| 15 | 15 | | An act relating to the Chief Financial Officer; 2 |
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| 16 | 16 | | creating s. 17.69, F.S.; creating the Federal Tax 3 |
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| 17 | 17 | | Liaison position within the Department of Financial 4 |
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| 18 | 18 | | Services; providing the duties and authority of the 5 |
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| 19 | 19 | | liaison; amending s. 20.121, F.S.; renaming a division 6 |
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| 20 | 20 | | in the department; removing provisions relating to 7 |
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| 21 | 21 | | duties of such division and to bureaus and offices in 8 |
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| 22 | 22 | | such division; removing a division; amending s. 9 |
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| 23 | 23 | | 112.1816, F.S.; providing that, upon a diagnosis of 10 |
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| 24 | 24 | | cancer, firefighters are entitled to certain benef its 11 |
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| 25 | 25 | | under specified circumstances; amending s. 121.0515, 12 |
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| 26 | 26 | | F.S.; revising requirements for the Special Risk Class 13 |
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| 27 | 27 | | membership; amending s. 284.44, F.S.; removing 14 |
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| 28 | 28 | | provisions relating to certain quarterly reports 15 |
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| 29 | 29 | | prepared by the Division of Risk Management; ame nding 16 |
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| 30 | 30 | | s. 440.13, F.S.; providing the reimbursement schedule 17 |
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| 31 | 31 | | requirements for emergency services and care under 18 |
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| 32 | 32 | | workers' compensation under certain circumstances; 19 |
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| 33 | 33 | | providing rulemaking authority; amending s. 440.385, 20 |
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| 34 | 34 | | F.S.; providing requirements for certain contracts 21 |
|---|
| 35 | 35 | | entered into and purchases made by the Florida Self -22 |
|---|
| 36 | 36 | | Insurers Guaranty Association, Incorporated; providing 23 |
|---|
| 37 | 37 | | duties of the department and the association relating 24 |
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| 38 | 38 | | to such contracts and purchases; providing exemptions; 25 |
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| 46 | 46 | | Page 2 of 159 |
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| 47 | 47 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 48 | 48 | | |
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| 49 | 49 | | |
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| 50 | 50 | | |
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| 51 | 51 | | amending s. 497.101, F.S.; rev ising the requirements 26 |
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| 52 | 52 | | for appointing and nominating members of the Board of 27 |
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| 53 | 53 | | Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services; revising the 28 |
|---|
| 54 | 54 | | members' terms; revising the authority to remove board 29 |
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| 55 | 55 | | members; providing for vacancy appointments; providing 30 |
|---|
| 56 | 56 | | that board members are subject to the code of ethics; 31 |
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| 57 | 57 | | providing requirements for board members' conduct; 32 |
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| 58 | 58 | | prohibiting certain acts by the board; providing 33 |
|---|
| 59 | 59 | | penalties; providing requirements for board meetings, 34 |
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| 60 | 60 | | books, and records; requiring notices of board 35 |
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| 61 | 61 | | meetings; providing requirements for such notices; 36 |
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| 62 | 62 | | amending s. 497.153, F.S.; authorizing services by 37 |
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| 63 | 63 | | electronic mail of administrative complaints against 38 |
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| 64 | 64 | | certain licensees under certain circumstances; 39 |
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| 65 | 65 | | amending s. 497.155, F.S.; authorizing services of 40 |
|---|
| 66 | 66 | | citations by electronic mail under certain 41 |
|---|
| 67 | 67 | | circumstances; amending s. 497.172, F.S.; revising 42 |
|---|
| 68 | 68 | | circumstances under which the department may disclose 43 |
|---|
| 69 | 69 | | certain information that is confidential and exempt 44 |
|---|
| 70 | 70 | | from public records requirements; amending s. 497.386, 45 |
|---|
| 71 | 71 | | F.S.; authorizing the department to enter and secure 46 |
|---|
| 72 | 72 | | certain establishments, facilities, and morgues and 47 |
|---|
| 73 | 73 | | remove certain remains under specified circumstances; 48 |
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| 74 | 74 | | requiring the department to make certain 49 |
|---|
| 75 | 75 | | determinations; prohibiting certain licensees and 50 |
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| 83 | 83 | | Page 3 of 159 |
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| 84 | 84 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 85 | 85 | | |
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| 86 | 86 | | |
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| 87 | 87 | | |
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| 88 | 88 | | facilities from being hel d liable under certain 51 |
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| 89 | 89 | | circumstances; providing penalties; creating s. 52 |
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| 90 | 90 | | 497.469, F.S.; authorizing preneed licensees to 53 |
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| 91 | 91 | | withdraw certain amounts of money under certain 54 |
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| 92 | 92 | | circumstances; providing documents that show that a 55 |
|---|
| 93 | 93 | | preneed contract has been fulfilled; providing 56 |
|---|
| 94 | 94 | | recordkeeping requirements; amending s. 624.307, F.S.; 57 |
|---|
| 95 | 95 | | requiring eligible surplus lines insurers to respond 58 |
|---|
| 96 | 96 | | to the department or the Office of Insurance 59 |
|---|
| 97 | 97 | | Regulation after receipt of requests for documents and 60 |
|---|
| 98 | 98 | | information concerning consumer compla ints; providing 61 |
|---|
| 99 | 99 | | penalties for failure to comply; requiring authorized 62 |
|---|
| 100 | 100 | | insurers and eligible surplus lines insurers to file 63 |
|---|
| 101 | 101 | | e-mail addresses with the department and to designate 64 |
|---|
| 102 | 102 | | contact persons for specified purposes; authorizing 65 |
|---|
| 103 | 103 | | changes of designated conta ct information; amending s. 66 |
|---|
| 104 | 104 | | 626.171, F.S.; requiring the department to make 67 |
|---|
| 105 | 105 | | provisions for certain insurance license applicants to 68 |
|---|
| 106 | 106 | | submit cellular telephone numbers for a specified 69 |
|---|
| 107 | 107 | | purpose; amending s. 626.221, F.S.; providing a 70 |
|---|
| 108 | 108 | | qualification for all -lines adjuster licenses; 71 |
|---|
| 109 | 109 | | amending s. 626.601, F.S.; revising construction; 72 |
|---|
| 110 | 110 | | amending s. 626.7351, F.S.; providing a qualification 73 |
|---|
| 111 | 111 | | for customer representative's licenses; amending s. 74 |
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| 112 | 112 | | 626.878, F.S.; providing duties and prohibited acts 75 |
|---|
| 120 | 120 | | Page 4 of 159 |
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| 121 | 121 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 122 | 122 | | |
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| 123 | 123 | | |
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| 124 | 124 | | |
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| 125 | 125 | | for adjusters; amending s. 6 26.929, F.S.; specifying 76 |
|---|
| 126 | 126 | | that licensed and appointed general lines agents, 77 |
|---|
| 127 | 127 | | rather than general lines agents, may engage in 78 |
|---|
| 128 | 128 | | certain activities while also licensed and appointed 79 |
|---|
| 129 | 129 | | as surplus lines agents; authorizing general lines 80 |
|---|
| 130 | 130 | | agents that are also licensed as surplus lines agents 81 |
|---|
| 131 | 131 | | to make certain appointments; authorizing such agents 82 |
|---|
| 132 | 132 | | to originate specified businesses and accept specified 83 |
|---|
| 133 | 133 | | businesses; prohibiting such agents from being 84 |
|---|
| 134 | 134 | | appointed by or transacting certain insurance on 85 |
|---|
| 135 | 135 | | behalf of specified insure rs; amending s. 627.351, 86 |
|---|
| 136 | 136 | | F.S.; providing requirements for certain contracts 87 |
|---|
| 137 | 137 | | entered into and purchases made by the Florida Joint 88 |
|---|
| 138 | 138 | | Underwriting Association; providing duties of the 89 |
|---|
| 139 | 139 | | department and the association associated with such 90 |
|---|
| 140 | 140 | | contracts and purchases; amending s. 631.59, F.S.; 91 |
|---|
| 141 | 141 | | providing requirements for certain contracts entered 92 |
|---|
| 142 | 142 | | into and purchases made by the Florida Insurance 93 |
|---|
| 143 | 143 | | Guaranty Association, Incorporated; providing duties 94 |
|---|
| 144 | 144 | | of the department and the association associated with 95 |
|---|
| 145 | 145 | | such contracts and pu rchases; providing 96 |
|---|
| 146 | 146 | | nonapplicability; amending ss. 631.722, 631.821, and 97 |
|---|
| 147 | 147 | | 631.921, F.S.; providing requirements for certain 98 |
|---|
| 148 | 148 | | contracts entered into and purchases made by the 99 |
|---|
| 149 | 149 | | Florida Life and Health Insurance Guaranty 100 |
|---|
| 157 | 157 | | Page 5 of 159 |
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| 158 | 158 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 159 | 159 | | |
|---|
| 160 | 160 | | |
|---|
| 161 | 161 | | |
|---|
| 162 | 162 | | Association, the board of directors of the Florida 101 |
|---|
| 163 | 163 | | Health Maintenance Organization Consumer Assistance 102 |
|---|
| 164 | 164 | | Plan, and the board of directors of the Florida 103 |
|---|
| 165 | 165 | | Workers' Compensation Insurance Guaranty Association, 104 |
|---|
| 166 | 166 | | respectively; providing duties of the department and 105 |
|---|
| 167 | 167 | | of the association and boards associated with such 106 |
|---|
| 168 | 168 | | contracts and purchases; amending s. 633.124, F.S.; 107 |
|---|
| 169 | 169 | | updating the edition of a manual for the use of 108 |
|---|
| 170 | 170 | | pyrotechnics; amending s. 633.202, F.S.; revising the 109 |
|---|
| 171 | 171 | | duties of the State Fire Marshal; amending s. 633.206, 110 |
|---|
| 172 | 172 | | F.S.; revising the requirements for uniform firesafety 111 |
|---|
| 173 | 173 | | standards established by the department; amending s. 112 |
|---|
| 174 | 174 | | 634.041, F.S.; specifying the conditions under which 113 |
|---|
| 175 | 175 | | service agreement companies do not have to establish 114 |
|---|
| 176 | 176 | | and maintain unearned premium reserves; amending s. 115 |
|---|
| 177 | 177 | | 634.081, F.S.; specifying the conditions under which 116 |
|---|
| 178 | 178 | | service agreement companies' licenses are not 117 |
|---|
| 179 | 179 | | suspended or revoked under certain circumstances; 118 |
|---|
| 180 | 180 | | amending s. 634.3077, F.S.; specifying requirements 119 |
|---|
| 181 | 181 | | for certain contractual liability insurance obtained 120 |
|---|
| 182 | 182 | | by home warranty association s; providing that such 121 |
|---|
| 183 | 183 | | associations are not required to establish unearned 122 |
|---|
| 184 | 184 | | premium reserves or maintain contractual liability 123 |
|---|
| 185 | 185 | | insurance; authorizing such associations to allow 124 |
|---|
| 186 | 186 | | their premiums to exceed certain limitations under 125 |
|---|
| 194 | 194 | | Page 6 of 159 |
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| 195 | 195 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 196 | 196 | | |
|---|
| 197 | 197 | | |
|---|
| 198 | 198 | | |
|---|
| 199 | 199 | | certain circumstances; amendi ng s. 634.317, F.S.; 126 |
|---|
| 200 | 200 | | providing that certain entities, employees, and agents 127 |
|---|
| 201 | 201 | | are exempt from sales representative licenses and 128 |
|---|
| 202 | 202 | | appointments under certain circumstances; amending s. 129 |
|---|
| 203 | 203 | | 648.25, F.S.; providing definitions; amending s. 130 |
|---|
| 204 | 204 | | 648.26, F.S.; revising the types of investigatory 131 |
|---|
| 205 | 205 | | records of the department which are confidential and 132 |
|---|
| 206 | 206 | | exempt from public records requirements; revising the 133 |
|---|
| 207 | 207 | | circumstances under which investigatory records are 134 |
|---|
| 208 | 208 | | confidential and exempt from public records 135 |
|---|
| 209 | 209 | | requirements; revising constru ction; amending s. 136 |
|---|
| 210 | 210 | | 648.30, F.S.; revising circumstances under which a 137 |
|---|
| 211 | 211 | | person or entity may act in the capacity of a bail 138 |
|---|
| 212 | 212 | | bond agent or bail bond agency and perform certain 139 |
|---|
| 213 | 213 | | functions, duties, and powers; amending s. 648.355, 140 |
|---|
| 214 | 214 | | F.S.; revising the requirements for limited surety 141 |
|---|
| 215 | 215 | | agents and professional bail bond agent license 142 |
|---|
| 216 | 216 | | applications; amending s. 655.0323, F.S.; providing 143 |
|---|
| 217 | 217 | | that certain actions are included as an unsafe and 144 |
|---|
| 218 | 218 | | unsound practice for financial institutions; making a 145 |
|---|
| 219 | 219 | | technical change; authorizing ce rtain aggrieved 146 |
|---|
| 220 | 220 | | customers or members to make a complaint to the Office 147 |
|---|
| 221 | 221 | | of Financial Regulation on a specified form within a 148 |
|---|
| 222 | 222 | | specified timeframe; providing that complaints are 149 |
|---|
| 223 | 223 | | barred if not timely submitted; requiring the office 150 |
|---|
| 231 | 231 | | Page 7 of 159 |
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| 232 | 232 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 233 | 233 | | |
|---|
| 234 | 234 | | |
|---|
| 235 | 235 | | |
|---|
| 236 | 236 | | to take certain actions, mak e certain determinations, 151 |
|---|
| 237 | 237 | | and begin an investigation within a specified 152 |
|---|
| 238 | 238 | | timeframe after receiving a complaint; requiring a 153 |
|---|
| 239 | 239 | | financial institution to provide certain information 154 |
|---|
| 240 | 240 | | to the office after being notified that a complaint 155 |
|---|
| 241 | 241 | | has been filed; requiring th at certain claims be 156 |
|---|
| 242 | 242 | | handled in accordance with certain provisions; 157 |
|---|
| 243 | 243 | | requiring the office to take certain actions after an 158 |
|---|
| 244 | 244 | | investigation is completed or ceases to be active; 159 |
|---|
| 245 | 245 | | authorizing the Financial Services Commission to adopt 160 |
|---|
| 246 | 246 | | rules to administer this sec tion; amending s. 280.02, 161 |
|---|
| 247 | 247 | | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 162 |
|---|
| 248 | 248 | | act; amending s. 717.101, F.S.; providing and revising 163 |
|---|
| 249 | 249 | | definitions; amending s. 717.102, F.S.; providing a 164 |
|---|
| 250 | 250 | | rebuttal to a presumption of unclaimed property; 165 |
|---|
| 251 | 251 | | providing requirements for such rebuttal; providing 166 |
|---|
| 252 | 252 | | circumstances under which a property is presumed 167 |
|---|
| 253 | 253 | | unclaimed; providing construction; amending s. 168 |
|---|
| 254 | 254 | | 717.106, F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; creating 169 |
|---|
| 255 | 255 | | s. 717.1065, F.S.; providing circumstances under which 170 |
|---|
| 256 | 256 | | virtual currency held or owing by banking 171 |
|---|
| 257 | 257 | | organizations are not presumed unclaimed; prohibiting 172 |
|---|
| 258 | 258 | | virtual currency holders from deducting certain 173 |
|---|
| 259 | 259 | | charges from amounts of specified virtual currency 174 |
|---|
| 260 | 260 | | under certain circumstances; providing an exception; 175 |
|---|
| 268 | 268 | | Page 8 of 159 |
|---|
| 269 | 269 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 270 | 270 | | |
|---|
| 271 | 271 | | |
|---|
| 272 | 272 | | |
|---|
| 273 | 273 | | amending s. 717.1101, F.S.; re vising the date on which 176 |
|---|
| 274 | 274 | | stocks and other equity interests in business 177 |
|---|
| 275 | 275 | | associations are presumed unclaimed; amending s. 178 |
|---|
| 276 | 276 | | 717.112, F.S.; providing that certain intangible 179 |
|---|
| 277 | 277 | | property held by attorneys in fact and by agents in a 180 |
|---|
| 278 | 278 | | fiduciary capacity are presumed u nclaimed under 181 |
|---|
| 279 | 279 | | certain circumstances; revising the requirements for 182 |
|---|
| 280 | 280 | | claiming such property; providing construction; 183 |
|---|
| 281 | 281 | | amending s. 717.1125, F.S.; providing construction; 184 |
|---|
| 282 | 282 | | amending s. 717.117, F.S.; removing the paper option 185 |
|---|
| 283 | 283 | | for reports by holders of unclaimed funds and 186 |
|---|
| 284 | 284 | | property; revising the requirements for reporting the 187 |
|---|
| 285 | 285 | | owners of unclaimed property and funds; authorizing 188 |
|---|
| 286 | 286 | | the department to extend reporting dates under certain 189 |
|---|
| 287 | 287 | | circumstances; revising the circumstances under which 190 |
|---|
| 288 | 288 | | the department may impose and collect penalties; 191 |
|---|
| 289 | 289 | | requiring holders of inactive accounts to notify 192 |
|---|
| 290 | 290 | | apparent owners; revising the manner of sending such 193 |
|---|
| 291 | 291 | | notices; providing requirements for such notices; 194 |
|---|
| 292 | 292 | | amending s. 717.119, F.S.; requiring certain virtual 195 |
|---|
| 293 | 293 | | currency to be remitted to the d epartment; providing 196 |
|---|
| 294 | 294 | | requirements for the liquidation of such virtual 197 |
|---|
| 295 | 295 | | currency; providing that holders of such virtual 198 |
|---|
| 296 | 296 | | currency are relieved of all liability upon delivery 199 |
|---|
| 297 | 297 | | of the virtual currency to the department; prohibiting 200 |
|---|
| 305 | 305 | | Page 9 of 159 |
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| 306 | 306 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 307 | 307 | | |
|---|
| 308 | 308 | | |
|---|
| 309 | 309 | | |
|---|
| 310 | 310 | | holders from assigning or tra nsferring certain 201 |
|---|
| 311 | 311 | | obligations or from complying with certain provisions; 202 |
|---|
