacturers of NDD’s to register annually with the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) for any products sold in Florida, as well as provide evidence that they have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval to market their products
- Directs DBPR to create a directory of registered NDD’s
- Requires wholesalers of NDD products to obtain a permit issued by DBPR
- Requires manufacturers of NDD’s to maintain certain records for up to three years, including data regarding to whom the products were sold
- Prohibits the shipment into Florida and sale of any NDD products that are: unregistered with DBPR, unapproved by the FDA, or have been ordered by the FDA to be removed from the market
- Creates new criminal violations and penalties for breaches of this section
- Provides for suspension and revocation of permits
Sponsor: Rep. Edmonds
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This bill creates a Property Insurance Commission, composed of two members appointed by the President of the Senate, one by the Minority Leader of the Senate, two by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and one by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives. This bill also states that the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability (OPPAGA) is tasked with evaluating the effectiveness of the property insurance mediation program outlined in Florida Statutes.
Sponsor: Sen. DiCeglie
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
SB 1098 makes several revisions within the Department of Financial Services (DFS). It renames the Division of Investigative and Forensic Services to the Florida Division of Investigations, eliminates the Division of Public Assistance Fraud, and shifts its responsibilities. The bill also modifies the My Safe Florida Home Program, removes quarterly reports on salary indemnification benefits, introduces workers’ compensation reimbursement for emergency services, and sets approval requirements for certain contracts. Additionally, it amends appointment authority for the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services, adjusts investigative and prosecutorial provisions, and makes various changes in insurance-related areas, such as disclosure of investigative information, criteria for licensed adjusters, and renewal notice requirements. The bill touches on standards for fireworks, the Florida Fire Prevention Code, motor vehicle service agreement companies, warranty associations, bail bond agents, and the Florida Disposition of Unclaimed Property Act.
Sponsor: Sen. Collins, Rep. Grant
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
This bill establishes new standards for county emergency management directors in Florida. All county directors must now have a bachelor’s degree and six years of experience in emergency services, management, planning, law enforcement, or firefighting, with three years in a supervisory role. A master’s degree in relevant fields may substitute for two years of experience, but not for the required supervisory experience. Directors must also complete specific FEMA courses or hold valid accreditations. The bill provides a grace period until June 30, 2026, for current directors to meet these requirements. These changes aim to ensure that emergency management leaders have the necessary education and experience to handle their roles effectively.
Sponsor: Sen. Hutson
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
SB 1380 addresses special transportation services for individuals with disabilities. It introduces definitions, mandates training for paratransit drivers, and requires the installation of interior video camera monitoring systems in vehicles. Providers must grant access to recorded footage to relevant authorities and maintain a website or app for tracking vehicles, limited to local governments and legal guardians. The bill establishes time periods for trip requests, outlines service quality transparency, and requires investigations of adverse incidents within 48 hours. It also eliminates competitive bidding exemptions for local government contracts with special transportation providers. The bill, effective from July 1, 2024, may have fiscal implications detailed in the Fiscal Impact Statement.
Sponsor: Sen. Gruters / Rep. Canady
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill requires the Department of Children and Families to contract with managing entities to place crisis counselors from community mental health centers within local law enforcement agencies. These crisis counselors to conduct follow-up contacts with children, adolescents, and adults who have been involuntarily committed under the Baker Act by a law enforcement officer and provide follow-up care to individuals in the community that law enforcement has identified as needing additional mental health support. The bill details what services the community mobile support team is required to offer and also details the requirements of a community mental health center contracted by the managing entity.
Sponsor: Rep. Yarkosky
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
HB 1425 makes amendments to multiple statutes related to the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ). Changes include modifications to juvenile commitment classifications, replacing “gender-specific” and “gender” with “sex-specific” and “sex.” It expands the authorization for DJJ personnel and contracted providers to possess and administer emergency opioid antagonists. The bill redistributes duties from juvenile justice circuit advisory boards, simplifies their role, and prohibits releasing a child to a juvenile assessment center in certain conditions. It allows the court to initiate transfers to or from secure detention care, considering DJJ input. DJJ gains the authority to use funds for promotional and educational materials. Conforming changes align education statutes with the 2023 Florida Scholars Academy provisions. The bill, effective July 1, 2024, is not anticipated to have fiscal impacts.
