The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Commerce and Tourism
BILL: SB 948
INTRODUCER: Senator Grall
SUBJECT: Records Electronically Filed with the Department of State
DATE: March 10, 2023
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Baird McKay CM Pre-meeting
2. GO
3. RC
I. Summary:
SB 948 allows the Department of State (DOS) to implement a password protected system for the
electronic filing of certain records, providing greater security as required documents are filed and
maintained for public access.
This bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2023.
II. Present Situation:
Documents Filed with the Department of State
The DOS is the state’s central location responsible for receiving and maintaining a number of a
number of documents as required by statute, such as service of process for legal proceedings,
1
articles of incorporation,
2
and registration of fictitious names.
3
In receiving and filing required
records under 15 different statutory chapters, the DOS may provide that such documents may be
submitted electronically.
4
The following are brief, non-exhaustive descriptions of the 15
chapters and examples of documents required to be filed with the DOS:
Chapter 48, Process and service of process: substitute service of process on general
partnerships, limited liability companies, and non-residents doing business in Florida;
5
1
See, e.g., ss. 48,061, 48.062, 48.181, F.S.
2
Section 607.0203, F.S.
3
Section 865.09, F.S.
4
Section 15.16(3), F.S.
5
Sections 48.061(2), 48.062(3), 48.081(1), and 48.181, F.S.
REVISED: BILL: SB 948 Page 2
Chapter 55, Judgments: judgement lien certificates necessary to perfect a lien in a judgment
debtor’s interest in personal property;
6
Chapters 117 and 118: requires that DOS maintain applications, proof of identity, and
registrations for Notaries Public and international notaries:
7
Chapter 495, Registration and protection of trademarks: registration of marks, which include
any trademarks, service mark, certification mark, or collective mark;
8
Chapter 605, Florida revised limited liability company act: limited liability companies (LLC)
file with DOS a registration with their name, registered agent, and registered office location;
9
Chapter 606, Business coordination: DOS creates a master business index and directory of
business activity;
10
Chapter 607, Florida business corporation act: corporations file their articles of
incorporation, changes to their registered office or registered agent, and must file an annual
report, among other documents;
11
Chapter 610, Cable and video services: applicants file a “certificate of franchise authority”
containing an official name, a principal place of business, and the federal employer
identification number;
12
Chapter 617, Corporations not for profit: requires not for profit corporations to file with DOS
their articles of incorporation, changes to their registered office or registered agent, and must
file an annual report, among other documents;
13
Chapter 620, Partnership laws: limited partnerships must file a certificate of limited
partnership with DOS containing the name of the limited partnership, the address, and the
business address of each general partner
14
as well as an annual report, among other
documents.
15
General partnerships must file a partnership registration statement and an
annual report, among other documents.
16
Chapter 621, Professional services corporations and limited liability corporations: in addition
to filing documents as may be required under ch. 605 or ch. 607, F.S., a professional
corporation or limited liability company may change the purpose of rendering a professional
service by filing an amendment of its certificate of organization;
17
Chapter 679, Uniform commercial code: secured transactions: requires filing of certain
financing statements with DOS in order to perfect a lien in different types of personal
property and for DOS to retain authority and approve forms required to be filed under the
“Florida Secured Transaction Registry;”
18
6
Section 55.202(2)(a), F.S.
7
Sections 117.01(2), 117.05(1), 117.225(4), F.S. See also s. 118.10, F.S.
8
Section 495.031(2), F.S.
9
Sections 605.0112(5), 605.113(4), and 605.113(5), F.S. See s. 605.0206, F.S.
10
Section 606.04(1)(a) and 606.04(1)(c), F.S.
11
Sections 607.0203, F.S., 607.0502, 607.1622, F.S. See 607.0120(9), F.S.
12
Sections 610.102, 610.104(2), F.S.
13
Sections 617.0203, 617.0502, 617.1622, F.S.
14
Sections 620.1109, 620.1201(1)(a)–(e), F.S.
15
Section 620.1210, F.S.
16
Sections 620.8105, 620.9003, F.S.
17
Section 621.13(3), F.S.
18
Sections 679.5011, 679.527(3), F. S. BILL: SB 948 Page 3
Chapter 713, Liens, generally: the Secretary of State or the Secretary’s designee is the filing
officer of the state for purposes of receiving, indexing, and maintaining a record of federal
liens filed in this state,
19
and
Chapter 865, Violations of commercial restrictions: fictitious names for business purposes
must be registered with the Division of Corporations within the DOS (Division).
20
Public Access to Department of State Filing Data
All files maintained electronically by the Division may be accessed through its website.
21
Records available through this website are easily accessible and searchable, including filed
records of business entities, trademarks, fictious names, federal liens, substitute service of
process, notaries, and cable franchises. The public may access and search specific records filed
and maintained as required by the various chapters listed in the statute. Uniform commercial
code financing statements are filed and maintained through a separate portal operated and
maintained by FloridaUCC, LLC, the contract vendor for DOS.
22
Access to this website is
limited to registered users and certain uses may require a fee.
Using the website of the Division, corporations use a specific link to file or update their records
and pay fees.
23
Information submitted in proper form through DOS’s website is accepted
without further inquiry. All information filed electronically with DOS may be readily changed.
Provided the document submitted meets the statutory requirements and is accompanied by the
correct processing or filing fee, the document is accepted by DOS.
24
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill authorizes the DOS to implement a password protected system for the filing of records.
The DOS may request that those using the password protected system verify their identity and
credentials, including their original signature.
The bill provides a starting point for currently registered businesses to create an account by using
their email address that is on file with the DOS as of January 1, 2024. Through this registered
email address, the DOS may require additional verification of an authorized account holder in
order to file a record through the electronic system.
19
See 713.901(5), F.S.
20
Section 865.09, F.S.
21
Available at: www.dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz (last visited March 10, 2023).
22
Available at: https://www.floridaucc.com/uccweb/ (last visited March 10, 2023).
23
Available at: www.dos.myflorida.com/sunbiz/forms/corporations/#flcorpforms (last visited March 10, 2023).
24
Derek Gilliam, Sarasota Rep. McFarland files bill to secure Sunbiz.org, prevent hijacking of businesses, Herald-Tribune
(Feb. 22, 2023), www.heraldtribune.com (last visited March 10, 2023).
BILL: SB 948 Page 4
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
None.
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 15.16 of the Florida Statutes. BILL: SB 948 Page 5
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.