| 312 | 312 | | providing that certain entities are responsible for 203 |
|---|
| 313 | 313 | | meeting holders' obligations and complying with 204 |
|---|
| 314 | 314 | | certain provisions under certain circumstances; 205 |
|---|
| 315 | 315 | | providing construction; amending s. 717.1201, F.S.; 206 |
|---|
| 316 | 316 | | providing that the state assumes custody and 207 |
|---|
| 317 | 317 | | responsibility for the safekeeping of unclaimed 208 |
|---|
| 318 | 318 | | property upon good faith payments or deliveries of 209 |
|---|
| 319 | 319 | | property to the department; providing that the 210 |
|---|
| 320 | 320 | | department relieves holders of certain liability under 211 |
|---|
| 321 | 321 | | specified circumstances; providing construction; 212 |
|---|
| 322 | 322 | | requiring the department to defend holders against 213 |
|---|
| 323 | 323 | | certain claims and indemnify holders against certain 214 |
|---|
| 324 | 324 | | liability under specified circumstances; revising 215 |
|---|
| 325 | 325 | | circumstances under which payments or deliveri es of 216 |
|---|
| 326 | 326 | | unclaimed property are considered to be made in good 217 |
|---|
| 327 | 327 | | faith; authorizing the department to refund and 218 |
|---|
| 328 | 328 | | redeliver certain money and property under certain 219 |
|---|
| 329 | 329 | | circumstances; amending s. 727.1242, F.S.; revising 220 |
|---|
| 330 | 330 | | legislative intent; amending s. 717.1243, F.S. ; 221 |
|---|
| 331 | 331 | | revising applicability of certain provisions relating 222 |
|---|
| 332 | 332 | | to unclaimed small estate accounts; amending s. 223 |
|---|
| 333 | 333 | | 717.129, F.S.; revising the prohibition of department 224 |
|---|
| 334 | 334 | | enforcement relating to duties of holders of unclaimed 225 |
|---|
| 342 | 342 | | Page 10 of 159 |
|---|
| 343 | 343 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 344 | 344 | | |
|---|
| 345 | 345 | | |
|---|
| 346 | 346 | | |
|---|
| 347 | 347 | | funds and property; revising the tolling fo r the 226 |
|---|
| 348 | 348 | | periods of limitation relating to duties of holders of 227 |
|---|
| 349 | 349 | | unclaimed funds and property; amending s. 717.1301, 228 |
|---|
| 350 | 350 | | F.S.; revising the department's authorities on the 229 |
|---|
| 351 | 351 | | disposition of unclaimed funds and property for 230 |
|---|
| 352 | 352 | | specified purposes; prohibiting certain mate rials from 231 |
|---|
| 353 | 353 | | being disclosed or made public under certain 232 |
|---|
| 354 | 354 | | circumstances; revising the basis for the department's 233 |
|---|
| 355 | 355 | | cost assessment against holders of unclaimed funds and 234 |
|---|
| 356 | 356 | | property; amending s. 717.1311, F.S.; revising the 235 |
|---|
| 357 | 357 | | recordkeeping requirements for funds an d property 236 |
|---|
| 358 | 358 | | holders; amending s. 717.1322, F.S.; revising acts 237 |
|---|
| 359 | 359 | | that are violations of specified provisions and 238 |
|---|
| 360 | 360 | | constitute grounds for administrative enforcement 239 |
|---|
| 361 | 361 | | actions and civil enforcement by the department; 240 |
|---|
| 362 | 362 | | providing that claimants' representatives, rath er than 241 |
|---|
| 363 | 363 | | registrants, are subject to civil enforcement and 242 |
|---|
| 364 | 364 | | disciplinary actions for certain violations; amending 243 |
|---|
| 365 | 365 | | s. 717.1333, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes 244 |
|---|
| 366 | 366 | | made by the act; amending s. 717.134, F.S.; conforming 245 |
|---|
| 367 | 367 | | a provision to changes made by the ac t; amending s. 246 |
|---|
| 368 | 368 | | 717.135, F.S.; revising the information that certain 247 |
|---|
| 369 | 369 | | agreements relating to unclaimed property must 248 |
|---|
| 370 | 370 | | disclose; removing a requirement for Unclaimed 249 |
|---|
| 371 | 371 | | Property Purchase Agreement; providing 250 |
|---|
| 379 | 379 | | Page 11 of 159 |
|---|
| 380 | 380 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 381 | 381 | | |
|---|
| 382 | 382 | | |
|---|
| 383 | 383 | | |
|---|
| 384 | 384 | | nonapplicability; amending s. 717.1400, F.S.; removing 251 |
|---|
| 385 | 385 | | a circumstance under which certain persons must 252 |
|---|
| 386 | 386 | | register with the department; amending s. 766.302, 253 |
|---|
| 387 | 387 | | F.S.; revising a definition; amending s. 766.314, 254 |
|---|
| 388 | 388 | | F.S.; revising circumstances under which the Florida 255 |
|---|
| 389 | 389 | | Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation Plan 256 |
|---|
| 390 | 390 | | may not accept new claims; amending ss. 197.582 and 257 |
|---|
| 391 | 391 | | 717.1382, F.S.; conforming a cross -reference; 258 |
|---|
| 392 | 392 | | providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision; 259 |
|---|
| 393 | 393 | | providing reporting requirements for the Florida 260 |
|---|
| 394 | 394 | | Birth-Related Neurological Injury Compensation 261 |
|---|
| 395 | 395 | | Association; amending s. 17.57, F.S.; providing 262 |
|---|
| 396 | 396 | | certain requirements for credit unions designated as 263 |
|---|
| 397 | 397 | | qualified public depositories relating to the National 264 |
|---|
| 398 | 398 | | Credit Union Share Insurance Fund; amending s. 17.68, 265 |
|---|
| 399 | 399 | | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 266 |
|---|
| 400 | 400 | | act; amending s. 280.02, F.S.; revising definitions; 267 |
|---|
| 401 | 401 | | adding credit unions to a list of financial 268 |
|---|
| 402 | 402 | | institutions that are eligible to be qualified public 269 |
|---|
| 403 | 403 | | depositories; amending s. 280.025, F.S.; providing 270 |
|---|
| 404 | 404 | | applicability of qualified public depository 271 |
|---|
| 405 | 405 | | provisions to credit unions; amending s. 280.03, F.S.; 272 |
|---|
| 406 | 406 | | conforming a provision to changes made by the act; 273 |
|---|
| 407 | 407 | | creating s. 280.042, F.S.; prohibiting the Chief 274 |
|---|
| 408 | 408 | | Financial Officer from designating credit unions as 275 |
|---|
| 416 | 416 | | Page 12 of 159 |
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| 417 | 417 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 418 | 418 | | |
|---|
| 419 | 419 | | |
|---|
| 420 | 420 | | |
|---|
| 421 | 421 | | qualified public depositories unless certain 276 |
|---|
| 422 | 422 | | conditions are met; requiring the Chief Financial 277 |
|---|
| 423 | 423 | | Officer to withdraw from a collateral agreement with a 278 |
|---|
| 424 | 424 | | credit union under certain circumstances; specifying a 279 |
|---|
| 425 | 425 | | requirement for and a restriction on a credit union 280 |
|---|
| 426 | 426 | | that is a party to a withdrawn collateral agreement; 281 |
|---|
| 427 | 427 | | providing limits on public deposits held by credit 282 |
|---|
| 428 | 428 | | unions; amending ss. 280.05, 280.052, 280.053, and 283 |
|---|
| 429 | 429 | | 280.055, F.S.; providing applicability of qualified 284 |
|---|
| 430 | 430 | | public depository provisions to credit unions; 285 |
|---|
| 431 | 431 | | amending s. 280.07, F.S.; specifying the losses 286 |
|---|
| 432 | 432 | | against which certain solvent banks, savings banks, 287 |
|---|
| 433 | 433 | | savings associations, and credit unions must guarantee 288 |
|---|
| 434 | 434 | | public depositors; amending ss. 280.08 and 280.085, 289 |
|---|
| 435 | 435 | | F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the 290 |
|---|
| 436 | 436 | | act; amending s. 280.09, F.S.; requiring the Chief 291 |
|---|
| 437 | 437 | | Financial Officer to segregate and separately account 292 |
|---|
| 438 | 438 | | for proceeds, assessments, and administrative 293 |
|---|
| 439 | 439 | | penalties attributable to a credit union from those 294 |
|---|
| 440 | 440 | | attributable to other specified financial 295 |
|---|
| 441 | 441 | | institutions; revising a condition for the payment of 296 |
|---|
| 442 | 442 | | losses to public depositors; amending s. 280.10, F.S.; 297 |
|---|
| 443 | 443 | | conforming provisions to changes made by the act; 298 |
|---|
| 444 | 444 | | amending s. 280.13, F.S.; providing that a specified 299 |
|---|
| 445 | 445 | | limit on securities eligible to be pledged as 300 |
|---|
| 453 | 453 | | Page 13 of 159 |
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| 454 | 454 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 455 | 455 | | |
|---|
| 456 | 456 | | |
|---|
| 457 | 457 | | |
|---|
| 458 | 458 | | collateral applies to qualified public depositories, 301 |
|---|
| 459 | 459 | | rather than to banks and savings associations; 302 |
|---|
| 460 | 460 | | amending s. 280.17, F.S.; conforming a provision to 303 |
|---|
| 461 | 461 | | changes made by the act; reenacting ss. 280.17(1)(a), 304 |
|---|
| 462 | 462 | | 24.114(1), 125.901(3)(e), 136.01, 159.608(11), 305 |
|---|
| 463 | 463 | | 175.301, 175.401(8), 185.30, 185.50(8), 190.007(3), 306 |
|---|
| 464 | 464 | | 191.006(16), 215.34(2 ), 218.415(16)(c), (17)(c), and 307 |
|---|
| 465 | 465 | | (23)(a), 255.502(4)(h), 280.051(15), 280.18(1), 308 |
|---|
| 466 | 466 | | 331.309(1) and (2), 373.553(2), 631.221, and 309 |
|---|
| 467 | 467 | | 723.06115(3)(c), F.S., relating to requirements for 310 |
|---|
| 468 | 468 | | public depositors; deposits and investments of state 311 |
|---|
| 469 | 469 | | money; bank deposits and c ontrol of lottery 312 |
|---|
| 470 | 470 | | transactions; children's services and independent 313 |
|---|
| 471 | 471 | | special districts; county depositories; powers of 314 |
|---|
| 472 | 472 | | housing finance authorities; depositories for pension 315 |
|---|
| 473 | 473 | | funds; retiree health insurance subsidies; 316 |
|---|
| 474 | 474 | | depositories for retirement funds; retire e health 317 |
|---|
| 475 | 475 | | insurance subsidies; boards of supervisors; general 318 |
|---|
| 476 | 476 | | powers; state funds and noncollectible items; local 319 |
|---|
| 477 | 477 | | government investment policies; definitions; grounds 320 |
|---|
| 478 | 478 | | for suspension or disqualification of a qualified 321 |
|---|
| 479 | 479 | | public depository; protection of public depositors and 322 |
|---|
| 480 | 480 | | liability of the state; treasurer, depositories, and 323 |
|---|
| 481 | 481 | | fiscal agent for Space Florida; treasurer of the 324 |
|---|
| 482 | 482 | | board, payment of funds, and depositories; deposit of 325 |
|---|
| 490 | 490 | | Page 14 of 159 |
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| 491 | 491 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 492 | 492 | | |
|---|
| 493 | 493 | | |
|---|
| 494 | 494 | | |
|---|
| 495 | 495 | | moneys collected; and the Florida Mobile Home 326 |
|---|
| 496 | 496 | | Relocation Trust Fund, respectively, to incorporate 327 |
|---|
| 497 | 497 | | the amendments made by this act to s. 280.02, F.S., in 328 |
|---|
| 498 | 498 | | references thereto; providing effective dates. 329 |
|---|
| 499 | 499 | | 330 |
|---|
| 500 | 500 | | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 331 |
|---|
| 501 | 501 | | 332 |
|---|
| 502 | 502 | | Section 1. Section 17.69, Florida Statutes, is created to 333 |
|---|
| 503 | 503 | | read: 334 |
|---|
| 504 | 504 | | 17.69 Federal Tax Liaison.— 335 |
|---|
| 505 | 505 | | (1) The Federal Tax Liaison position is created within the 336 |
|---|
| 506 | 506 | | department. The purpose of the position is to assist the 337 |
|---|
| 507 | 507 | | taxpayers of the state. 338 |
|---|
| 508 | 508 | | (2) The Chief Financial Officer shall appoint a Federal 339 |
|---|
| 509 | 509 | | Tax Liaison. The Federal Tax Liaiso n reports directly to the 340 |
|---|
| 510 | 510 | | Chief Financial Officer but is not otherwise under the authority 341 |
|---|
| 511 | 511 | | of the department or of any employee of the department. 342 |
|---|
| 512 | 512 | | (3) The Federal Tax Liaison may: 343 |
|---|
| 513 | 513 | | (a) Assist taxpayers by answering taxpayer questions. 344 |
|---|
| 514 | 514 | | (b) Direct taxpayers to the proper division or office 345 |
|---|
| 515 | 515 | | within the Internal Revenue Service in order to facilitate 346 |
|---|
| 516 | 516 | | timely resolution to taxpayer issues. 347 |
|---|
| 517 | 517 | | (c) Prepare recommendations for the Internal Revenue 348 |
|---|
| 518 | 518 | | Service of any actions that will help resolve problems 349 |
|---|
| 519 | 519 | | encountered by taxpayers. 350 |
|---|
| 527 | 527 | | Page 15 of 159 |
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| 528 | 528 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 529 | 529 | | |
|---|
| 530 | 530 | | |
|---|
| 531 | 531 | | |
|---|
| 532 | 532 | | (d) Provide information about the policies, practices, and 351 |
|---|
| 533 | 533 | | procedures that the Internal Revenue Service uses to ensure 352 |
|---|
| 534 | 534 | | compliance with the tax laws. 353 |
|---|
| 535 | 535 | | (e) With the consent of the taxpayer, request records from 354 |
|---|
| 536 | 536 | | the Internal Revenue Service to assist the liaison in responding 355 |
|---|
| 537 | 537 | | to taxpayer inquiries. 356 |
|---|
| 538 | 538 | | Section 2. Paragraphs (g) through (n) of subsection (2) of 357 |
|---|
| 539 | 539 | | section 20.121, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as paragraphs 358 |
|---|
| 540 | 540 | | (f) through (m), respectively, and paragraph (e) and present 359 |
|---|
| 541 | 541 | | paragraph (f) of subsection (2) of that section are amended to 360 |
|---|
| 542 | 542 | | read: 361 |
|---|
| 543 | 543 | | 20.121 Department of Financial Services. —There is created 362 |
|---|
| 544 | 544 | | a Department of Financial Services. 363 |
|---|
| 545 | 545 | | (2) DIVISIONS.—The Department of Financial Services shall 364 |
|---|
| 546 | 546 | | consist of the following divisions and office: 365 |
|---|
| 547 | 547 | | (e) The Division of Criminal Investigations Investigative 366 |
|---|
| 548 | 548 | | and Forensic Services , which shall function as a criminal 367 |
|---|
| 549 | 549 | | justice agency for purposes of ss. 943.045 -943.08. The division 368 |
|---|
| 550 | 550 | | may initiate and conduct investigations into any matter under 369 |
|---|
| 551 | 551 | | the jurisdiction of the Chief Financial Officer and Fire Marshal 370 |
|---|
| 552 | 552 | | within or outside of this state as it deems necessary. If, 371 |
|---|
| 553 | 553 | | during an investigation, the division has reason to believe that 372 |
|---|
| 554 | 554 | | any criminal law of this state or the United States has or may 373 |
|---|
| 555 | 555 | | have been violated, it shall refer any records tending to show 374 |
|---|
| 556 | 556 | | such violation to state law enforcement and, if applicable, 375 |
|---|
| 564 | 564 | | Page 16 of 159 |
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| 565 | 565 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 566 | 566 | | |
|---|
| 567 | 567 | | |
|---|
| 568 | 568 | | |
|---|
| 569 | 569 | | federal prosecutorial agencies and shall provide investigative 376 |
|---|
| 570 | 570 | | assistance to those agencies as appropriate. The division shall 377 |
|---|
| 571 | 571 | | include the following bureaus and office: 378 |
|---|
| 572 | 572 | | 1. The Bureau of Forensic Services; 379 |
|---|
| 573 | 573 | | 2. The Bureau of Fire, Arson, and Explosives 380 |
|---|
| 574 | 574 | | Investigations; 381 |
|---|
| 575 | 575 | | 3. The Office of Fiscal Integrity, which shall have a 382 |
|---|
| 576 | 576 | | separate budget; 383 |
|---|
| 577 | 577 | | 4. The Bureau of Insurance Fraud; and 384 |
|---|
| 578 | 578 | | 5. The Bureau of Workers' Compensation Fraud. 385 |
|---|
| 579 | 579 | | (f) The Division of Public Assistance Fraud, which shall 386 |
|---|
| 580 | 580 | | function as a criminal justice agency for purposes of ss. 387 |
|---|
| 581 | 581 | | 943.045-943.08. The division shall conduct investigations 388 |
|---|
| 582 | 582 | | pursuant to s. 414.411 within or outside of the state as it 389 |
|---|
| 583 | 583 | | deems necessary. If, during an investigation, the division has 390 |
|---|
| 584 | 584 | | reason to believe that any criminal law of the state has or may 391 |
|---|
| 585 | 585 | | have been violated, it shall refer any records supporting such 392 |
|---|
| 586 | 586 | | violation to state or federal law enforcement or pros ecutorial 393 |
|---|
| 587 | 587 | | agencies and shall provide investigative assistance to those 394 |
|---|
| 588 | 588 | | agencies as required. 395 |
|---|
| 589 | 589 | | Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 112.1816, Florida 396 |
|---|
| 590 | 590 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 397 |
|---|
| 591 | 591 | | 112.1816 Firefighters; cancer diagnosis. — 398 |
|---|
| 592 | 592 | | (2) Upon a diagnosis of canc er, a firefighter is entitled 399 |
|---|
| 593 | 593 | | to the following benefits, as an alternative to pursuing 400 |
|---|
| 601 | 601 | | Page 17 of 159 |
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| 602 | 602 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 603 | 603 | | |
|---|
| 604 | 604 | | |
|---|
| 605 | 605 | | |
|---|
| 606 | 606 | | workers' compensation benefits under chapter 440, if the 401 |
|---|
| 607 | 607 | | firefighter has been employed by his or her employer for at 402 |
|---|
| 608 | 608 | | least 5 continuous years, has not used tobacco produ cts for at 403 |
|---|
| 609 | 609 | | least the preceding 5 years, and has not been employed in any 404 |
|---|
| 610 | 610 | | other position in the preceding 5 years which is proven to 405 |
|---|
| 611 | 611 | | create a higher risk for any cancer: 406 |
|---|
| 612 | 612 | | (a) Cancer treatment covered within an employer -sponsored 407 |
|---|
| 613 | 613 | | health plan or through a gr oup health insurance trust fund. The 408 |
|---|
| 614 | 614 | | employer must timely reimburse the firefighter for any out -of-409 |
|---|
| 615 | 615 | | pocket deductible, copayment, or coinsurance costs incurred due 410 |
|---|
| 616 | 616 | | to the treatment of cancer. 411 |
|---|
| 617 | 617 | | (b) A one-time cash payout of $25,000, upon the 412 |
|---|
| 618 | 618 | | firefighter's initial diagnosis of cancer. 413 |
|---|
| 619 | 619 | | (c) Leave time and employee retention benefits equivalent 414 |
|---|
| 620 | 620 | | to those provided for other injuries or illnesses incurred in 415 |
|---|
| 621 | 621 | | the line of duty. 416 |
|---|
| 622 | 622 | | 417 |
|---|
| 623 | 623 | | If the firefighter elects to continue coverage in the employer -418 |
|---|
| 624 | 624 | | sponsored health plan or group health insurance trust fund after 419 |
|---|
| 625 | 625 | | he or she terminates employment, the benefits specified in 420 |
|---|
| 626 | 626 | | paragraphs (a) and (b) must be made available by the former 421 |
|---|
| 627 | 627 | | employer of a firefighter for 10 years following the date on 422 |
|---|
| 628 | 628 | | which the firefighter terminates em ployment so long as the 423 |
|---|
| 629 | 629 | | firefighter otherwise met the criteria specified in this 424 |
|---|
| 630 | 630 | | subsection when he or she terminated employment and was not 425 |
|---|
| 638 | 638 | | Page 18 of 159 |
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| 639 | 639 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 640 | 640 | | |
|---|
| 641 | 641 | | |
|---|
| 642 | 642 | | |
|---|
| 643 | 643 | | subsequently employed as a firefighter following that date. For 426 |
|---|
| 644 | 644 | | purposes of determining leave time and employee ret ention 427 |
|---|
| 645 | 645 | | policies, the employer must consider a firefighter's cancer 428 |