Sponsor: Rep. Duggan / Sen. Yarborough
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
The bill proposes an amendment to section 30.49 which allows a sheriff to transfer funds between various budget categories and code levels even after the budget has received approval from the board of county commissioners, city council, or budget commission. This provision applies even to sheriffs in consolidated governments as specified in the referenced sections of the State Constitution. Secondly, section 30.53 is revised to emphasize and preserve the autonomy of sheriffs in matters such as purchasing supplies and equipment, personnel selection, hiring, firing, and salary determinations. Importantly, this section ensures that the enactment does not impede the establishment or functioning of any civil service system or board as outlined in the State Constitution. The bill is scheduled to become effective on July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Sen. Gruter
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
CS/SB 1636 establishes the Substance Use Disorder Housing Advisory Council to study and evaluate national best practice standards for therapeutic housing compliance with federal law, with support from the University of South Florida College of Public Health. The Council is mandated to review statewide zoning codes’ impact on licensed service providers’ ability to offer evidence-based treatment and therapeutic housing. The bill outlines council membership, sets reporting deadlines for preliminary and final reports by July 1, 2027, and September 1, 2027, respectively, and includes a repeal clause effective on September 1, 2027. Additionally, the legislation designates patient records in recovery residences as confidential under s. 397.501(7), F.S., and restricts local regulations on residency duration or frequency in certified recovery residences where multifamily uses are permitted.
Sponsor: Education Pre-K-12/ Fiscal Policy Committee
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
SB 7002 seeks to enhance efficiency, flexibility, and autonomy within the state’s public school system by eliminating certain regulatory parameters. The bill provides flexibility for school districts in financial management, permitting the use of federal funds and adjusting reporting frequencies based on financial statuses. Notably, the bill offers autonomy to school boards in facilities management, allowing them to plan according to local long-term needs and eliminating certain obligations like conducting specific educational plant surveys. This bill modifies responsibilities related to emergency shelters and removes restrictions on construction and property-related expenditures. Scheduled to take effect on July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee / Rep. Maney / Rep. Basabe
Status: Support
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Formerly referenced as PCB CFS 24-01, HB 7021, The proposed bill, PCB, modifies both the Baker and Marchman’s acts. It combines processes for court-ordered involuntary services and grants law enforcement discretion in the Baker Act. In the Marchman Act, it creates a consolidated involuntary treatment process, prohibits certain court orders, and revises the Baker Act’s voluntariness provision for minors. The bill introduces changes like remote witness appearances, comprehensive discharge planning, DCF report publication, and removing limitations on certain healthcare professionals. It removes the 30-bed cap for crisis stabilization units. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Children, Families & Seniors Subcommittee / Rep. Maney / Rep. Basabe
Status: Support
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
Formerly referenced as PCB CFS 24-02, HB 7023, the bill addresses confidentiality in mental health and substance abuse legal procedures, specifically under the Baker Act and Marchman Act in Florida. The bill extends confidentiality to hearings and expands exemptions to include a respondent’s name, applications for mental health and substance abuse treatment, and involves service providers. These changes apply to pending or filed appeals from July 1, 2024. The bill allows limited use of a respondent’s name and establishes a repeal date for these exemptions in 2029, unless reenacted. It is set to take effect on July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Senate Banking and Insurance Committee
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
SPB 7028 restricts subsequent applications for mitigation inspections or grants under specific conditions and allows the Department of Financial Services (DFS) to request additional information for applications with errors. Homeowners meeting mitigation inspection requirements can receive an inspection even if ineligible for a grant. Notably, homeowners must share information on premium discounts resulting from program-funded improvements. The bill removes the DFS contractor list requirement and expands grant-eligible improvements to include windows and skylights. It establishes a prioritization system based on income and age for application processing and allocates $100 million for grants and $7 million for administrative costs in the 2024-2025 fiscal year. The effective date is set for July 1, 2024.
Sponsor: Rep. Botana
Status: Monitor
To view the latest bill action, please see below:
CS/HB 1077 introduces amendments to various statutes aimed at increasing revenue for clerks, primarily through reimbursement for specific petitions and applications, and redistributing excess clerk revenue and specified fees. The bill revises the allocation of certain funds to trust funds, reduces fees distributed to the General Revenue Fund, and establishes the Miami-Dade County Clerk of Court Driver License Reinstatement Pilot Program. It also mandates that appointed capital collateral regional counsel or other attorneys be paid from funds appropriated to the Justice Administrative Commission. Additionally, reporting requirements regarding affirmative action programs for state attorneys and public defenders are eliminated, and the definition of “state agency” is updated in the state and regional planning chapter of the Florida Statutes. The bill has a significant fiscal impact on state and local governments, particularly affecting General Revenue Fund receipts and trust funds utilized by clerks. The estimated total impact involves redirecting approximately $8.7 million from the General Revenue Fund to clerks’ local trust funds in fiscal year 2024-25, with an average annual impact of $8.9 million over the next five years.