|---|
| 646 | 646 | | diagnosis as an injury or illness incurred in the line of duty. 429 |
|---|
| 647 | 647 | | Section 4. Paragraph (f) of subsection (2) and paragraph 430 |
|---|
| 648 | 648 | | (h) of subsection (3) of section 121.0515, Florida Statutes, are 431 |
|---|
| 649 | 649 | | amended to read: 432 |
|---|
| 650 | 650 | | 121.0515 Special Risk Class. — 433 |
|---|
| 651 | 651 | | (2) MEMBERSHIP.— 434 |
|---|
| 652 | 652 | | (f) Effective July 1, 2008, the member must be employed by 435 |
|---|
| 653 | 653 | | the Department of Law Enforcement in the crime laboratory or by 436 |
|---|
| 654 | 654 | | the Department of Financial Services Division of State Fire 437 |
|---|
| 655 | 655 | | Marshal in the forensic laboratory and meet the special criteria 438 |
|---|
| 656 | 656 | | set forth in paragraph (3)(h). 439 |
|---|
| 657 | 657 | | (3) CRITERIA.—A member, to be designated as a special risk 440 |
|---|
| 658 | 658 | | member, must meet the following criteria: 441 |
|---|
| 659 | 659 | | (h) Effective July 1, 2008, the member must be employed b y 442 |
|---|
| 660 | 660 | | the Department of Law Enforcement in the crime laboratory or by 443 |
|---|
| 661 | 661 | | the Department of Financial Services Division of State Fire 444 |
|---|
| 662 | 662 | | Marshal in the forensic laboratory in one of the following 445 |
|---|
| 663 | 663 | | classes: 446 |
|---|
| 664 | 664 | | 1. Forensic technologist (class code 8459); 447 |
|---|
| 665 | 665 | | 2. Crime laboratory technician (class code 8461); 448 |
|---|
| 666 | 666 | | 3. Crime laboratory analyst (class code 8463); 449 |
|---|
| 667 | 667 | | 4. Senior crime laboratory analyst (class code 8464); 450 |
|---|
| 675 | 675 | | Page 19 of 159 |
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| 676 | 676 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 677 | 677 | | |
|---|
| 678 | 678 | | |
|---|
| 679 | 679 | | |
|---|
| 680 | 680 | | 5. Crime laboratory analyst supervisor (class code 8466); 451 |
|---|
| 681 | 681 | | 6. Forensic chief (class code 9602); or 452 |
|---|
| 682 | 682 | | 7. Forensic services quality manager (class code 9603); 453 |
|---|
| 683 | 683 | | Section 5. Subsection (6) of section 284.44, Florida 454 |
|---|
| 684 | 684 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 455 |
|---|
| 685 | 685 | | 284.44 Salary indemnification costs of state agencies. — 456 |
|---|
| 686 | 686 | | (6) The Division of Risk Management shall prepare 457 |
|---|
| 687 | 687 | | quarterly reports to the Executive Office of the Governor and 458 |
|---|
| 688 | 688 | | the chairs of the legislative appropriations committees 459 |
|---|
| 689 | 689 | | indicating for each state agency the total amount of salary 460 |
|---|
| 690 | 690 | | indemnification benefits paid to claimants and the total amount 461 |
|---|
| 691 | 691 | | of reimbursements from s tate agencies to the State Risk 462 |
|---|
| 692 | 692 | | Management Trust Fund for initial costs for the previous 463 |
|---|
| 693 | 693 | | quarter. These reports shall also include information for each 464 |
|---|
| 694 | 694 | | state agency indicating the number of cases and amounts of 465 |
|---|
| 695 | 695 | | initial salary indemnification costs for whic h reimbursement 466 |
|---|
| 696 | 696 | | requirements were waived by the Executive Office of the Governor 467 |
|---|
| 697 | 697 | | pursuant to this section. 468 |
|---|
| 698 | 698 | | Section 6. Subsection (12) of section 440.13, Florida 469 |
|---|
| 699 | 699 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 470 |
|---|
| 700 | 700 | | 440.13 Medical services and supplies; penalty for 471 |
|---|
| 701 | 701 | | violations; limitations. — 472 |
|---|
| 702 | 702 | | (12) CREATION OF THREE -MEMBER PANEL; GUIDES OF MAXIMUM 473 |
|---|
| 703 | 703 | | REIMBURSEMENT ALLOWANCES. — 474 |
|---|
| 704 | 704 | | (a) A three-member panel is created, consisting of the 475 |
|---|
| 712 | 712 | | Page 20 of 159 |
|---|
| 713 | 713 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 714 | 714 | | |
|---|
| 715 | 715 | | |
|---|
| 716 | 716 | | |
|---|
| 717 | 717 | | Chief Financial Officer, or the Chief Financial Officer's 476 |
|---|
| 718 | 718 | | designee, and two members to be appointed by the Governor, 477 |
|---|
| 719 | 719 | | subject to confirmation by the Senate, one member who, on 478 |
|---|
| 720 | 720 | | account of present or previous vocation, employment, or 479 |
|---|
| 721 | 721 | | affiliation, shall be classified as a representative of 480 |
|---|
| 722 | 722 | | employers, the other member who, on account of previous 481 |
|---|
| 723 | 723 | | vocation, employment, or affiliation, shall be classified as a 482 |
|---|
| 724 | 724 | | representative of employees. The panel shall determine statewide 483 |
|---|
| 725 | 725 | | schedules of maximum reimbursement allowances for medically 484 |
|---|
| 726 | 726 | | necessary treatment, care, and attendance provided by hospitals 485 |
|---|
| 727 | 727 | | and ambulatory surgical centers. The maximum reimbursement 486 |
|---|
| 728 | 728 | | allowances for inpatient hospital care shall be based on a 487 |
|---|
| 729 | 729 | | schedule of per diem rates, to be approved by the three -member 488 |
|---|
| 730 | 730 | | panel no later than March 1, 1994, to be used in conjunction 489 |
|---|
| 731 | 731 | | with a precertificat ion manual as determined by the department, 490 |
|---|
| 732 | 732 | | including maximum hours in which an outpatient may remain in 491 |
|---|
| 733 | 733 | | observation status, which shall not exceed 23 hours. All 492 |
|---|
| 734 | 734 | | compensable charges for hospital outpatient care shall be 493 |
|---|
| 735 | 735 | | reimbursed at 75 percent of usual an d customary charges, except 494 |
|---|
| 736 | 736 | | as otherwise provided by this subsection. Annually, the three -495 |
|---|
| 737 | 737 | | member panel shall adopt schedules of maximum reimbursement 496 |
|---|
| 738 | 738 | | allowances for hospital inpatient care, hospital outpatient 497 |
|---|
| 739 | 739 | | care, and ambulatory surgical centers. A hospi tal or an 498 |
|---|
| 740 | 740 | | ambulatory surgical center shall be reimbursed either the 499 |
|---|
| 741 | 741 | | agreed-upon contract price or the maximum reimbursement 500 |
|---|
| 749 | 749 | | Page 21 of 159 |
|---|
| 750 | 750 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 751 | 751 | | |
|---|
| 752 | 752 | | |
|---|
| 753 | 753 | | |
|---|
| 754 | 754 | | allowance in the appropriate schedule. 501 |
|---|
| 755 | 755 | | (b) Payments for outpatient physical, occupational, and 502 |
|---|
| 756 | 756 | | speech therapy provided by hospital s shall be the schedule of 503 |
|---|
| 757 | 757 | | maximum reimbursement allowances for these services which 504 |
|---|
| 758 | 758 | | applies to nonhospital providers. 505 |
|---|
| 759 | 759 | | (c) Payments for scheduled outpatient nonemergency 506 |
|---|
| 760 | 760 | | radiological and clinical laboratory services that are not 507 |
|---|
| 761 | 761 | | provided in conjunction w ith a surgical procedure shall be the 508 |
|---|
| 762 | 762 | | schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances for these services 509 |
|---|
| 763 | 763 | | which applies to nonhospital providers. 510 |
|---|
| 764 | 764 | | (d)1. Outpatient reimbursement for scheduled surgeries 511 |
|---|
| 765 | 765 | | shall be 60 percent of charges. 512 |
|---|
| 766 | 766 | | 2. Reimbursement for em ergency services and care as 513 |
|---|
| 767 | 767 | | defined in s. 395.002 which does not include a maximum 514 |
|---|
| 768 | 768 | | reimbursement allowance must be 250 percent of Medicare, unless 515 |
|---|
| 769 | 769 | | there is a contract, in which case the contract governs 516 |
|---|
| 770 | 770 | | reimbursement. Upon this subparagraph taking effect, the 517 |
|---|
| 771 | 771 | | department shall engage with an actuarial services firm to begin 518 |
|---|
| 772 | 772 | | development of maximum reimbursement allowances for services 519 |
|---|
| 773 | 773 | | subject to the reimbursement provisions of this subparagraph. 520 |
|---|
| 774 | 774 | | This subparagraph expires June 30, 2026. 521 |
|---|
| 775 | 775 | | (e)1. By July 1 of e ach year, the department shall notify 522 |
|---|
| 776 | 776 | | carriers and self-insurers of the physician and nonhospital 523 |
|---|
| 777 | 777 | | services schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances. The 524 |
|---|
| 778 | 778 | | notice must include publication of this schedule of maximum 525 |
|---|
| 786 | 786 | | Page 22 of 159 |
|---|
| 787 | 787 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 788 | 788 | | |
|---|
| 789 | 789 | | |
|---|
| 790 | 790 | | |
|---|
| 791 | 791 | | reimbursement allowances on the divisio n's website. This 526 |
|---|
| 792 | 792 | | schedule is not subject to approval by the three -member panel 527 |
|---|
| 793 | 793 | | and does not include reimbursement for prescription medication. 528 |
|---|
| 794 | 794 | | 2. Subparagraph 1. shall take effect January 1, following 529 |
|---|
| 795 | 795 | | the July 1, 2024, notice of the physician and nonhos pital 530 |
|---|
| 796 | 796 | | services schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances that the 531 |
|---|
| 797 | 797 | | department provides to carriers and self -insurers. 532 |
|---|
| 798 | 798 | | (f) Maximum reimbursement for a physician licensed under 533 |
|---|
| 799 | 799 | | chapter 458 or chapter 459 shall be 110 percent of the 534 |
|---|
| 800 | 800 | | reimbursement allowed by Medicare, using appropriate codes and 535 |
|---|
| 801 | 801 | | modifiers or the medical reimbursement level adopted by the 536 |
|---|
| 802 | 802 | | three-member panel as of January 1, 2003, whichever is greater. 537 |
|---|
| 803 | 803 | | (g) Maximum reimbursement for surgical procedures shall be 538 |
|---|
| 804 | 804 | | 140 percent of the reimburseme nt allowed by Medicare or the 539 |
|---|
| 805 | 805 | | medical reimbursement level adopted by the three -member panel as 540 |
|---|
| 806 | 806 | | of January 1, 2003, whichever is greater. 541 |
|---|
| 807 | 807 | | (h) As to reimbursement for a prescription medication, the 542 |
|---|
| 808 | 808 | | reimbursement amount for a prescription shall be the avera ge 543 |
|---|
| 809 | 809 | | wholesale price plus $4.18 for the dispensing fee. For 544 |
|---|
| 810 | 810 | | repackaged or relabeled prescription medications dispensed by a 545 |
|---|
| 811 | 811 | | dispensing practitioner as provided in s. 465.0276, the fee 546 |
|---|
| 812 | 812 | | schedule for reimbursement shall be 112.5 percent of the average 547 |
|---|
| 813 | 813 | | wholesale price, plus $8.00 for the dispensing fee. For purposes 548 |
|---|
| 814 | 814 | | of this subsection, the average wholesale price shall be 549 |
|---|
| 815 | 815 | | calculated by multiplying the number of units dispensed times 550 |
|---|
| 823 | 823 | | Page 23 of 159 |
|---|
| 824 | 824 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 825 | 825 | | |
|---|
| 826 | 826 | | |
|---|
| 827 | 827 | | |
|---|
| 828 | 828 | | the per-unit average wholesale price set by the original 551 |
|---|
| 829 | 829 | | manufacturer of the unde rlying drug dispensed by the 552 |
|---|
| 830 | 830 | | practitioner, based upon the published manufacturer's average 553 |
|---|
| 831 | 831 | | wholesale price published in the Medi -Span Master Drug Database 554 |
|---|
| 832 | 832 | | as of the date of dispensing. All pharmaceutical claims 555 |
|---|
| 833 | 833 | | submitted for repackaged or relabeled prescri ption medications 556 |
|---|
| 834 | 834 | | must include the National Drug Code of the original 557 |
|---|
| 835 | 835 | | manufacturer. Fees for pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical 558 |
|---|
| 836 | 836 | | services shall be reimbursable at the applicable fee schedule 559 |
|---|
| 837 | 837 | | amount except where the employer or carrier, or a service 560 |
|---|
| 838 | 838 | | company, third party administrator, or any entity acting on 561 |
|---|
| 839 | 839 | | behalf of the employer or carrier directly contracts with the 562 |
|---|
| 840 | 840 | | provider seeking reimbursement for a lower amount. 563 |
|---|
| 841 | 841 | | (i) Reimbursement for all fees and other charges for such 564 |
|---|
| 842 | 842 | | treatment, care, and attendance , including treatment, care, and 565 |
|---|
| 843 | 843 | | attendance provided by any hospital or other health care 566 |
|---|
| 844 | 844 | | provider, ambulatory surgical center, work -hardening program, or 567 |
|---|
| 845 | 845 | | pain program, must not exceed the amounts provided by the 568 |
|---|
| 846 | 846 | | uniform schedule of maximum reimbursement a llowances as 569 |
|---|
| 847 | 847 | | determined by the panel or as otherwise provided in this 570 |
|---|
| 848 | 848 | | section. This subsection also applies to independent medical 571 |
|---|
| 849 | 849 | | examinations performed by health care providers under this 572 |
|---|
| 850 | 850 | | chapter. In determining the uniform schedule, the panel shall 573 |
|---|
| 851 | 851 | | first approve the data which it finds representative of 574 |
|---|
| 852 | 852 | | prevailing charges in the state for similar treatment, care, and 575 |
|---|
| 860 | 860 | | Page 24 of 159 |
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| 861 | 861 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
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| 862 | 862 | | |
|---|
| 863 | 863 | | |
|---|
| 864 | 864 | | |
|---|
| 865 | 865 | | attendance of injured persons. Each health care provider, health 576 |
|---|
| 866 | 866 | | care facility, ambulatory surgical center, work -hardening 577 |
|---|
| 867 | 867 | | program, or pain program receiving workers' compensation 578 |
|---|
| 868 | 868 | | payments shall maintain records verifying their usual charges. 579 |
|---|
| 869 | 869 | | In establishing the uniform schedule of maximum reimbursement 580 |
|---|
| 870 | 870 | | allowances, the panel must consider: 581 |
|---|
| 871 | 871 | | 1. The levels of reimbursement for similar treatmen t, 582 |
|---|
| 872 | 872 | | care, and attendance made by other health care programs or 583 |
|---|
| 873 | 873 | | third-party providers; 584 |
|---|
| 874 | 874 | | 2. The impact upon cost to employers for providing a level 585 |
|---|
| 875 | 875 | | of reimbursement for treatment, care, and attendance which will 586 |
|---|
| 876 | 876 | | ensure the availability of treatment, care, an d attendance 587 |
|---|
| 877 | 877 | | required by injured workers; and 588 |
|---|
| 878 | 878 | | 3. The financial impact of the reimbursement allowances 589 |
|---|
| 879 | 879 | | upon health care providers and health care facilities, including 590 |
|---|
| 880 | 880 | | trauma centers as defined in s. 395.4001, and its effect upon 591 |
|---|
| 881 | 881 | | their ability to make ava ilable to injured workers such 592 |
|---|
| 882 | 882 | | medically necessary remedial treatment, care, and attendance. 593 |
|---|
| 883 | 883 | | The uniform schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances must be 594 |
|---|
| 884 | 884 | | reasonable, must promote health care cost containment and 595 |
|---|
| 885 | 885 | | efficiency with respect to the workers' compensation health care 596 |
|---|
| 886 | 886 | | delivery system, and must be sufficient to ensure availability 597 |
|---|
| 887 | 887 | | of such medically necessary remedial treatment, care, and 598 |
|---|
| 888 | 888 | | attendance to injured workers. 599 |
|---|
| 889 | 889 | | (j) In addition to establishing the uniform schedule of 600 |
|---|
| 897 | 897 | | Page 25 of 159 |
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| 898 | 898 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 899 | 899 | | |
|---|
| 900 | 900 | | |
|---|
| 901 | 901 | | |
|---|
| 902 | 902 | | maximum reimbursement allowances, the panel shall: 601 |
|---|
| 903 | 903 | | 1. Take testimony, receive records, and collect data to 602 |
|---|
| 904 | 904 | | evaluate the adequacy of the workers' compensation fee schedule, 603 |
|---|
| 905 | 905 | | nationally recognized fee schedules and alternative methods of 604 |
|---|
| 906 | 906 | | reimbursement to health care providers a nd health care 605 |
|---|
| 907 | 907 | | facilities for inpatient and outpatient treatment and care. 606 |
|---|
| 908 | 908 | | 2. Survey health care providers and health care facilities 607 |
|---|
| 909 | 909 | | to determine the availability and accessibility of workers' 608 |
|---|
| 910 | 910 | | compensation health care delivery systems for injured worker s. 609 |
|---|
| 911 | 911 | | 3. Survey carriers to determine the estimated impact on 610 |
|---|
| 912 | 912 | | carrier costs and workers' compensation premium rates by 611 |
|---|
| 913 | 913 | | implementing changes to the carrier reimbursement schedule or 612 |
|---|
| 914 | 914 | | implementing alternative reimbursement methods. 613 |
|---|
| 915 | 915 | | 4. Submit recommendations on or before January 15, 2017, 614 |
|---|
| 916 | 916 | | and biennially thereafter, to the President of the Senate and 615 |
|---|
| 917 | 917 | | the Speaker of the House of Representatives on methods to 616 |
|---|
| 918 | 918 | | improve the workers' compensation health care delivery system. 617 |
|---|
| 919 | 919 | | 618 |
|---|
| 920 | 920 | | The department, as requested, shall provi de data to the panel, 619 |
|---|
| 921 | 921 | | including, but not limited to, utilization trends in the 620 |
|---|
| 922 | 922 | | workers' compensation health care delivery system. The 621 |
|---|
| 923 | 923 | | department shall provide the panel with an annual report 622 |
|---|
| 924 | 924 | | regarding the resolution of medical reimbursement disputes and 623 |
|---|
| 925 | 925 | | any actions pursuant to subsection (8). The department shall 624 |
|---|
| 926 | 926 | | provide administrative support and service to the panel to the 625 |
|---|
| 934 | 934 | | Page 26 of 159 |
|---|
| 935 | 935 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 936 | 936 | | |
|---|
| 937 | 937 | | |
|---|
| 938 | 938 | | |
|---|
| 939 | 939 | | extent requested by the panel. The department may adopt rules 626 |
|---|
| 940 | 940 | | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this 627 |
|---|
| 941 | 941 | | subsection. For prescription medication purchased under the 628 |
|---|
| 942 | 942 | | requirements of this subsection, a dispensing practitioner shall 629 |
|---|
| 943 | 943 | | not possess such medication unless payment has been made by the 630 |
|---|
| 944 | 944 | | practitioner, the practitioner's professional practice, or the 631 |
|---|
| 945 | 945 | | practitioner's pract ice management company or employer to the 632 |
|---|
| 946 | 946 | | supplying manufacturer, wholesaler, distributor, or drug 633 |
|---|
| 947 | 947 | | repackager within 60 days of the dispensing practitioner taking 634 |
|---|
| 948 | 948 | | possession of that medication. 635 |
|---|
| 949 | 949 | | Section 7. Subsections (9) through (13) of section 636 |
|---|
| 950 | 950 | | 440.385, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (10) 637 |
|---|
| 951 | 951 | | through (14), respectively, and a new subsection (9) is added to 638 |
|---|
| 952 | 952 | | that section to read: 639 |
|---|
| 953 | 953 | | 440.385 Florida Self -Insurers Guaranty Association, 640 |
|---|
| 954 | 954 | | Incorporated.— 641 |
|---|
| 955 | 955 | | (9) CONTRACTS AND PURCHASES. — 642 |
|---|
| 956 | 956 | | (a) After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 643 |
|---|
| 957 | 957 | | all purchases made by, the association pursuant to this section 644 |
|---|
| 958 | 958 | | which are valued at or more than $100,000 must first be approved 645 |
|---|
| 959 | 959 | | by the department. The department has 10 days to approve or deny 646 |
|---|
| 960 | 960 | | the contract or purchase upon electronic receipt of the approval 647 |
|---|
| 961 | 961 | | request. The contract or purchase is automatically approved if 648 |
|---|
| 962 | 962 | | the department is nonresponsive. 649 |
|---|
| 963 | 963 | | (b) All contracts and purchases valued at or more than 650 |
|---|
| 971 | 971 | | Page 27 of 159 |
|---|
| 972 | 972 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 973 | 973 | | |
|---|
| 974 | 974 | | |
|---|
| 975 | 975 | | |
|---|
| 976 | 976 | | $100,000 require competition through a formal bid soli citation 651 |
|---|
| 977 | 977 | | conducted by the association. The association must undergo a 652 |
|---|
| 978 | 978 | | formal bid solicitation process. The formal bid solicitation 653 |
|---|
| 979 | 979 | | process must include all of the following: 654 |
|---|
| 980 | 980 | | 1. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 655 |
|---|
| 981 | 981 | | proposals, and whether the ass ociation contemplates renewal of 656 |
|---|
| 982 | 982 | | the contract, including the price for each year for which the 657 |
|---|
| 983 | 983 | | contract may be renewed. 658 |
|---|
| 984 | 984 | | 2. All the contractual terms and conditions applicable to 659 |
|---|
| 985 | 985 | | the procurement. 660 |
|---|
| 986 | 986 | | (c) Evaluation of bids by the association must include 661 |
|---|
| 987 | 987 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 662 |
|---|
| 988 | 988 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The 663 |
|---|
| 989 | 989 | | association must award the contract to the most responsible and 664 |
|---|
| 990 | 990 | | responsive vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the 665 |
|---|
| 991 | 991 | | association must be made available, upon request, to the 666 |
|---|
| 992 | 992 | | department via electronic delivery. 667 |
|---|
| 993 | 993 | | (d) Contracts that are required by law are exempt from 668 |
|---|
| 994 | 994 | | this section. 669 |
|---|
| 995 | 995 | | Section 8. Subsection (7) of section 497.101, Florida 670 |
|---|
| 996 | 996 | | Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (11), subsections (1) 671 |
|---|
| 997 | 997 | | through (4) are amended, and a new subsection (7) and 672 |
|---|
| 998 | 998 | | subsections (8), (9), and (10) are added to that section, to 673 |
|---|
| 999 | 999 | | read: 674 |
|---|
| 1000 | 1000 | | 497.101 Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services; 675 |
|---|
| 1008 | 1008 | | Page 28 of 159 |
|---|
| 1009 | 1009 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1010 | 1010 | | |
|---|
| 1011 | 1011 | | |
|---|
| 1012 | 1012 | | |
|---|
| 1013 | 1013 | | membership; appointment; terms. — 676 |
|---|
| 1014 | 1014 | | (1) The Board of Funera l, Cemetery, and Consumer Services 677 |
|---|
| 1015 | 1015 | | is created within the Department of Financial Services and shall 678 |
|---|
| 1016 | 1016 | | consist of 10 members, 9 of whom shall be appointed by the 679 |
|---|
| 1017 | 1017 | | Governor from nominations made by the Chief Financial Officer 680 |
|---|
| 1018 | 1018 | | and confirmed by the Senate. The Chief Financial Officer shall 681 |
|---|
| 1019 | 1019 | | nominate one to three persons for each of the nine vacancies on 682 |
|---|
| 1020 | 1020 | | the board, and the Governor shall fill each vacancy on the board 683 |
|---|
| 1021 | 1021 | | by appointing one of the persons nominated by the Chief 684 |
|---|
| 1022 | 1022 | | Financial Officer to fill that vacancy. If the Governor objects 685 |
|---|
| 1023 | 1023 | | to each of the nominations for a vacancy, she or he shall inform 686 |
|---|
| 1024 | 1024 | | the Chief Financial Officer in writing. Upon notification of an 687 |
|---|
| 1025 | 1025 | | objection by the Governor, the Chief Financial Officer shall 688 |
|---|
| 1026 | 1026 | | submit one to three additional nominations fo r that vacancy 689 |
|---|
| 1027 | 1027 | | until the vacancy is filled. One member must be the State Health 690 |
|---|
| 1028 | 1028 | | Officer or her or his designee. 691 |
|---|
| 1029 | 1029 | | (2) Two members of the board must be funeral directors 692 |
|---|
| 1030 | 1030 | | licensed under part III of this chapter who are associated with 693 |
|---|
| 1031 | 1031 | | a funeral establishment . One member of the board must be a 694 |
|---|
| 1032 | 1032 | | funeral director licensed under part III of this chapter who is 695 |
|---|
| 1033 | 1033 | | associated with a funeral establishment licensed under part III 696 |
|---|
| 1034 | 1034 | | of this chapter which has a valid preneed license issued 697 |
|---|
| 1035 | 1035 | | pursuant to this chapter and who owns or operates a cinerator 698 |
|---|
| 1036 | 1036 | | facility approved under chapter 403 and licensed under part VI 699 |
|---|
| 1037 | 1037 | | of this chapter. Two members of the board must be persons whose 700 |
|---|
| 1045 | 1045 | | Page 29 of 159 |
|---|
| 1046 | 1046 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1047 | 1047 | | |
|---|
| 1048 | 1048 | | |
|---|
| 1049 | 1049 | | |
|---|
| 1050 | 1050 | | primary occupation is associated with a cemetery company 701 |
|---|
| 1051 | 1051 | | licensed pursuant to this chapter. Two member s of the board must 702 |
|---|
| 1052 | 1052 | | be consumers who are residents of this state, have never been 703 |
|---|
| 1053 | 1053 | | licensed as funeral directors or embalmers, are not connected 704 |
|---|
| 1054 | 1054 | | with a cemetery or cemetery company licensed pursuant to this 705 |
|---|
| 1055 | 1055 | | chapter, and are not connected with the death care industry or 706 |
|---|
| 1056 | 1056 | | the practice of embalming, funeral directing, or direct 707 |
|---|
| 1057 | 1057 | | disposition. One of the two consumer members must be at least 60 708 |
|---|
| 1058 | 1058 | | years of age. One member of the board must be a consumer who is 709 |
|---|
| 1059 | 1059 | | a resident of this state; is licensed as a certified publi c 710 |
|---|
| 1060 | 1060 | | accountant under chapter 473; has never been licensed as a 711 |
|---|
| 1061 | 1061 | | funeral director or an embalmer; is not a principal or an 712 |
|---|
| 1062 | 1062 | | employee of any licensee licensed under this chapter; and does 713 |
|---|
| 1063 | 1063 | | not otherwise have control, as defined in s. 497.005, over any 714 |
|---|
| 1064 | 1064 | | licensee licensed under this chapter. One member of the board 715 |
|---|
| 1065 | 1065 | | must be a principal of a monument establishment licensed under 716 |
|---|
| 1066 | 1066 | | this chapter as a monument builder. One member must be the State 717 |
|---|
| 1067 | 1067 | | Health Officer or her or his designee. There may not be two or 718 |
|---|
| 1068 | 1068 | | more board members who are principals or employees of the same 719 |
|---|
| 1069 | 1069 | | company or partnership or group of companies or partnerships 720 |
|---|
| 1070 | 1070 | | under common control. 721 |
|---|
| 1071 | 1071 | | (3) Board members shall be appointed for terms of 4 years 722 |
|---|
| 1072 | 1072 | | and may be reappointed; however, a member may not serve for more 723 |
|---|
| 1073 | 1073 | | than 8 consecutive years. , and The State Health Officer shall 724 |
|---|
| 1074 | 1074 | | serve as long as that person holds that office. The designee of 725 |
|---|
| 1082 | 1082 | | Page 30 of 159 |
|---|
| 1083 | 1083 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1084 | 1084 | | |
|---|
| 1085 | 1085 | | |
|---|
| 1086 | 1086 | | |
|---|
| 1087 | 1087 | | the State Health Officer shall serve at the pleasure of the 726 |
|---|
| 1088 | 1088 | | Chief Financial Officer Governor. 727 |
|---|
| 1089 | 1089 | | (4) The Chief Financial Officer Governor may suspend and 728 |
|---|
| 1090 | 1090 | | the Senate may remove any board member for malfeasance or 729 |
|---|
| 1091 | 1091 | | misfeasance, neglect of duty, incompetence, substantial 730 |
|---|
| 1092 | 1092 | | inability to perform official duties, commission of a crime, or 731 |
|---|
| 1093 | 1093 | | other substantial cause as determined by the Chief Financial 732 |
|---|
| 1094 | 1094 | | Officer Governor or Senate, as applicable, to evidence a lack of 733 |
|---|
| 1095 | 1095 | | fitness to sit on the board. A board member shall be deemed to 734 |
|---|
| 1096 | 1096 | | have resigned her or his board membership, and that position 735 |
|---|
| 1097 | 1097 | | shall be deemed vacant, upon the failure of the member to at tend 736 |
|---|
| 1098 | 1098 | | three consecutive meetings of the board or at least half of the 737 |
|---|
| 1099 | 1099 | | meetings of the board during any 12 -month period, unless the 738 |
|---|
| 1100 | 1100 | | Chief Financial Officer determines that there was good and 739 |
|---|
| 1101 | 1101 | | adequate justification for the absences and that such absences 740 |
|---|
| 1102 | 1102 | | are not likely to continue. Any vacancy so created shall be 741 |
|---|
| 1103 | 1103 | | filled as provided in subsection (1). 742 |
|---|
| 1104 | 1104 | | (7) Members of the board are subject to the code of ethics 743 |
|---|
| 1105 | 1105 | | under part III of chapter 112. For purposes of applying part III 744 |
|---|
| 1106 | 1106 | | of chapter 112 to activities of the members of the board, those 745 |
|---|
| 1107 | 1107 | | persons are considered public officers, and the department is 746 |
|---|
| 1108 | 1108 | | considered their agency. A board member may not vote on any 747 |
|---|
| 1109 | 1109 | | measure that would inure to his or her special private gain or 748 |
|---|
| 1110 | 1110 | | loss and, in accordance with s. 112.3143(2) , may not vote on any 749 |
|---|
| 1111 | 1111 | | measure that he or she knows would inure to the special private 750 |
|---|
| 1119 | 1119 | | Page 31 of 159 |
|---|
| 1120 | 1120 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1121 | 1121 | | |
|---|
| 1122 | 1122 | | |
|---|
| 1123 | 1123 | | |
|---|
| 1124 | 1124 | | gain or loss of any principal by which he or she is retained, 751 |
|---|
| 1125 | 1125 | | other than an agency as defined in s. 112.312; or that he or she 752 |
|---|
| 1126 | 1126 | | knows would inure to the special private ga in or loss of his or 753 |
|---|
| 1127 | 1127 | | her relative or business associate. Before the vote is taken, 754 |
|---|
| 1128 | 1128 | | such member shall publicly state to the board the nature of his 755 |
|---|
| 1129 | 1129 | | or her interest in the matter from which he or she is abstaining 756 |
|---|
| 1130 | 1130 | | from voting and, within 15 days after the vo te occurs, disclose 757 |
|---|
| 1131 | 1131 | | the nature of his or her interest as a public record in a 758 |
|---|
| 1132 | 1132 | | memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the 759 |
|---|
| 1133 | 1133 | | minutes of the meeting, who shall incorporate the memorandum in 760 |
|---|
| 1134 | 1134 | | the minutes. 761 |
|---|
| 1135 | 1135 | | (8) In accordance with ss. 112.3148 and 112.3149, a board 762 |
|---|
| 1136 | 1136 | | member may not knowingly accept, directly or indirectly, any 763 |
|---|
| 1137 | 1137 | | gift or expenditure from a person or entity, or an employee or 764 |
|---|
| 1138 | 1138 | | representative of such person or entity, which has a contractual 765 |
|---|
| 1139 | 1139 | | relationship with the department or the board , which is under 766 |
|---|
| 1140 | 1140 | | consideration for a contract, or which is licensed by the 767 |
|---|
| 1141 | 1141 | | department. 768 |
|---|
| 1142 | 1142 | | (9) A board member who fails to comply with subsection (7) 769 |
|---|
| 1143 | 1143 | | or subsection (8) is subject to the penalties provided under ss. 770 |
|---|
| 1144 | 1144 | | 112.317 and 112.3173. 771 |
|---|
| 1145 | 1145 | | (10)(a) All meeting s of the board are subject to the 772 |
|---|
| 1146 | 1146 | | requirements of s. 286.011, and all books and records of the 773 |
|---|
| 1147 | 1147 | | board are open to the public for reasonable inspection except as 774 |
|---|
| 1148 | 1148 | | otherwise provided by s. 497.172 or other applicable law. 775 |
|---|
| 1156 | 1156 | | Page 32 of 159 |
|---|
| 1157 | 1157 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1158 | 1158 | | |
|---|
| 1159 | 1159 | | |
|---|
| 1160 | 1160 | | |
|---|
| 1161 | 1161 | | (b) Except for emergency meetings, t he department shall 776 |
|---|
| 1162 | 1162 | | give notice of any board meeting by publication on the 777 |
|---|
| 1163 | 1163 | | department's website at least 7 days before the meeting. The 778 |
|---|
| 1164 | 1164 | | department shall publish a meeting agenda on its website at 779 |
|---|
| 1165 | 1165 | | least 7 days before the meeting. The agenda must contain the 780 |
|---|
| 1166 | 1166 | | items to be considered in order of presentation. After the 781 |
|---|
| 1167 | 1167 | | agenda has been made available, a change may be made only for 782 |
|---|
| 1168 | 1168 | | good cause, as determined by the person designated to preside, 783 |
|---|
| 1169 | 1169 | | and must be stated in the record. Notification of such change 784 |
|---|
| 1170 | 1170 | | must be at the earliest practicable time. 785 |
|---|
| 1171 | 1171 | | Section 9. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section 786 |
|---|
| 1172 | 1172 | | 497.153, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 787 |
|---|
| 1173 | 1173 | | 497.153 Disciplinary procedures and penalties. — 788 |
|---|
| 1174 | 1174 | | (4) ACTION AFTER PROBABLE CAUSE FOUND. — 789 |
|---|
| 1175 | 1175 | | (a) Service of an admini strative complaint may be in 790 |
|---|
| 1176 | 1176 | | person by department staff or any person authorized to make 791 |
|---|
| 1177 | 1177 | | service of process under the Florida Rules of Civil Procedure. 792 |
|---|
| 1178 | 1178 | | Service upon a licensee may in the alternative be made by 793 |
|---|
| 1179 | 1179 | | certified mail, return receipt requested, to t he last known 794 |
|---|
| 1180 | 1180 | | address of record provided by the licensee to the department. If 795 |
|---|
| 1181 | 1181 | | service by certified mail cannot be made at the last address 796 |
|---|
| 1182 | 1182 | | provided by the licensee to the department, service may be made 797 |
|---|
| 1183 | 1183 | | by e-mail, delivery receipt required, sent to the mo st recent e-798 |
|---|
| 1184 | 1184 | | mail address provided by the licensee to the department in 799 |
|---|
| 1185 | 1185 | | accordance with s. 497.146. 800 |
|---|
| 1193 | 1193 | | Page 33 of 159 |
|---|
| 1194 | 1194 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1195 | 1195 | | |
|---|
| 1196 | 1196 | | |
|---|
| 1197 | 1197 | | |
|---|
| 1198 | 1198 | | Section 10. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section 801 |
|---|
| 1199 | 1199 | | 497.155, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 802 |
|---|
| 1200 | 1200 | | 497.155 Disciplinary citations and minor violatio ns.— 803 |
|---|
| 1201 | 1201 | | (1) CITATIONS.— 804 |
|---|
| 1202 | 1202 | | (e) Service of a citation may be made by personal service 805 |
|---|
| 1203 | 1203 | | or certified mail, restricted delivery, to the subject at the 806 |
|---|
| 1204 | 1204 | | subject's last known address in accordance with s. 497.146. If 807 |
|---|
| 1205 | 1205 | | service by certified mail cannot be made at the last address 808 |
|---|
| 1206 | 1206 | | provided by the subject to the department, service may be made 809 |
|---|
| 1207 | 1207 | | by e-mail, delivery receipt required, sent to the most recent e -810 |
|---|
| 1208 | 1208 | | mail address provided by the subject to the department in 811 |
|---|
| 1209 | 1209 | | accordance with s. 497.146 . 812 |
|---|
| 1210 | 1210 | | Section 11. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section 813 |
|---|
| 1211 | 1211 | | 497.172, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 814 |
|---|
| 1212 | 1212 | | 497.172 Public records exemptions; public meetings 815 |
|---|
| 1213 | 1213 | | exemptions.— 816 |
|---|
| 1214 | 1214 | | (3) EXAMINATIONS, INSPECTIONS, AND INVESTIGATIONS. — 817 |
|---|
| 1215 | 1215 | | (d) Information made confidential and exempt pursuant to 818 |
|---|
| 1216 | 1216 | | this subsection may be disclosed by the department as follows: 819 |
|---|
| 1217 | 1217 | | 1. To the probable cause panel of the board, for the 820 |
|---|
| 1218 | 1218 | | purpose of probable cause proceedings pursuant to s. 497.153. 821 |
|---|
| 1219 | 1219 | | 2. To any law enforcement agency or other government 822 |
|---|
| 1220 | 1220 | | agency in the perform ance of its official duties and 823 |
|---|
| 1221 | 1221 | | responsibilities. 824 |
|---|
| 1222 | 1222 | | 3. If the department uncovers information of immediate and 825 |
|---|
| 1230 | 1230 | | Page 34 of 159 |
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| 1231 | 1231 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1232 | 1232 | | |
|---|
| 1233 | 1233 | | |
|---|
| 1234 | 1234 | | |
|---|
| 1235 | 1235 | | serious concern to the public health, safety, or welfare, it may 826 |
|---|
| 1236 | 1236 | | disseminate such information as it deems necessary for the 827 |
|---|
| 1237 | 1237 | | public health, safety , or welfare. 828 |
|---|
| 1238 | 1238 | | 4. If the department issues an emergency order pursuant to 829 |
|---|
| 1239 | 1239 | | s. 497.156. 830 |
|---|
| 1240 | 1240 | | Section 12. Section 497.386, Florida Statutes, is amended 831 |
|---|
| 1241 | 1241 | | to read: 832 |
|---|
| 1242 | 1242 | | 497.386 Storage, preservation, and transportation of human 833 |
|---|
| 1243 | 1243 | | remains.— 834 |
|---|
| 1244 | 1244 | | (1) A person may not store or maintain human remains at 835 |
|---|
| 1245 | 1245 | | any establishment or facility except an establishment or 836 |
|---|
| 1246 | 1246 | | facility licensed under this chapter or a health care facility, 837 |
|---|
| 1247 | 1247 | | medical examiner's facility, morgue, or cemetery holding 838 |
|---|
| 1248 | 1248 | | facility. 839 |
|---|
| 1249 | 1249 | | (2) A dead human body may not b e held in any place or in 840 |
|---|
| 1250 | 1250 | | transit over 24 hours after death or pending final disposition 841 |
|---|
| 1251 | 1251 | | unless the body is maintained under refrigeration at a 842 |
|---|
| 1252 | 1252 | | temperature of 40 degrees Fahrenheit or below or is embalmed or 843 |
|---|
| 1253 | 1253 | | otherwise preserved in a manner approved by the licensing 844 |
|---|
| 1254 | 1254 | | authority in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. 845 |
|---|
| 1255 | 1255 | | (3) A dead human body transported by common carrier or any 846 |
|---|
| 1256 | 1256 | | agency or individual authorized to carry dead human bodies must 847 |
|---|
| 1257 | 1257 | | be placed in a carrying container adequate to prevent the 848 |
|---|
| 1258 | 1258 | | seepage of fluids and escape of offensive odors. A dead human 849 |
|---|
| 1259 | 1259 | | body may be transported only when accompanied by a properly 850 |
|---|
| 1267 | 1267 | | Page 35 of 159 |
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| 1268 | 1268 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1269 | 1269 | | |
|---|
| 1270 | 1270 | | |
|---|
| 1271 | 1271 | | |
|---|
| 1272 | 1272 | | completed burial-transit permit issued in accordance with the 851 |
|---|
| 1273 | 1273 | | provisions of chapter 382. 852 |
|---|
| 1274 | 1274 | | (4) The licensing authority shall establish b y rule the 853 |
|---|
| 1275 | 1275 | | minimal standards of acceptable and prevailing practices for the 854 |
|---|
| 1276 | 1276 | | handling and storing of dead human bodies, provided that all 855 |
|---|
| 1277 | 1277 | | human remains transported or stored must be completely covered 856 |
|---|
| 1278 | 1278 | | and at all times treated with dignity and respect. 857 |
|---|
| 1279 | 1279 | | (5) In the event of an emergency situation, including the 858 |
|---|
| 1280 | 1280 | | abandonment of any establishments or facilities licensed under 859 |
|---|
| 1281 | 1281 | | this chapter or any medical examiner's facility, morgue, or 860 |
|---|
| 1282 | 1282 | | cemetery holding facility, the department may enter and secure 861 |
|---|
| 1283 | 1283 | | such establishment, facility, or morgue during or outside of 862 |
|---|
| 1284 | 1284 | | normal business hours and remove human remains and cremated 863 |
|---|
| 1285 | 1285 | | remains from the establishment, facility, or morgue. For 864 |
|---|
| 1286 | 1286 | | purposes of this subsection, the department shall determine if a 865 |
|---|
| 1287 | 1287 | | facility is abandoned and if there is an emergency situation. A 866 |
|---|
| 1288 | 1288 | | licensee or licensed facility that accepts transfer of human 867 |
|---|
| 1289 | 1289 | | remains and cremated remains from the department pursuant to 868 |
|---|
| 1290 | 1290 | | this subsection may not be held liable for the condition of any 869 |
|---|
| 1291 | 1291 | | human remains or cremated remains at the time of transfer. 870 |
|---|
| 1292 | 1292 | | (6)(5) A person who violates subsection (1) or subsection 871 |
|---|
| 1293 | 1293 | | (3) any provision of this section commits a misdemeanor of the 872 |
|---|
| 1294 | 1294 | | first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 873 |
|---|
| 1295 | 1295 | | 775.083. 874 |
|---|
| 1296 | 1296 | | (7) A person who violates subsection (2) or subsection (4) 875 |
|---|
| 1304 | 1304 | | Page 36 of 159 |
|---|
| 1305 | 1305 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1306 | 1306 | | |
|---|
| 1307 | 1307 | | |
|---|
| 1308 | 1308 | | |
|---|
| 1309 | 1309 | | commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in 876 |
|---|
| 1310 | 1310 | | s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 877 |
|---|
| 1311 | 1311 | | Section 13. Section 497.469, Florida Statutes, is created 878 |
|---|
| 1312 | 1312 | | to read: 879 |
|---|
| 1313 | 1313 | | 497.469 Fulfillment of preneed contracts .— 880 |
|---|
| 1314 | 1314 | | (1) Upon delivery of merchandise or performance of 881 |
|---|
| 1315 | 1315 | | services in fulfillment of a preneed contract, either in part or 882 |
|---|
| 1316 | 1316 | | in whole, a preneed licensee may withdraw the amount deposited 883 |
|---|
| 1317 | 1317 | | in trust plus income earned on such amount for the merchandise 884 |
|---|
| 1318 | 1318 | | delivered or services performe d, when adequate documentation is 885 |
|---|
| 1319 | 1319 | | submitted to the trustee. 886 |
|---|
| 1320 | 1320 | | (2) The following documentation is satisfactory evidence 887 |
|---|
| 1321 | 1321 | | that a preneed contract has been fulfilled: 888 |
|---|
| 1322 | 1322 | | (a) A certified copy of death certificate; 889 |
|---|
| 1323 | 1323 | | (b) An invoice for merchandise which reflects the name of 890 |
|---|
| 1324 | 1324 | | the purchaser or beneficiary and the contract number; 891 |
|---|
| 1325 | 1325 | | (c) An acknowledgment signed by the purchaser or legally 892 |
|---|
| 1326 | 1326 | | authorized person, acknowledging that merchandise was delivered 893 |
|---|
| 1327 | 1327 | | or services performed; or 894 |
|---|
| 1328 | 1328 | | (d) A burial permit or other documentat ion provided to 895 |
|---|
| 1329 | 1329 | | another governmental agency. 896 |
|---|
| 1330 | 1330 | | (3) For purposes of fulfillment of a preneed cemetery 897 |
|---|
| 1331 | 1331 | | contract, the documentation set forth in subsection (2) or a 898 |
|---|
| 1332 | 1332 | | certificate signed by an officer, manager, or designee that the 899 |
|---|
| 1333 | 1333 | | merchandise was delivered or s ervices were performed is 900 |
|---|
| 1341 | 1341 | | Page 37 of 159 |
|---|
| 1342 | 1342 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1343 | 1343 | | |
|---|
| 1344 | 1344 | | |
|---|
| 1345 | 1345 | | |
|---|
| 1346 | 1346 | | satisfactory evidence to show that a preneed cemetery contract 901 |
|---|
| 1347 | 1347 | | has been fulfilled. 902 |
|---|
| 1348 | 1348 | | (4) The preneed licensee shall maintain documentation that 903 |
|---|
| 1349 | 1349 | | supports fulfillment of a particular contract until such records 904 |
|---|
| 1350 | 1350 | | are examined by the d epartment. 905 |
|---|
| 1351 | 1351 | | Section 14. Paragraphs (c) and (d) subsection (10) of 906 |
|---|
| 1352 | 1352 | | section 624.307, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as 907 |
|---|
| 1353 | 1353 | | paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively, paragraph (b) is amended, 908 |
|---|
| 1354 | 1354 | | and a new paragraph (c) is added to subsection (10) of that 909 |
|---|
| 1355 | 1355 | | section, to read: 910 |
|---|
| 1356 | 1356 | | 624.307 General powers; duties. — 911 |
|---|
| 1357 | 1357 | | (10) 912 |
|---|
| 1358 | 1358 | | (b) Any person licensed or issued a certificate of 913 |
|---|
| 1359 | 1359 | | authority or made an eligible surplus lines insurer by the 914 |
|---|
| 1360 | 1360 | | department or the office shall respond, in writing or 915 |
|---|
| 1361 | 1361 | | electronically, to the division within 14 days after receipt of 916 |
|---|
| 1362 | 1362 | | a written request for documents and information from the 917 |
|---|
| 1363 | 1363 | | division concerning a consumer complaint. The response must 918 |
|---|
| 1364 | 1364 | | address the issues and allegations raised in the complaint and 919 |
|---|
| 1365 | 1365 | | include any requested documents concerning the cons umer 920 |
|---|
| 1366 | 1366 | | complaint not subject to attorney -client or work-product 921 |
|---|
| 1367 | 1367 | | privilege. The division may impose an administrative penalty for 922 |
|---|
| 1368 | 1368 | | failure to comply with this paragraph of up to $5,000 per 923 |
|---|
| 1369 | 1369 | | violation upon any entity licensed by the department or the 924 |
|---|
| 1370 | 1370 | | office and up to $1,000 per violation by any individual licensed 925 |
|---|
| 1378 | 1378 | | Page 38 of 159 |
|---|
| 1379 | 1379 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1380 | 1380 | | |
|---|
| 1381 | 1381 | | |
|---|
| 1382 | 1382 | | |
|---|
| 1383 | 1383 | | by the department or the office. 926 |
|---|
| 1384 | 1384 | | (c) Each insurer issued a certificate of authority or made 927 |
|---|
| 1385 | 1385 | | an eligible surplus lines insurer shall file with the department 928 |
|---|
| 1386 | 1386 | | an e-mail address to which requests for response to consumer 929 |
|---|
| 1387 | 1387 | | complaints shall be directed pursuant to paragraph (b). Such 930 |
|---|
| 1388 | 1388 | | insurer shall also designate a contact person for escalated 931 |
|---|
| 1389 | 1389 | | complaint issues and shall provide the name, e -mail address, and 932 |
|---|
| 1390 | 1390 | | telephone number of such person. A licensee of th e department, 933 |
|---|
| 1391 | 1391 | | including an agency or a firm, may elect to designated an e -mail 934 |
|---|
| 1392 | 1392 | | address to which requests for response to consumer complaints 935 |
|---|
| 1393 | 1393 | | shall be directed pursuant to paragraph (b). If a licensee, 936 |
|---|
| 1394 | 1394 | | including an agency or a firm, elects not to designate an e-mail 937 |
|---|
| 1395 | 1395 | | address, the department shall direct requests for response to 938 |
|---|
| 1396 | 1396 | | consumer complaints to the e -mail address of record for the 939 |
|---|
| 1397 | 1397 | | licensee in the department's licensing system. An insurer or a 940 |
|---|
| 1398 | 1398 | | licensee, including an agency or a firm, may change a designa ted 941 |
|---|
| 1399 | 1399 | | contact information at any time by submitting the new 942 |
|---|
| 1400 | 1400 | | information to the department using the method designated by 943 |
|---|
| 1401 | 1401 | | rule by the department. 944 |
|---|
| 1402 | 1402 | | Section 15. Subsection (2) of section 626.171, Florida 945 |
|---|
| 1403 | 1403 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 946 |
|---|
| 1404 | 1404 | | 626.171 Application fo r license as an agent, customer 947 |
|---|
| 1405 | 1405 | | representative, adjuster, service representative, or reinsurance 948 |
|---|
| 1406 | 1406 | | intermediary.— 949 |
|---|
| 1407 | 1407 | | (2) In the application, the applicant shall set forth: 950 |
|---|
| 1415 | 1415 | | Page 39 of 159 |
|---|
| 1416 | 1416 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1417 | 1417 | | |
|---|
| 1418 | 1418 | | |
|---|
| 1419 | 1419 | | |
|---|
| 1420 | 1420 | | (a) His or her full name, age, social security number, 951 |
|---|
| 1421 | 1421 | | residence address, business ad dress, mailing address, contact 952 |
|---|
| 1422 | 1422 | | telephone numbers, including a business telephone number, and e -953 |
|---|
| 1423 | 1423 | | mail address. 954 |
|---|
| 1424 | 1424 | | (b) A statement indicating the method the applicant used 955 |
|---|
| 1425 | 1425 | | or is using to meet any required prelicensing education, 956 |
|---|
| 1426 | 1426 | | knowledge, experience, or inst ructional requirements for the 957 |
|---|
| 1427 | 1427 | | type of license applied for. 958 |
|---|
| 1428 | 1428 | | (c) Whether he or she has been refused or has voluntarily 959 |
|---|
| 1429 | 1429 | | surrendered or has had suspended or revoked a license to solicit 960 |
|---|
| 1430 | 1430 | | insurance by the department or by the supervising officials of 961 |
|---|
| 1431 | 1431 | | any state. 962 |
|---|
| 1432 | 1432 | | (d) Whether any insurer or any managing general agent 963 |
|---|
| 1433 | 1433 | | claims the applicant is indebted under any agency contract or 964 |
|---|
| 1434 | 1434 | | otherwise and, if so, the name of the claimant, the nature of 965 |
|---|
| 1435 | 1435 | | the claim, and the applicant's defense thereto, if any. 966 |
|---|
| 1436 | 1436 | | (e) Proof that the applicant meets the requirements for 967 |
|---|
| 1437 | 1437 | | the type of license for which he or she is applying. 968 |
|---|
| 1438 | 1438 | | (f) The applicant's gender (male or female). 969 |
|---|
| 1439 | 1439 | | (g) The applicant's native language. 970 |
|---|
| 1440 | 1440 | | (h) The highest level of education achieved by the 971 |
|---|
| 1441 | 1441 | | applicant. 972 |
|---|
| 1442 | 1442 | | (i) The applicant's race or ethnicity (African American, 973 |
|---|
| 1443 | 1443 | | white, American Indian, Asian, Hispanic, or other). 974 |
|---|
| 1444 | 1444 | | (j) Such other or additional information as the department 975 |
|---|
| 1452 | 1452 | | Page 40 of 159 |
|---|
| 1453 | 1453 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1454 | 1454 | | |
|---|
| 1455 | 1455 | | |
|---|
| 1456 | 1456 | | |
|---|
| 1457 | 1457 | | may deem proper to enable it to determine the character, 976 |
|---|
| 1458 | 1458 | | experience, ability, and other qualific ations of the applicant 977 |
|---|
| 1459 | 1459 | | to hold himself or herself out to the public as an insurance 978 |
|---|
| 1460 | 1460 | | representative. 979 |
|---|
| 1461 | 1461 | | 980 |
|---|
| 1462 | 1462 | | However, the application must contain a statement that an 981 |
|---|
| 1463 | 1463 | | applicant is not required to disclose his or her race or 982 |
|---|
| 1464 | 1464 | | ethnicity, gender, or native language, that he or she will not 983 |
|---|
| 1465 | 1465 | | be penalized for not doing so, and that the department will use 984 |
|---|
| 1466 | 1466 | | this information exclusively for research and statistical 985 |
|---|
| 1467 | 1467 | | purposes and to improve the quality and fairness of the 986 |
|---|
| 1468 | 1468 | | examinations. The department shall make provisions for 987 |
|---|
| 1469 | 1469 | | applicants to submit cellular telephone numbers as part of the 988 |
|---|
| 1470 | 1470 | | application process on a voluntary basis only for the purpose of 989 |
|---|
| 1471 | 1471 | | two-factor authentication of secure login credentials only. 990 |
|---|
| 1472 | 1472 | | Section 16. Paragraph (j) of subsection (2) of section 991 |
|---|
| 1473 | 1473 | | 626.221, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 992 |
|---|
| 1474 | 1474 | | 626.221 Examination requirement; exemptions. — 993 |
|---|
| 1475 | 1475 | | (2) However, an examination is not necessary for any of 994 |
|---|
| 1476 | 1476 | | the following: 995 |
|---|
| 1477 | 1477 | | (j) An applicant for license as an all -lines adjuster who 996 |
|---|
| 1478 | 1478 | | has the designation of Accredited Cl aims Adjuster (ACA) from a 997 |
|---|
| 1479 | 1479 | | regionally accredited postsecondary institution in this state; 998 |
|---|
| 1480 | 1480 | | Certified All Lines Adjuster (CALA) from Kaplan Financial 999 |
|---|
| 1481 | 1481 | | Education; Associate in Claims (AIC) from the Insurance 1000 |
|---|
| 1489 | 1489 | | Page 41 of 159 |
|---|
| 1490 | 1490 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1491 | 1491 | | |
|---|
| 1492 | 1492 | | |
|---|
| 1493 | 1493 | | |
|---|
| 1494 | 1494 | | Institute of America; Professional Claims Adjuster ( PCA) from 1001 |
|---|
| 1495 | 1495 | | the Professional Career Institute; Professional Property 1002 |
|---|
| 1496 | 1496 | | Insurance Adjuster (PPIA) from the HurriClaim Training Academy; 1003 |
|---|
| 1497 | 1497 | | Certified Adjuster (CA) from ALL LINES Training; Certified 1004 |
|---|
| 1498 | 1498 | | Claims Adjuster (CCA) from AE21 Incorporated; Claims Adjuster 1005 |
|---|
| 1499 | 1499 | | Certified Professional (CACP) from WebCE, Inc.; Accredited 1006 |
|---|
| 1500 | 1500 | | Insurance Claims Specialist (AICS) from Encore Claim Services; 1007 |
|---|
| 1501 | 1501 | | Professional in Claims (PIC) from 2021 Training, LLC; Registered 1008 |
|---|
| 1502 | 1502 | | Claims Adjuster (RCA) from American Insurance College; or 1009 |
|---|
| 1503 | 1503 | | Universal Claims Certification (UCC) from Claims and Litigation 1010 |
|---|
| 1504 | 1504 | | Management Alliance (CLM) whose curriculum has been approved by 1011 |
|---|
| 1505 | 1505 | | the department and which includes comprehensive analysis of 1012 |
|---|
| 1506 | 1506 | | basic property and casualty lines of insurance and testing at 1013 |
|---|
| 1507 | 1507 | | least equal to that o f standard department testing for the all -1014 |
|---|
| 1508 | 1508 | | lines adjuster license. The department shall adopt rules 1015 |
|---|
| 1509 | 1509 | | establishing standards for the approval of curriculum. 1016 |
|---|
| 1510 | 1510 | | Section 17. Subsection (6) of section 626.601, Florida 1017 |
|---|
| 1511 | 1511 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1018 |
|---|
| 1512 | 1512 | | 626.601 Improper conduct; inquiry; fingerprinting. — 1019 |
|---|
| 1513 | 1513 | | (6) The complaint and any information obtained pursuant to 1020 |
|---|
| 1514 | 1514 | | the investigation by the department or office are confidential 1021 |
|---|
| 1515 | 1515 | | and are exempt from s. 119.07 unless the department or office 1022 |
|---|
| 1516 | 1516 | | files a formal administrative complaint, emergency order, or 1023 |
|---|
| 1517 | 1517 | | consent order against the individual or entity. This subsection 1024 |
|---|
| 1518 | 1518 | | does not prevent the department or office from disclosing the 1025 |
|---|
| 1526 | 1526 | | Page 42 of 159 |
|---|
| 1527 | 1527 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1528 | 1528 | | |
|---|
| 1529 | 1529 | | |
|---|
| 1530 | 1530 | | |
|---|
| 1531 | 1531 | | complaint or such information as it deems necessary to conduct 1026 |
|---|
| 1532 | 1532 | | the investigation, to update the co mplainant as to the status 1027 |
|---|
| 1533 | 1533 | | and outcome of the complaint, to review the details of the 1028 |
|---|
| 1534 | 1534 | | investigation with the individual or entity being investigated 1029 |
|---|
| 1535 | 1535 | | or their representative, or to share such information with any 1030 |
|---|
| 1536 | 1536 | | law enforcement agency or other regulatory b ody. 1031 |
|---|
| 1537 | 1537 | | Section 18. Subsection (3) of section 626.7351, Florida 1032 |
|---|
| 1538 | 1538 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1033 |
|---|
| 1539 | 1539 | | 626.7351 Qualifications for customer representative's 1034 |
|---|
| 1540 | 1540 | | license.—The department shall not grant or issue a license as 1035 |
|---|
| 1541 | 1541 | | customer representative to any individual f ound by it to be 1036 |
|---|
| 1542 | 1542 | | untrustworthy or incompetent, or who does not meet each of the 1037 |
|---|
| 1543 | 1543 | | following qualifications: 1038 |
|---|
| 1544 | 1544 | | (3) Within 4 years preceding the date that the application 1039 |
|---|
| 1545 | 1545 | | for license was filed with the department, the applicant has 1040 |
|---|
| 1546 | 1546 | | earned the designation of Ac credited Advisor in Insurance (AAI), 1041 |
|---|
| 1547 | 1547 | | Associate in General Insurance (AINS), or Accredited Customer 1042 |
|---|
| 1548 | 1548 | | Service Representative (ACSR) from the Insurance Institute of 1043 |
|---|
| 1549 | 1549 | | America; the designation of Certified Insurance Counselor (CIC) 1044 |
|---|
| 1550 | 1550 | | from the Society of Certified I nsurance Service Counselors; the 1045 |
|---|
| 1551 | 1551 | | designation of Certified Professional Service Representative 1046 |
|---|
| 1552 | 1552 | | (CPSR) from the National Foundation for CPSR; the designation of 1047 |
|---|
| 1553 | 1553 | | Certified Insurance Service Representative (CISR) from the 1048 |
|---|
| 1554 | 1554 | | Society of Certified Insurance Service Representatives; the 1049 |
|---|
| 1555 | 1555 | | designation of Certified Insurance Representative (CIR) from 1050 |
|---|
| 1563 | 1563 | | Page 43 of 159 |
|---|
| 1564 | 1564 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1565 | 1565 | | |
|---|
| 1566 | 1566 | | |
|---|
| 1567 | 1567 | | |
|---|
| 1568 | 1568 | | All-Lines Training; the designation of Chartered Customer 1051 |
|---|
| 1569 | 1569 | | Service Representative (CCSR) from American Insurance College; 1052 |
|---|
| 1570 | 1570 | | the designation of Professional Customer Service Rep resentative 1053 |
|---|
| 1571 | 1571 | | (PCSR) from the Professional Career Institute; the designation 1054 |
|---|
| 1572 | 1572 | | of Insurance Customer Service Representative (ICSR) from 1055 |
|---|
| 1573 | 1573 | | Statewide Insurance Associates LLC; the designation of 1056 |
|---|
| 1574 | 1574 | | Registered Customer Service Representative (RCSR) from a 1057 |
|---|
| 1575 | 1575 | | regionally accredited postsecondary institution in the state 1058 |
|---|
| 1576 | 1576 | | whose curriculum is approved by the department and includes 1059 |
|---|
| 1577 | 1577 | | comprehensive analysis of basic property and casualty lines of 1060 |
|---|
| 1578 | 1578 | | insurance and testing which demonstrates mastery of the subject; 1061 |
|---|
| 1579 | 1579 | | or a degree from an accredited institution of higher learning 1062 |
|---|
| 1580 | 1580 | | approved by the department when the degree includes a minimum of 1063 |
|---|
| 1581 | 1581 | | 9 credit hours of insurance instruction, including specific 1064 |
|---|
| 1582 | 1582 | | instruction in the areas of property, casualty, and inland 1065 |
|---|
| 1583 | 1583 | | marine insurance. The departm ent shall adopt rules establishing 1066 |
|---|
| 1584 | 1584 | | standards for the approval of curriculum. 1067 |
|---|
| 1585 | 1585 | | Section 19. Section 626.878, Florida Statutes, is amended 1068 |
|---|
| 1586 | 1586 | | to read: 1069 |
|---|
| 1587 | 1587 | | 626.878 Rules; code of ethics. — 1070 |
|---|
| 1588 | 1588 | | (1) An adjuster shall subscribe to the code of ethics 1071 |
|---|
| 1589 | 1589 | | specified in the rules of the department. The rules shall 1072 |
|---|
| 1590 | 1590 | | implement the provisions of this part and specify the terms and 1073 |
|---|
| 1591 | 1591 | | conditions of contracts, including a right to cancel, and 1074 |
|---|
| 1592 | 1592 | | require practices necessary to ensure fair dealing, prohibit 1075 |
|---|
| 1600 | 1600 | | Page 44 of 159 |
|---|
| 1601 | 1601 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1602 | 1602 | | |
|---|
| 1603 | 1603 | | |
|---|
| 1604 | 1604 | | |
|---|
| 1605 | 1605 | | conflicts of interest, and ensure preservation of the rights of 1076 |
|---|
| 1606 | 1606 | | the claimant to participate in the adjustment of claims. 1077 |
|---|
| 1607 | 1607 | | (2) A person licensed as an adjuster must identify himself 1078 |
|---|
| 1608 | 1608 | | or herself in any advertisement, solicitation, or written 1079 |
|---|
| 1609 | 1609 | | document based on the adjuster appointment type held. 1080 |
|---|
| 1610 | 1610 | | (3) An adjuster who has had his or her licensed revoked or 1081 |
|---|
| 1611 | 1611 | | suspended may not participate in any part of an insurance claim 1082 |
|---|
| 1612 | 1612 | | or in the insurance claims adjusting process, including 1083 |
|---|
| 1613 | 1613 | | estimating, completing, filing, negotiating, appraising, 1084 |
|---|
| 1614 | 1614 | | mediating, umpiring, or effecting settlement of a claim for loss 1085 |
|---|
| 1615 | 1615 | | or damage covered under an insurance contract. A person who 1086 |
|---|
| 1616 | 1616 | | provides these services while the person's license is revoked or 1087 |
|---|
| 1617 | 1617 | | suspended acts as an unlicensed adjuster. 1088 |
|---|
| 1618 | 1618 | | Section 20. Subsection (1) of se ction 626.929, Florida 1089 |
|---|
| 1619 | 1619 | | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (4) is added to that 1090 |
|---|
| 1620 | 1620 | | section, to read: 1091 |
|---|
| 1621 | 1621 | | 626.929 Origination, acceptance, placement of surplus 1092 |
|---|
| 1622 | 1622 | | lines business.— 1093 |
|---|
| 1623 | 1623 | | (1) A licensed and appointed general lines agent while 1094 |
|---|
| 1624 | 1624 | | also licensed and appointed as a surplus lines agent under this 1095 |
|---|
| 1625 | 1625 | | part may originate surplus lines business and may accept surplus 1096 |
|---|
| 1626 | 1626 | | lines business from any other originating Florida -licensed 1097 |
|---|
| 1627 | 1627 | | general lines agent appointed and licensed as to the kinds of 1098 |
|---|
| 1628 | 1628 | | insurance involved and may compen sate such agent therefor. 1099 |
|---|
| 1629 | 1629 | | (4) A general lines agent while licensed as a surplus 1100 |
|---|
| 1637 | 1637 | | Page 45 of 159 |
|---|
| 1638 | 1638 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1639 | 1639 | | |
|---|
| 1640 | 1640 | | |
|---|
| 1641 | 1641 | | |
|---|
| 1642 | 1642 | | lines agent under this part may appoint these licenses with a 1101 |
|---|
| 1643 | 1643 | | single surplus license agent appointment pursuant to s. 624.501. 1102 |
|---|
| 1644 | 1644 | | Such agent may only originate surplus lines business and accept 1103 |
|---|
| 1645 | 1645 | | surplus lines business from other originating Florida -licensed 1104 |
|---|
| 1646 | 1646 | | general lines agents appointed and licensed as to the kinds of 1105 |
|---|
| 1647 | 1647 | | insurance involved and may compensate such agent therefor. Such 1106 |
|---|
| 1648 | 1648 | | agent may not be appointed by or transact gene ral lines 1107 |
|---|
| 1649 | 1649 | | insurance on behalf of an admitted insurer. 1108 |
|---|
| 1650 | 1650 | | Section 21. Paragraph (j) is added to subsection (4) of 1109 |
|---|
| 1651 | 1651 | | section 627.351, Florida Statutes, to read: 1110 |
|---|
| 1652 | 1652 | | 627.351 Insurance risk apportionment plans. — 1111 |
|---|
| 1653 | 1653 | | (4) MEDICAL MALPRACTICE RISK APPORTIONMENT ; ASSOCIATION 1112 |
|---|
| 1654 | 1654 | | CONTRACTS AND PURCHASES .— 1113 |
|---|
| 1655 | 1655 | | (j)1. After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 1114 |
|---|
| 1656 | 1656 | | all purchases made by, the association pursuant to this 1115 |
|---|
| 1657 | 1657 | | subsection which are valued at or more than $100,000 must first 1116 |
|---|
| 1658 | 1658 | | be approved by the department. The departme nt has 10 days to 1117 |
|---|
| 1659 | 1659 | | approve or deny a contract or purchase upon electronic receipt 1118 |
|---|
| 1660 | 1660 | | of the approval request. The contract or purchase is 1119 |
|---|
| 1661 | 1661 | | automatically approved if the department is nonresponsive. 1120 |
|---|
| 1662 | 1662 | | 2. All contracts and purchases valued at or more than 1121 |
|---|
| 1663 | 1663 | | $100,000 require competition through a formal bid solicitation 1122 |
|---|
| 1664 | 1664 | | conducted by the association. The association must undergo a 1123 |
|---|
| 1665 | 1665 | | formal bid solicitation process by a minimum of three vendors. 1124 |
|---|
| 1666 | 1666 | | The formal bid solicitation process must include all of the 1125 |
|---|
| 1674 | 1674 | | Page 46 of 159 |
|---|
| 1675 | 1675 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1676 | 1676 | | |
|---|
| 1677 | 1677 | | |
|---|
| 1678 | 1678 | | |
|---|
| 1679 | 1679 | | following: 1126 |
|---|
| 1680 | 1680 | | a. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 1127 |
|---|
| 1681 | 1681 | | proposals, and whether the association contemplates renewal of 1128 |
|---|
| 1682 | 1682 | | the contract, including the price for each year for which the 1129 |
|---|
| 1683 | 1683 | | contract may be renewed. 1130 |
|---|
| 1684 | 1684 | | b. All the contractual terms and conditions applicable to 1131 |
|---|
| 1685 | 1685 | | the procurement. 1132 |
|---|
| 1686 | 1686 | | 3. Evaluation of bids by the association must include 1133 |
|---|
| 1687 | 1687 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 1134 |
|---|
| 1688 | 1688 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The 1135 |
|---|
| 1689 | 1689 | | association must award the contract to the most responsible an d 1136 |
|---|
| 1690 | 1690 | | responsive vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the 1137 |
|---|
| 1691 | 1691 | | association must be made available, upon request, to the 1138 |
|---|
| 1692 | 1692 | | department by electronic delivery. 1139 |
|---|
| 1693 | 1693 | | Section 22. Subsection (5) is added to section 631.59, 1140 |
|---|
| 1694 | 1694 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 1141 |
|---|
| 1695 | 1695 | | 631.59 Duties and powers of department and office ; 1142 |
|---|
| 1696 | 1696 | | association contracts and purchases .— 1143 |
|---|
| 1697 | 1697 | | (5)(a) After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 1144 |
|---|
| 1698 | 1698 | | all purchases made by, the association pursuant to this section 1145 |
|---|
| 1699 | 1699 | | which are valued at or more than $100,000 must first be approved 1146 |
|---|
| 1700 | 1700 | | by the department. The department has 10 days to approve or deny 1147 |
|---|
| 1701 | 1701 | | the contract or purchase upon electronic receipt of the approval 1148 |
|---|
| 1702 | 1702 | | request. The contract or purchase is automatically approved if 1149 |
|---|
| 1703 | 1703 | | the department is nonresponsive. 1150 |
|---|
| 1711 | 1711 | | Page 47 of 159 |
|---|
| 1712 | 1712 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1713 | 1713 | | |
|---|
| 1714 | 1714 | | |
|---|
| 1715 | 1715 | | |
|---|
| 1716 | 1716 | | (b) All contracts and purchases valued at or more than 1151 |
|---|
| 1717 | 1717 | | $100,000 require competition through a formal bid solicitation 1152 |
|---|
| 1718 | 1718 | | conducted by the association. The association must undergo a 1153 |
|---|
| 1719 | 1719 | | formal bid solicitation process. The formal bid solicitation 1154 |
|---|
| 1720 | 1720 | | process must include all of the following: 1155 |
|---|
| 1721 | 1721 | | 1. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 1156 |
|---|
| 1722 | 1722 | | proposals, and whether the association contemplates renewal of 1157 |
|---|
| 1723 | 1723 | | the contract, including the price for each year for which the 1158 |
|---|
| 1724 | 1724 | | contract may be renewed. 1159 |
|---|
| 1725 | 1725 | | 2. All the contractual terms and conditi ons applicable to 1160 |
|---|
| 1726 | 1726 | | the procurement. 1161 |
|---|
| 1727 | 1727 | | (c) Evaluation of bids by the association must include 1162 |
|---|
| 1728 | 1728 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 1163 |
|---|
| 1729 | 1729 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The 1164 |
|---|
| 1730 | 1730 | | association must award the contract to the m ost responsible and 1165 |
|---|
| 1731 | 1731 | | responsive vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the 1166 |
|---|
| 1732 | 1732 | | association must be made available, upon request, to the 1167 |
|---|
| 1733 | 1733 | | department via electronic delivery. 1168 |
|---|
| 1734 | 1734 | | (d) Paragraphs (b) and (c) do not apply to claims defense 1169 |
|---|
| 1735 | 1735 | | counsel or claims vendors if contracts with all vendors which 1170 |
|---|
| 1736 | 1736 | | may exceed $100,000 are provided to the department for prior 1171 |
|---|
| 1737 | 1737 | | approval in accordance with paragraph (a). 1172 |
|---|
| 1738 | 1738 | | Section 23. Subsection (6) is added to section 631.722, 1173 |
|---|
| 1739 | 1739 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 1174 |
|---|
| 1740 | 1740 | | 631.722 Powers and d uties of department and office ; 1175 |
|---|
| 1748 | 1748 | | Page 48 of 159 |
|---|
| 1749 | 1749 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1750 | 1750 | | |
|---|
| 1751 | 1751 | | |
|---|
| 1752 | 1752 | | |
|---|
| 1753 | 1753 | | association contracts and purchases .— 1176 |
|---|
| 1754 | 1754 | | (6)(a) After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 1177 |
|---|
| 1755 | 1755 | | all purchases made by, the association pursuant to this section 1178 |
|---|
| 1756 | 1756 | | which are valued at or more than $100,000 must first be appro ved 1179 |
|---|
| 1757 | 1757 | | by the department. The department has 10 days to approve or deny 1180 |
|---|
| 1758 | 1758 | | the contract or purchase upon electronic receipt of the approval 1181 |
|---|
| 1759 | 1759 | | request. The contract or purchase is automatically approved if 1182 |
|---|
| 1760 | 1760 | | the department is nonresponsive. 1183 |
|---|
| 1761 | 1761 | | (b) All contracts and pu rchases valued at or more than 1184 |
|---|
| 1762 | 1762 | | $100,000 require competition through a formal bid solicitation 1185 |
|---|
| 1763 | 1763 | | conducted by the association. The association must undergo a 1186 |
|---|
| 1764 | 1764 | | formal bid solicitation process. The formal bid solicitation 1187 |
|---|
| 1765 | 1765 | | process must include all of the followin g: 1188 |
|---|
| 1766 | 1766 | | 1. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 1189 |
|---|
| 1767 | 1767 | | proposals, and whether the association contemplates renewal of 1190 |
|---|
| 1768 | 1768 | | the contract, including the price for each year for which the 1191 |
|---|
| 1769 | 1769 | | contract may be renewed. 1192 |
|---|
| 1770 | 1770 | | 2. All the contractual terms and conditions appli cable to 1193 |
|---|
| 1771 | 1771 | | the procurement. 1194 |
|---|
| 1772 | 1772 | | (c) Evaluation of bids by the association must include 1195 |
|---|
| 1773 | 1773 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 1196 |
|---|
| 1774 | 1774 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The 1197 |
|---|
| 1775 | 1775 | | association must award the contract to the most respo nsible and 1198 |
|---|
| 1776 | 1776 | | responsive vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the 1199 |
|---|
| 1777 | 1777 | | association must be made available, upon request, to the 1200 |
|---|
| 1785 | 1785 | | Page 49 of 159 |
|---|
| 1786 | 1786 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1787 | 1787 | | |
|---|
| 1788 | 1788 | | |
|---|
| 1789 | 1789 | | |
|---|
| 1790 | 1790 | | department via electronic delivery. 1201 |
|---|
| 1791 | 1791 | | Section 24. Subsection (5) is added to section 631.821, 1202 |
|---|
| 1792 | 1792 | | Florida Statutes, to read: 1203 |
|---|
| 1793 | 1793 | | 631.821 Powers and duties of the department ; board 1204 |
|---|
| 1794 | 1794 | | contracts and purchases .— 1205 |
|---|
| 1795 | 1795 | | (5)(a) After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 1206 |
|---|
| 1796 | 1796 | | all purchases made by, the board pursuant to this section which 1207 |
|---|
| 1797 | 1797 | | are valued at or more than $100,000 must first be app roved by 1208 |
|---|
| 1798 | 1798 | | the department. The department has 10 days to approve or deny 1209 |
|---|
| 1799 | 1799 | | the contract or purchase upon electronic receipt of the approval 1210 |
|---|
| 1800 | 1800 | | request. The contract or purchase is automatically approved if 1211 |
|---|
| 1801 | 1801 | | the department is nonresponsive. 1212 |
|---|
| 1802 | 1802 | | (b) All contracts and purchases valued at or more than 1213 |
|---|
| 1803 | 1803 | | $100,000 require competition through a formal bid solicitation 1214 |
|---|
| 1804 | 1804 | | conducted by the board. The board must undergo a formal bid 1215 |
|---|
| 1805 | 1805 | | solicitation process. The formal bid solicitation process must 1216 |
|---|
| 1806 | 1806 | | include all of the following: 1217 |
|---|
| 1807 | 1807 | | 1. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 1218 |
|---|
| 1808 | 1808 | | proposals, and whether the board contemplates renewal of the 1219 |
|---|
| 1809 | 1809 | | contract, including the price for each year for which the 1220 |
|---|
| 1810 | 1810 | | contract may be renewed. 1221 |
|---|
| 1811 | 1811 | | 2. All the contractual terms and conditions applicable to 1222 |
|---|
| 1812 | 1812 | | the procurement. 1223 |
|---|
| 1813 | 1813 | | (c) Evaluation of bids by the board must include 1224 |
|---|
| 1814 | 1814 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 1225 |
|---|
| 1822 | 1822 | | Page 50 of 159 |
|---|
| 1823 | 1823 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1824 | 1824 | | |
|---|
| 1825 | 1825 | | |
|---|
| 1826 | 1826 | | |
|---|
| 1827 | 1827 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The plan 1226 |
|---|
| 1828 | 1828 | | must award the contract to the most responsible and responsive 1227 |
|---|
| 1829 | 1829 | | vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the board must 1228 |
|---|
| 1830 | 1830 | | be made available, upon request, to the department via 1229 |
|---|
| 1831 | 1831 | | electronic delivery. 1230 |
|---|
| 1832 | 1832 | | Section 25. Section 631.921, Florida Statutes, is amended 1231 |
|---|
| 1833 | 1833 | | to read: 1232 |
|---|
| 1834 | 1834 | | 631.921 Department powers ; board contracts and pur chases.— 1233 |
|---|
| 1835 | 1835 | | (1) The corporation shall be subject to examination by the 1234 |
|---|
| 1836 | 1836 | | department. By March 1 of each year, the board of directors 1235 |
|---|
| 1837 | 1837 | | shall cause a financial report to be filed with the department 1236 |
|---|
| 1838 | 1838 | | for the immediately preceding calendar year in a form approved 1237 |
|---|
| 1839 | 1839 | | by the department. 1238 |
|---|
| 1840 | 1840 | | (2)(a) After July 1, 2024, all contracts entered into, and 1239 |
|---|
| 1841 | 1841 | | all purchases made by, the board pursuant to this section which 1240 |
|---|
| 1842 | 1842 | | are valued at or more than $100,000 must first be approved by 1241 |
|---|
| 1843 | 1843 | | the department. The department has 10 days to appr ove or deny 1242 |
|---|
| 1844 | 1844 | | the contract or purchase upon electronic receipt of the approval 1243 |
|---|
| 1845 | 1845 | | request. The contract or purchase is automatically approved if 1244 |
|---|
| 1846 | 1846 | | the department is nonresponsive. 1245 |
|---|
| 1847 | 1847 | | (b) All contracts and purchases valued at or more than 1246 |
|---|
| 1848 | 1848 | | $100,000 require competiti on through a formal bid solicitation 1247 |
|---|
| 1849 | 1849 | | conducted by the board. The board must undergo a formal bid 1248 |
|---|
| 1850 | 1850 | | solicitation process. The formal bid solicitation process must 1249 |
|---|
| 1851 | 1851 | | include all of the following: 1250 |
|---|
| 1859 | 1859 | | Page 51 of 159 |
|---|
| 1860 | 1860 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1861 | 1861 | | |
|---|
| 1862 | 1862 | | |
|---|
| 1863 | 1863 | | |
|---|
| 1864 | 1864 | | 1. The time and date for the receipt of bids, the 1251 |
|---|
| 1865 | 1865 | | proposals, and whether the board contemplates renewal of the 1252 |
|---|
| 1866 | 1866 | | contract, including the price for each year for which the 1253 |
|---|
| 1867 | 1867 | | contract may be renewed. 1254 |
|---|
| 1868 | 1868 | | 2. All the contractual terms and conditions applicable to 1255 |
|---|
| 1869 | 1869 | | the procurement. 1256 |
|---|
| 1870 | 1870 | | (c) Evaluation of bids by the board must includ e 1257 |
|---|
| 1871 | 1871 | | consideration of the total cost for each year of the contract, 1258 |
|---|
| 1872 | 1872 | | including renewal years, as submitted by the vendor. The 1259 |
|---|
| 1873 | 1873 | | association must award the contract to the most responsible and 1260 |
|---|
| 1874 | 1874 | | responsive vendor. Any formal bid solicitation conducted by the 1261 |
|---|
| 1875 | 1875 | | association must be made available, upon request, to the 1262 |
|---|
| 1876 | 1876 | | department via electronic delivery. 1263 |
|---|
| 1877 | 1877 | | Section 26. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section 1264 |
|---|
| 1878 | 1878 | | 633.124, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1265 |
|---|
| 1879 | 1879 | | 633.124 Penalty for violation of law, rule, or order to 1266 |
|---|
| 1880 | 1880 | | cease and desist or for failure to comply with corrective 1267 |
|---|
| 1881 | 1881 | | order.— 1268 |
|---|
| 1882 | 1882 | | (3) 1269 |
|---|
| 1883 | 1883 | | (b) A person who initiates a pyrotechnic display within 1270 |
|---|
| 1884 | 1884 | | any structure commits a felony of the third degree, punishable 1271 |
|---|
| 1885 | 1885 | | as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, unless: 1272 |
|---|
| 1886 | 1886 | | 1. The structure has a fire protection system installed in 1273 |
|---|
| 1887 | 1887 | | compliance with s. 633.334. 1274 |
|---|
| 1888 | 1888 | | 2. The owner of the structure has authorized in writing 1275 |
|---|
| 1896 | 1896 | | Page 52 of 159 |
|---|
| 1897 | 1897 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1898 | 1898 | | |
|---|
| 1899 | 1899 | | |
|---|
| 1900 | 1900 | | |
|---|
| 1901 | 1901 | | the pyrotechnic display. 1276 |
|---|
| 1902 | 1902 | | 3. If the local jurisdiction requires a permit for the use 1277 |
|---|
| 1903 | 1903 | | of a pyrotechnic display in an occupied structure, such permit 1278 |
|---|
| 1904 | 1904 | | has been obtained and all conditions of the permit complied with 1279 |
|---|
| 1905 | 1905 | | or, if the local jurisdiction does not require a permit for the 1280 |
|---|
| 1906 | 1906 | | use of a pyrotechnic display in an occupied structure, the 1281 |
|---|
| 1907 | 1907 | | person initiating the display has c omplied with National Fire 1282 |
|---|
| 1908 | 1908 | | Protection Association, Inc., Standard 1126, 2021 2001 Edition, 1283 |
|---|
| 1909 | 1909 | | Standard for the Use of Pyrotechnics before a Proximate 1284 |
|---|
| 1910 | 1910 | | Audience. 1285 |
|---|
| 1911 | 1911 | | Section 27. Subsection (2) of section 633.202, Florida 1286 |
|---|
| 1912 | 1912 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1287 |
|---|
| 1913 | 1913 | | 633.202 Florida Fire Prevention Code. — 1288 |
|---|
| 1914 | 1914 | | (2) The State Fire Marshal shall adopt the current edition 1289 |
|---|
| 1915 | 1915 | | of the National Fire Protection Association's Standard 1, Fire 1290 |
|---|
| 1916 | 1916 | | Prevention Code but may not adopt a building, mechanical, 1291 |
|---|
| 1917 | 1917 | | accessibility, or plumbing code. The State Fire Marshal shall 1292 |
|---|
| 1918 | 1918 | | adopt the current edition of the Life Safety Code, NFPA 101, 1293 |
|---|
| 1919 | 1919 | | current editions, by reference. The State Fire Marshal may 1294 |
|---|
| 1920 | 1920 | | modify the selected codes and standards as needed to accommodate 1295 |
|---|
| 1921 | 1921 | | the specific needs of the state. Standards or criter ia in the 1296 |
|---|
| 1922 | 1922 | | selected codes shall be similarly incorporated by reference. The 1297 |
|---|
| 1923 | 1923 | | State Fire Marshal shall incorporate within sections of the 1298 |
|---|
| 1924 | 1924 | | Florida Fire Prevention Code provisions that address uniform 1299 |
|---|
| 1925 | 1925 | | firesafety standards as established in s. 633.206. The State 1300 |
|---|
| 1933 | 1933 | | Page 53 of 159 |
|---|
| 1934 | 1934 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1935 | 1935 | | |
|---|
| 1936 | 1936 | | |
|---|
| 1937 | 1937 | | |
|---|
| 1938 | 1938 | | Fire Marshal shall incorporate within sections of the Florida 1301 |
|---|
| 1939 | 1939 | | Fire Prevention Code provisions addressing regional and local 1302 |
|---|
| 1940 | 1940 | | concerns and variations. 1303 |
|---|
| 1941 | 1941 | | Section 28. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section 1304 |
|---|
| 1942 | 1942 | | 633.206, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1305 |
|---|
| 1943 | 1943 | | 633.206 Uniform firesafety standards. —The Legislature 1306 |
|---|
| 1944 | 1944 | | hereby determines that to protect the public health, safety, and 1307 |
|---|
| 1945 | 1945 | | welfare it is necessary to provide for firesafety standards 1308 |
|---|
| 1946 | 1946 | | governing the construction and utilization of certain buildings 1309 |
|---|
| 1947 | 1947 | | and structures. The Legislature further determines that certain 1310 |
|---|
| 1948 | 1948 | | buildings or structures, due to their specialized use or to the 1311 |
|---|
| 1949 | 1949 | | special characteristics of the person utilizing or occupying 1312 |
|---|
| 1950 | 1950 | | these buildings or structures, should be subject to firesafety 1313 |
|---|
| 1951 | 1951 | | standards reflecting these special needs as may be appropriate. 1314 |
|---|
| 1952 | 1952 | | (1) The department shall establish uniform firesafety 1315 |
|---|
| 1953 | 1953 | | standards that apply to: 1316 |
|---|
| 1954 | 1954 | | (b) All new, existing, and proposed hospitals, nursing 1317 |
|---|
| 1955 | 1955 | | homes, assisted living facilities, adult family -care homes, 1318 |
|---|
| 1956 | 1956 | | correctional facilities, public schools, transient public 1319 |
|---|
| 1957 | 1957 | | lodging establishments, public food service establishments, 1320 |
|---|
| 1958 | 1958 | | mobile food dispensing vehicles, elevators, migrant labor camps, 1321 |
|---|
| 1959 | 1959 | | mobile home parks, lodging parks, recreational vehicle parks, 1322 |
|---|
| 1960 | 1960 | | recreational camps, residential and nonresidential child care 1323 |
|---|
| 1961 | 1961 | | facilities, facilities for the developmentally disabled, motion 1324 |
|---|
| 1962 | 1962 | | picture and television special effe cts productions, tunnels, 1325 |
|---|
| 1970 | 1970 | | Page 54 of 159 |
|---|
| 1971 | 1971 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 1972 | 1972 | | |
|---|
| 1973 | 1973 | | |
|---|
| 1974 | 1974 | | |
|---|
| 1975 | 1975 | | energy storage systems, and self-service gasoline stations, of 1326 |
|---|
| 1976 | 1976 | | which standards the State Fire Marshal is the final 1327 |
|---|
| 1977 | 1977 | | administrative interpreting authority. 1328 |
|---|
| 1978 | 1978 | | 1329 |
|---|
| 1979 | 1979 | | In the event there is a dispute between the owners of the 1330 |
|---|
| 1980 | 1980 | | buildings specified in paragraph (b) and a local authority 1331 |
|---|
| 1981 | 1981 | | requiring a more stringent uniform firesafety standard for 1332 |
|---|
| 1982 | 1982 | | sprinkler systems, the State Fire Marshal shall be the final 1333 |
|---|
| 1983 | 1983 | | administrative interpreting authority and the State Fire 1334 |
|---|
| 1984 | 1984 | | Marshal's interpretation regar ding the uniform firesafety 1335 |
|---|
| 1985 | 1985 | | standards shall be considered final agency action. 1336 |
|---|
| 1986 | 1986 | | Section 29. Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section 1337 |
|---|
| 1987 | 1987 | | 634.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1338 |
|---|
| 1988 | 1988 | | 634.041 Qualifications for license. —To qualify for and 1339 |
|---|
| 1989 | 1989 | | hold a license to issue service agreements in this state, a 1340 |
|---|
| 1990 | 1990 | | service agreement company must be in compliance with this part, 1341 |
|---|
| 1991 | 1991 | | with applicable rules of the commission, with related sections 1342 |
|---|
| 1992 | 1992 | | of the Florida Insurance Code, and with its charter powers and 1343 |
|---|
| 1993 | 1993 | | must comply with the following: 1344 |
|---|
| 1994 | 1994 | | (8) 1345 |
|---|
| 1995 | 1995 | | (b) A service agreement company does not have to establish 1346 |
|---|
| 1996 | 1996 | | and maintain an unearned premium reserve if it secures and 1347 |
|---|
| 1997 | 1997 | | maintains contractual liability insurance in accordance with the 1348 |
|---|
| 1998 | 1998 | | following: 1349 |
|---|
| 1999 | 1999 | | 1. Coverage of 100 percent of the claim e xposure is 1350 |
|---|
| 2007 | 2007 | | Page 55 of 159 |
|---|
| 2008 | 2008 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2009 | 2009 | | |
|---|
| 2010 | 2010 | | |
|---|
| 2011 | 2011 | | |
|---|
| 2012 | 2012 | | obtained from an insurer or insurers approved by the office, 1351 |
|---|
| 2013 | 2013 | | which hold holds a certificate of authority under s. 624.401 to 1352 |
|---|
| 2014 | 2014 | | do business within this state, or secured through a risk 1353 |
|---|
| 2015 | 2015 | | retention groups group, which are is authorized to do business 1354 |
|---|
| 2016 | 2016 | | within this state under s. 627.943 or s. 627.944. Such insurers 1355 |
|---|
| 2017 | 2017 | | insurer or risk retention groups group must maintain a surplus 1356 |
|---|
| 2018 | 2018 | | as regards policyholders of at least $15 million. 1357 |
|---|
| 2019 | 2019 | | 2. If the service agreement company does not meet its 1358 |
|---|
| 2020 | 2020 | | contractual obligations , the contractual liability insurance 1359 |
|---|
| 2021 | 2021 | | policy binds its issuer to pay or cause to be paid to the 1360 |
|---|
| 2022 | 2022 | | service agreement holder all legitimate claims and cancellation 1361 |
|---|
| 2023 | 2023 | | refunds for all service agreements issued by the service 1362 |
|---|
| 2024 | 2024 | | agreement company while the policy was in effect. This 1363 |
|---|
| 2025 | 2025 | | requirement also applies to those service agreements for which 1364 |
|---|
| 2026 | 2026 | | no premium has been remitted to the insurer. 1365 |
|---|
| 2027 | 2027 | | 3. If the issuer of the contractual liability policy is 1366 |
|---|
| 2028 | 2028 | | fulfilling the service agreements covered by the contractual 1367 |
|---|
| 2029 | 2029 | | liability policy and the service agreement holder cancels the 1368 |
|---|
| 2030 | 2030 | | service agreement, the issuer must make a full refund of 1369 |
|---|
| 2031 | 2031 | | unearned premium to the consumer, subject to the cancellation 1370 |
|---|
| 2032 | 2032 | | fee provisions of s. 634.121(3). The sales representative and 1371 |
|---|
| 2033 | 2033 | | agent must refund to the c ontractual liability policy issuer 1372 |
|---|
| 2034 | 2034 | | their unearned pro rata commission. 1373 |
|---|
| 2035 | 2035 | | 4. The policy may not be canceled, terminated, or 1374 |
|---|
| 2036 | 2036 | | nonrenewed by the insurer or the service agreement company 1375 |
|---|
| 2044 | 2044 | | Page 56 of 159 |
|---|
| 2045 | 2045 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2046 | 2046 | | |
|---|
| 2047 | 2047 | | |
|---|
| 2048 | 2048 | | |
|---|
| 2049 | 2049 | | unless a 90-day written notice thereof has been given to the 1376 |
|---|
| 2050 | 2050 | | office by the insurer before the date of the cancellation, 1377 |
|---|
| 2051 | 2051 | | termination, or nonrenewal. 1378 |
|---|
| 2052 | 2052 | | 5. The service agreement company must provide the office 1379 |
|---|
| 2053 | 2053 | | with the claims statistics. 1380 |
|---|
| 2054 | 2054 | | 6. A policy issued in compliance with this paragraph may 1381 |
|---|
| 2055 | 2055 | | either pay 100 percent of claims as they are incurred, or pay 1382 |
|---|
| 2056 | 2056 | | 100 percent of claims due in the event of the failure of the 1383 |
|---|
| 2057 | 2057 | | service agreement company to pay such claims when due. 1384 |
|---|
| 2058 | 2058 | | 1385 |
|---|
| 2059 | 2059 | | All funds or premiums remitted to an insurer by a motor vehicle 1386 |
|---|
| 2060 | 2060 | | service agreement company under this part shall r emain in the 1387 |
|---|
| 2061 | 2061 | | care, custody, and control of the insurer and shall be counted 1388 |
|---|
| 2062 | 2062 | | as an asset of the insurer; provided, however, this requirement 1389 |
|---|
| 2063 | 2063 | | does not apply when the insurer and the motor vehicle service 1390 |
|---|
| 2064 | 2064 | | agreement company are affiliated companies and members of an 1391 |
|---|
| 2065 | 2065 | | insurance holding company system. If the motor vehicle service 1392 |
|---|
| 2066 | 2066 | | agreement company chooses to comply with this paragraph but also 1393 |
|---|
| 2067 | 2067 | | maintains a reserve to pay claims, such reserve shall only be 1394 |
|---|
| 2068 | 2068 | | considered an asset of the covered motor vehicle service 1395 |
|---|
| 2069 | 2069 | | agreement company and may not be simultaneously counted as an 1396 |
|---|
| 2070 | 2070 | | asset of any other entity. 1397 |
|---|
| 2071 | 2071 | | Section 30. Subsection (5) of section 634.081, Florida 1398 |
|---|
| 2072 | 2072 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1399 |
|---|
| 2073 | 2073 | | 634.081 Suspension or revocation of license; grounds. — 1400 |
|---|
| 2081 | 2081 | | Page 57 of 159 |
|---|
| 2082 | 2082 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2083 | 2083 | | |
|---|
| 2084 | 2084 | | |
|---|
| 2085 | 2085 | | |
|---|
| 2086 | 2086 | | (5) The office shall suspend or revoke the license of a 1401 |
|---|
| 2087 | 2087 | | company if it finds that the ratio of gross written premiums 1402 |
|---|
| 2088 | 2088 | | written to net assets exceeds 10 to 1 unless the company has in 1403 |
|---|
| 2089 | 2089 | | excess of $750,000 in net assets and is utilizing contractual 1404 |
|---|
| 2090 | 2090 | | liability insurance which cedes 10 0 percent of the service 1405 |
|---|
| 2091 | 2091 | | agreement company's claims liabilities to the contractual 1406 |
|---|
| 2092 | 2092 | | liability insurers insurer or is utilizing contractual liability 1407 |
|---|
| 2093 | 2093 | | insurance which reimburses the service agreement company for 100 1408 |
|---|
| 2094 | 2094 | | percent of its paid claims. However, if a s ervice agreement 1409 |
|---|
| 2095 | 2095 | | company has been licensed by the office in excess of 10 years, 1410 |
|---|
| 2096 | 2096 | | is in compliance with all applicable provisions of this part, 1411 |
|---|
| 2097 | 2097 | | and has net assets at all times in excess of $3 million that 1412 |
|---|
| 2098 | 2098 | | comply with the provisions of part II of chapter 625, such 1413 |
|---|
| 2099 | 2099 | | company may not exceed a ratio of gross written premiums written 1414 |
|---|
| 2100 | 2100 | | to net assets of 15 to 1. 1415 |
|---|
| 2101 | 2101 | | Section 31. Subsection (5) of section 634.3077, Florida 1416 |
|---|
| 2102 | 2102 | | Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (6), subsection (3) is 1417 |
|---|
| 2103 | 2103 | | amended, and a new subsection (5) is a dded to that section, to 1418 |
|---|
| 2104 | 2104 | | read: 1419 |
|---|
| 2105 | 2105 | | 634.3077 Financial requirements. — 1420 |
|---|
| 2106 | 2106 | | (3) An association may shall not be required to set up an 1421 |
|---|
| 2107 | 2107 | | unearned premium reserve if it has purchased contractual 1422 |
|---|
| 2108 | 2108 | | liability insurance which demonstrates to the satisfaction of 1423 |
|---|
| 2109 | 2109 | | the office that 100 percent of its claim exposure is covered by 1424 |
|---|
| 2110 | 2110 | | such insurance. Such contractual liability insurance shall be 1425 |
|---|
| 2118 | 2118 | | Page 58 of 159 |
|---|
| 2119 | 2119 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2120 | 2120 | | |
|---|
| 2121 | 2121 | | |
|---|
| 2122 | 2122 | | |
|---|
| 2123 | 2123 | | obtained from an insurer or insurers that hold holds a 1426 |
|---|
| 2124 | 2124 | | certificate of authority to do business within the state or from 1427 |
|---|
| 2125 | 2125 | | an insurer or insurers approved by the office as financially 1428 |
|---|
| 2126 | 2126 | | capable of meeting the obligations incurred pursuant to the 1429 |
|---|
| 2127 | 2127 | | policy. For purposes of this subsection, the contractual 1430 |
|---|
| 2128 | 2128 | | liability policy shall contain the following provisions: 1431 |
|---|
| 2129 | 2129 | | (a) In the event that the home warranty association is 1432 |
|---|
| 2130 | 2130 | | unable to fulfill its obligation under its contracts issued in 1433 |
|---|
| 2131 | 2131 | | this state for any reason, including insolvency, bankruptcy, or 1434 |
|---|
| 2132 | 2132 | | dissolution, the contractual liability insurer will pay losses 1435 |
|---|
| 2133 | 2133 | | and unearned premiums under such plans directly to persons 1436 |
|---|
| 2134 | 2134 | | making claims under such contracts. 1437 |
|---|
| 2135 | 2135 | | (b) The insurer issuing the policy shall assume full 1438 |
|---|
| 2136 | 2136 | | responsibility for the administration of claims in the event of 1439 |
|---|
| 2137 | 2137 | | the inability of the association to do so. 1440 |
|---|
| 2138 | 2138 | | (c) The policy may not be canceled or not renew ed by 1441 |
|---|
| 2139 | 2139 | | either the insurer or the association unless 60 days' written 1442 |
|---|
| 2140 | 2140 | | notice thereof has been given to the office by the insurer 1443 |
|---|
| 2141 | 2141 | | before the date of such cancellation or nonrenewal. 1444 |
|---|
| 2142 | 2142 | | (d) The contractual liability insurance policy shall 1445 |
|---|
| 2143 | 2143 | | insure all home warran ty contracts that were issued while the 1446 |
|---|
| 2144 | 2144 | | policy was in effect whether or not the premium has been 1447 |
|---|
| 2145 | 2145 | | remitted to the insurer. 1448 |
|---|
| 2146 | 2146 | | (5) An association licensed under this part is not 1449 |
|---|
| 2147 | 2147 | | required to establish an unearned premium reserve or maintain 1450 |
|---|
| 2155 | 2155 | | Page 59 of 159 |
|---|
| 2156 | 2156 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2157 | 2157 | | |
|---|
| 2158 | 2158 | | |
|---|
| 2159 | 2159 | | |
|---|
| 2160 | 2160 | | contractual liability insurance and may allow its premiums to 1451 |
|---|
| 2161 | 2161 | | exceed the ratio to net assets limitation of this section if the 1452 |
|---|
| 2162 | 2162 | | association complies with the following: 1453 |
|---|
| 2163 | 2163 | | (a) The association or, if the association is a direct or 1454 |
|---|
| 2164 | 2164 | | indirect wholly owned subsidiary of a parent co rporation, its 1455 |
|---|
| 2165 | 2165 | | parent corporation has, and maintains at all times, a minimum 1456 |
|---|
| 2166 | 2166 | | net worth of at least $100 million and provides the office with 1457 |
|---|
| 2167 | 2167 | | the following: 1458 |
|---|
| 2168 | 2168 | | 1. A copy of the association's annual audited financial 1459 |
|---|
| 2169 | 2169 | | statements or the audited consolidated fin ancial statements of 1460 |
|---|
| 2170 | 2170 | | the association's parent corporation, prepared by an independent 1461 |
|---|
| 2171 | 2171 | | certified public accountant in accordance with generally 1462 |
|---|
| 2172 | 2172 | | accepted accounting principles, which clearly demonstrate the 1463 |
|---|
| 2173 | 2173 | | net worth of the association or its parent corporat ion to be 1464 |
|---|
| 2174 | 2174 | | $100 million, and a quarterly written certification to the 1465 |
|---|
| 2175 | 2175 | | office that the association or its parent corporation continues 1466 |
|---|
| 2176 | 2176 | | to maintain the net worth required under this paragraph. 1467 |
|---|
| 2177 | 2177 | | 2. The association's or its parent corporation's Form 10 -1468 |
|---|
| 2178 | 2178 | | K, Form 10-Q, or Form 20-F as filed with the United States 1469 |
|---|
| 2179 | 2179 | | Securities and Exchange Commission or such other documents 1470 |
|---|
| 2180 | 2180 | | required to be filed with a recognized stock exchange, which 1471 |
|---|
| 2181 | 2181 | | shall be provided on a quarterly and annual basis within 10 days 1472 |
|---|
| 2182 | 2182 | | after the last date each such report must be filed with the 1473 |
|---|
| 2183 | 2183 | | Securities and Exchange Commission, the National Association of 1474 |
|---|
| 2184 | 2184 | | Securities Dealers Automated Quotation system, or other 1475 |
|---|
| 2192 | 2192 | | Page 60 of 159 |
|---|
| 2193 | 2193 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2194 | 2194 | | |
|---|
| 2195 | 2195 | | |
|---|
| 2196 | 2196 | | |
|---|
| 2197 | 2197 | | recognized stock exchange. 1476 |
|---|
| 2198 | 2198 | | 1477 |
|---|
| 2199 | 2199 | | Failure to timely file the documents required under this 1478 |
|---|
| 2200 | 2200 | | paragraph may, at the discretion of the office, subject the 1479 |
|---|
| 2201 | 2201 | | association to suspension or revocation of its license under 1480 |
|---|
| 2202 | 2202 | | this part. 1481 |
|---|
| 2203 | 2203 | | (b) If the net worth of a parent corporation is used to 1482 |
|---|
| 2204 | 2204 | | satisfy the net worth provisions of paragraph (a), the following 1483 |
|---|
| 2205 | 2205 | | provisions must be met: 1484 |
|---|
| 2206 | 2206 | | 1. The parent corporation must guarantee all service 1485 |
|---|
| 2207 | 2207 | | warranty obligations of the association, wherever written, on a 1486 |
|---|
| 2208 | 2208 | | form approved in advance by the office. A cancellation, 1487 |
|---|
| 2209 | 2209 | | termination, or modification of the guarantee does not become 1488 |
|---|
| 2210 | 2210 | | effective unless the parent corporation provides the office 1489 |
|---|
| 2211 | 2211 | | written notice at least 90 days before the effective date of the 1490 |
|---|
| 2212 | 2212 | | cancellation, termination, or modification and the office 1491 |
|---|
| 2213 | 2213 | | approves the request in writing. Before the effective date of 1492 |
|---|
| 2214 | 2214 | | the cancellation, termination, or modification of the guarantee, 1493 |
|---|
| 2215 | 2215 | | the association must demonstrate to the satisfaction of the 1494 |
|---|
| 2216 | 2216 | | office compliance with all applicable provisions of this part, 1495 |
|---|
| 2217 | 2217 | | including whether the association will meet the requirements of 1496 |
|---|
| 2218 | 2218 | | this section by the p urchase of contractual liability insurance, 1497 |
|---|
| 2219 | 2219 | | establishing required reserves, or other method allowed under 1498 |
|---|
| 2220 | 2220 | | this section. If the association or parent corporation does not 1499 |
|---|
| 2221 | 2221 | | demonstrate to the satisfaction of the office compliance with 1500 |
|---|
| 2229 | 2229 | | Page 61 of 159 |
|---|
| 2230 | 2230 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2231 | 2231 | | |
|---|
| 2232 | 2232 | | |
|---|
| 2233 | 2233 | | |
|---|
| 2234 | 2234 | | all applicable provision s of this part, the association or 1501 |
|---|
| 2235 | 2235 | | parent association shall immediately cease writing new and 1502 |
|---|
| 2236 | 2236 | | renewal business upon the effective date of the cancellation, 1503 |
|---|
| 2237 | 2237 | | termination, or modification. 1504 |
|---|
| 2238 | 2238 | | 2. The association must maintain at all times net assets 1505 |
|---|
| 2239 | 2239 | | of at least $750,000. 1506 |
|---|
| 2240 | 2240 | | Section 32. Section 634.317, Florida Statutes, is amended 1507 |
|---|
| 2241 | 2241 | | to read: 1508 |
|---|
| 2242 | 2242 | | 634.317 License and appointment required. —No person may 1509 |
|---|
| 2243 | 2243 | | solicit, negotiate, or effectuate home warranty contracts for 1510 |
|---|
| 2244 | 2244 | | remuneration in this state unless such person is licen sed and 1511 |
|---|
| 2245 | 2245 | | appointed as a sales representative. A licensed and appointed 1512 |
|---|
| 2246 | 2246 | | sales representative shall be directly responsible and 1513 |
|---|
| 2247 | 2247 | | accountable for all acts of the licensee's employees. A 1514 |
|---|
| 2248 | 2248 | | municipality, a county government, a special district, an entity 1515 |
|---|
| 2249 | 2249 | | operated by a municipality or county government, or an employee 1516 |
|---|
| 2250 | 2250 | | or agent of a municipality, county government, special district, 1517 |
|---|
| 2251 | 2251 | | or entity operated by a municipality or county government is 1518 |
|---|
| 2252 | 2252 | | exempt from the licensing and appointing requirements under this 1519 |
|---|
| 2253 | 2253 | | section. 1520 |
|---|
| 2254 | 2254 | | Section 33. Subsection (9) of section 648.25, Florida 1521 |
|---|
| 2255 | 2255 | | Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (10), and a new subsection 1522 |
|---|
| 2256 | 2256 | | (9) and subsection (11) are added to that section to read: 1523 |
|---|
| 2257 | 2257 | | 648.25 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 1524 |
|---|
| 2258 | 2258 | | (9) "Referring bail bond agent" is the limited surety 1525 |
|---|
| 2266 | 2266 | | Page 62 of 159 |
|---|
| 2267 | 2267 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2268 | 2268 | | |
|---|
| 2269 | 2269 | | |
|---|
| 2270 | 2270 | | |
|---|
| 2271 | 2271 | | agent who is requesting the transfer bond. The referring bail 1526 |
|---|
| 2272 | 2272 | | bond agent is the agent held liable for the transfer bond, along 1527 |
|---|
| 2273 | 2273 | | with the issuing surety company. 1528 |
|---|
| 2274 | 2274 | | (11) "Transfer bond" means the appearance bond and power 1529 |
|---|
| 2275 | 2275 | | of attorney form posted by a limited surety agent who is 1530 |
|---|
| 2276 | 2276 | | registered in the county where the defendant is being held in 1531 |
|---|
| 2277 | 2277 | | custody. 1532 |
|---|
| 2278 | 2278 | | Section 34. Subsection (3) of section 648.26, Florida 1533 |
|---|
| 2279 | 2279 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1534 |
|---|
| 2280 | 2280 | | 648.26 Department of Financial Service s; administration.— 1535 |
|---|
| 2281 | 2281 | | (3) The papers, documents, reports, or any other 1536 |
|---|
| 2282 | 2282 | | investigatory records of the department are confidential and 1537 |
|---|
| 2283 | 2283 | | exempt from s. 119.07(1) until such investigation is completed 1538 |
|---|
| 2284 | 2284 | | or ceases to be active , unless the department or office files a 1539 |
|---|
| 2285 | 2285 | | formal administrative complaint, emergency order, or consent 1540 |
|---|
| 2286 | 2286 | | order against the individual or entity . For the purpose of this 1541 |
|---|
| 2287 | 2287 | | section, an investigation is considered active while the 1542 |
|---|
| 2288 | 2288 | | investigation is being conducted by the department with a 1543 |
|---|
| 2289 | 2289 | | reasonable, good faith belief that it may lead to the filing of 1544 |
|---|
| 2290 | 2290 | | administrative, civil, or criminal proceedings. An investigation 1545 |
|---|
| 2291 | 2291 | | does not cease to be active if the department is proceeding with 1546 |
|---|
| 2292 | 2292 | | reasonable dispatch and there is good faith belief that action 1547 |
|---|
| 2293 | 2293 | | may be initiated by the department or other administrative or 1548 |
|---|
| 2294 | 2294 | | law enforcement agency. This subsection does not prevent the 1549 |
|---|
| 2295 | 2295 | | department or office from disclosing the content of a complaint 1550 |
|---|
| 2303 | 2303 | | Page 63 of 159 |
|---|
| 2304 | 2304 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2305 | 2305 | | |
|---|
| 2306 | 2306 | | |
|---|
| 2307 | 2307 | | |
|---|
| 2308 | 2308 | | or such information as it deems necessary to conduct the 1551 |
|---|
| 2309 | 2309 | | investigation, to update the complainant as to the status and 1552 |
|---|
| 2310 | 2310 | | outcome of the complaint, to review the details of the 1553 |
|---|
| 2311 | 2311 | | investigation with the subject or the subject's representative, 1554 |
|---|
| 2312 | 2312 | | or to share such information with any law enforcement agency or 1555 |
|---|
| 2313 | 2313 | | other regulatory body. 1556 |
|---|
| 2314 | 2314 | | Section 35. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 1557 |
|---|
| 2315 | 2315 | | 648.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1558 |
|---|
| 2316 | 2316 | | 648.30 Licensure and appointment required; prohibited 1559 |
|---|
| 2317 | 2317 | | acts; penalties.— 1560 |
|---|
| 2318 | 2318 | | (1)(a) A person or entity may not act in the capacity of a 1561 |
|---|
| 2319 | 2319 | | bail bond agent or bail bon d agency or perform any of the 1562 |
|---|
| 2320 | 2320 | | functions, duties, or powers prescribed for bail bond agents or 1563 |
|---|
| 2321 | 2321 | | bail bond agencies under this chapter unless that person or 1564 |
|---|
| 2322 | 2322 | | entity is qualified, licensed, and appointed as provided in this 1565 |
|---|
| 2323 | 2323 | | chapter and employed by a bail bond agency. 1566 |
|---|
| 2324 | 2324 | | Section 36. Subsection (1) of section 648.355, Florida 1567 |
|---|
| 2325 | 2325 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 1568 |
|---|
| 2326 | 2326 | | 648.355 Limited surety agents and professional bail bond 1569 |
|---|
| 2327 | 2327 | | agents; qualifications. — 1570 |
|---|
| 2328 | 2328 | | (1) The applicant shall furnish, with the application for 1571 |
|---|
| 2329 | 2329 | | license, a complete set of the applicant's fingerprints in 1572 |
|---|
| 2330 | 2330 | | accordance with s. 626.171(4) and a recent credential -sized, 1573 |
|---|
| 2331 | 2331 | | fullface photograph of the applicant . The department may not 1574 |
|---|
| 2332 | 2332 | | issue a license under this section until the department has 1575 |
|---|
| 2340 | 2340 | | Page 64 of 159 |
|---|
| 2341 | 2341 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2342 | 2342 | | |
|---|
| 2343 | 2343 | | |
|---|
| 2344 | 2344 | | |
|---|
| 2345 | 2345 | | received a report from the Dep artment of Law Enforcement and the 1576 |
|---|
| 2346 | 2346 | | Federal Bureau of Investigation relative to the existence or 1577 |
|---|
| 2347 | 2347 | | nonexistence of a criminal history report based on the 1578 |
|---|
| 2348 | 2348 | | applicant's fingerprints. 1579 |
|---|
| 2349 | 2349 | | Section 37. Effective July 1, 2024, section 655.0323, 1580 |
|---|
| 2350 | 2350 | | Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1581 |
|---|
| 2351 | 2351 | | 655.0323 Unsafe and unsound practices. — 1582 |
|---|
| 2352 | 2352 | | (1) Financial institutions must make determinations about 1583 |
|---|
| 2353 | 2353 | | the provision or denial of services based on an analysis of risk 1584 |
|---|
| 2354 | 2354 | | factors unique to each current or prospective customer or member 1585 |
|---|
| 2355 | 2355 | | and may not engage in an unsafe and unsound practice as provided 1586 |
|---|
| 2356 | 2356 | | in subsection (2). This subsection does not restrict a financial 1587 |
|---|
| 2357 | 2357 | | institution that claims a religious purpose from making such 1588 |
|---|
| 2358 | 2358 | | determinations based on the current or prospective customer's or 1589 |
|---|
| 2359 | 2359 | | member's religious beliefs, religious exercise, or religious 1590 |
|---|
| 2360 | 2360 | | affiliations. 1591 |
|---|
| 2361 | 2361 | | (2) It is an unsafe and unsound practice for a financial 1592 |
|---|
| 2362 | 2362 | | institution to deny, or cancel, suspend, or terminate its 1593 |
|---|
| 2363 | 2363 | | services to a person, or to otherwise discriminate against a 1594 |
|---|
| 2364 | 2364 | | person in making available such services , or in the terms or 1595 |
|---|
| 2365 | 2365 | | conditions of such services, on the basis of: 1596 |
|---|
| 2366 | 2366 | | (a) The person's political opinions, speech, or 1597 |
|---|
| 2367 | 2367 | | affiliations; 1598 |
|---|
| 2368 | 2368 | | (b) Except as provided in subsection (1), the person's 1599 |
|---|
| 2369 | 2369 | | religious beliefs, religious exercise, or religious 1600 |
|---|
| 2377 | 2377 | | Page 65 of 159 |
|---|
| 2378 | 2378 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2379 | 2379 | | |
|---|
| 2380 | 2380 | | |
|---|
| 2381 | 2381 | | |
|---|
| 2382 | 2382 | | affiliations; 1601 |
|---|
| 2383 | 2383 | | (c) Any factor if it is not a quantitative, impartial, and 1602 |
|---|
| 2384 | 2384 | | risk-based standard, including any such factor related to the 1603 |
|---|
| 2385 | 2385 | | person's business sector; or 1604 |
|---|
| 2386 | 2386 | | (d) The use of any rating, scoring, analysis, tabulation, 1605 |
|---|
| 2387 | 2387 | | or action that considers a social credit score based on factors 1606 |
|---|
| 2388 | 2388 | | including, but not limited to: 1607 |
|---|
| 2389 | 2389 | | 1. The person's political opinions, speech, or 1608 |
|---|
| 2390 | 2390 | | affiliations. 1609 |
|---|
| 2391 | 2391 | | 2. The person's religious beliefs, religious exercise, or 1610 |
|---|
| 2392 | 2392 | | religious affiliations. 1611 |
|---|
| 2393 | 2393 | | 3. The person's lawful ownership of a firearm. 1612 |
|---|
| 2394 | 2394 | | 4. The person's engagement in the lawful manufacture, 1613 |
|---|
| 2395 | 2395 | | distribution, sale, purchase, or use of firearms or ammunition. 1614 |
|---|
| 2396 | 2396 | | 5. The person's engagement in the exploration, production, 1615 |
|---|
| 2397 | 2397 | | utilization, transportation, sale, or manufacture o f fossil 1616 |
|---|
| 2398 | 2398 | | fuel-based energy, timber, mining, or agriculture. 1617 |
|---|
| 2399 | 2399 | | 6. The person's support of the state or Federal Government 1618 |
|---|
| 2400 | 2400 | | in combating illegal immigration, drug trafficking, or human 1619 |
|---|
| 2401 | 2401 | | trafficking. 1620 |
|---|
| 2402 | 2402 | | 7. The person's engagement with, facilitation of, 1621 |
|---|
| 2403 | 2403 | | employment by, support of, business relationship with, 1622 |
|---|
| 2404 | 2404 | | representation of, or advocacy for any person described in this 1623 |
|---|
| 2405 | 2405 | | paragraph. 1624 |
|---|
| 2406 | 2406 | | 8. The person's failure to meet or commit to meet, or 1625 |
|---|
| 2414 | 2414 | | Page 66 of 159 |
|---|
| 2415 | 2415 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2416 | 2416 | | |
|---|
| 2417 | 2417 | | |
|---|
| 2418 | 2418 | | |
|---|
| 2419 | 2419 | | expected failure to meet, any of the following as long as such 1626 |
|---|
| 2420 | 2420 | | person is in compliance with applicable state or federal law: 1627 |
|---|
| 2421 | 2421 | | a. Environmental standards, including emissions standards, 1628 |
|---|
| 2422 | 2422 | | benchmarks, requirements, or disclosures; 1629 |
|---|
| 2423 | 2423 | | b. Social governance standards, benchmarks, or 1630 |
|---|
| 2424 | 2424 | | requirements, including, but not limited to, environmental or 1631 |
|---|
| 2425 | 2425 | | social justice; 1632 |
|---|
| 2426 | 2426 | | c. Corporate board or company employment composition 1633 |
|---|
| 2427 | 2427 | | standards, benchmarks, requirements, or disclosures based on 1634 |
|---|
| 2428 | 2428 | | characteristics protected under the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1635 |
|---|
| 2429 | 2429 | | 1992; or 1636 |
|---|
| 2430 | 2430 | | d. Policies or procedures requiring or encour aging 1637 |
|---|
| 2431 | 2431 | | employee participation in social justice programming, including, 1638 |
|---|
| 2432 | 2432 | | but not limited to, diversity, equity, or inclusion training. 1639 |
|---|
| 2433 | 2433 | | (3) Beginning July 1, 2023, and by July 1 of each year 1640 |
|---|
| 2434 | 2434 | | thereafter, financial institutions as defined in s. 655.005 1641 |
|---|
| 2435 | 2435 | | subject to the financial institutions codes must attest, under 1642 |
|---|
| 2436 | 2436 | | penalty of perjury, on a form prescribed by the commission 1643 |
|---|
| 2437 | 2437 | | whether the entity is acting in compliance with subsections (1) 1644 |
|---|
| 2438 | 2438 | | and (2). 1645 |
|---|
| 2439 | 2439 | | (4) If a person who is a customer or member of a financial 1646 |
|---|
| 2440 | 2440 | | institution suspects that such financial institution has acted 1647 |
|---|
| 2441 | 2441 | | in violation of subsection (2), the aggrieved customer or member 1648 |
|---|
| 2442 | 2442 | | may submit a complaint to the office on a form prescribed by the 1649 |
|---|
| 2443 | 2443 | | commission within 30 days after such action. A complaint is 1650 |
|---|
| 2451 | 2451 | | Page 67 of 159 |
|---|
| 2452 | 2452 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2453 | 2453 | | |
|---|
| 2454 | 2454 | | |
|---|
| 2455 | 2455 | | |
|---|
| 2456 | 2456 | | barred if not timely submitted. The complaint must, at a 1651 |
|---|
| 2457 | 2457 | | minimum, contain the name and address of the customer or member; 1652 |
|---|
| 2458 | 2458 | | the name of the financial institution; and the facts upon which 1653 |
|---|
| 2459 | 2459 | | the customer or member bases his or her allegation. 1654 |
|---|
| 2460 | 2460 | | (5) After receipt of a cu stomer's or member's complaint 1655 |
|---|
| 2461 | 2461 | | under subsection (4): 1656 |
|---|
| 2462 | 2462 | | (a) The office must notify the financial institution that 1657 |
|---|
| 2463 | 2463 | | a complaint has been filed. 1658 |
|---|
| 2464 | 2464 | | (b) Within 90 calendar days after receiving the notice 1659 |
|---|
| 2465 | 2465 | | from the office, the financial institution must file with the 1660 |
|---|
| 2466 | 2466 | | office a complaint response report containing such information 1661 |
|---|
| 2467 | 2467 | | as the commission requires by rule, unless precluded by law. 1662 |
|---|
| 2468 | 2468 | | (c) If the complaint response report indicates that the 1663 |
|---|
| 2469 | 2469 | | financial institution took action due to suspicious activity, as 1664 |
|---|
| 2470 | 2470 | | defined in s. 655.50(3), the initial investigation by the office 1665 |
|---|
| 2471 | 2471 | | must be handled in accordance with s. 655.50. If the office 1666 |
|---|
| 2472 | 2472 | | determines that the financial institution's action was taken 1667 |
|---|
| 2473 | 2473 | | without any basis under s. 655.50, the office must continue to 1668 |
|---|
| 2474 | 2474 | | investigate the financial institution's action and determine 1669 |
|---|
| 2475 | 2475 | | whether the financial institution has acted in violation of 1670 |
|---|
| 2476 | 2476 | | subsection (2). 1671 |
|---|
| 2477 | 2477 | | (d) Within 90 calendar days after receiving the complaint 1672 |
|---|
| 2478 | 2478 | | submitted pursuant to this subsection, the office shall begin an 1673 |
|---|
| 2479 | 2479 | | investigation of the alleged violation. 1674 |
|---|
| 2480 | 2480 | | (e) After the investigation is completed or ceases to be 1675 |
|---|
| 2488 | 2488 | | Page 68 of 159 |
|---|
| 2489 | 2489 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2490 | 2490 | | |
|---|
| 2491 | 2491 | | |
|---|
| 2492 | 2492 | | |
|---|
| 2493 | 2493 | | active, the office shall: 1676 |
|---|
| 2494 | 2494 | | 1. Within 30 calendar days after the completion or 1677 |
|---|
| 2495 | 2495 | | cessation of the investigation, create a report on the findings 1678 |
|---|
| 2496 | 2496 | | of the investigation . Such report, however, may not contain or 1679 |
|---|
| 2497 | 2497 | | must redact any information that remains confidential and exempt 1680 |
|---|
| 2498 | 2498 | | from s. 119.07(1). If the office determines that no violation of 1681 |
|---|
| 2499 | 2499 | | subsection (2) has occurred, the report must only: 1682 |
|---|
| 2500 | 2500 | | a. Identify the complaint for which the report is made; 1683 |
|---|
| 2501 | 2501 | | and 1684 |
|---|
| 2502 | 2502 | | b. State that a determination has been made that no 1685 |
|---|
| 2503 | 2503 | | violation of subsection (2) has occurred. 1686 |
|---|
| 2504 | 2504 | | 2. Except as otherwise provided or prohibited by law, 1687 |
|---|
| 2505 | 2505 | | within 45 calendar days after the completion or cessation of the 1688 |
|---|
| 2506 | 2506 | | investigation, send such report to the customer or member who 1689 |
|---|
| 2507 | 2507 | | submitted the complaint pursuant to this subsection, via 1690 |
|---|
| 2508 | 2508 | | certified mail, return receipt requested, delivery restricted to 1691 |
|---|
| 2509 | 2509 | | the addressee; and to the subject financial institution. 1692 |
|---|
| 2510 | 2510 | | (f) Except as otherwis e provided or prohibited by law, if 1693 |
|---|
| 2511 | 2511 | | the office determines that a violation of subsection (2) has 1694 |
|---|
| 2512 | 2512 | | occurred, the office must provide notice of such violation to 1695 |
|---|
| 2513 | 2513 | | the customer or member and to the Department of Financial 1696 |
|---|
| 2514 | 2514 | | Services and the enforcing authority, a s defined in s. 1697 |
|---|
| 2515 | 2515 | | 501.203(2), and provide a copy of the report created pursuant to 1698 |
|---|
| 2516 | 2516 | | this subsection. 1699 |
|---|
| 2517 | 2517 | | (6)(4) Engaging in a practice described in subsection (2) 1700 |
|---|
| 2525 | 2525 | | Page 69 of 159 |
|---|
| 2526 | 2526 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2527 | 2527 | | |
|---|
| 2528 | 2528 | | |
|---|
| 2529 | 2529 | | |
|---|
| 2530 | 2530 | | or failing to timely provide the attestation under subsection 1701 |
|---|
| 2531 | 2531 | | (3) is a failure to comply with this chapter, constitutes a 1702 |
|---|
| 2532 | 2532 | | violation of the financial institutions codes, and is subject to 1703 |
|---|
| 2533 | 2533 | | the applicable sanctions and penalties provided for in the 1704 |
|---|
| 2534 | 2534 | | financial institutions codes. 1705 |
|---|
| 2535 | 2535 | | (7)(5) Notwithstanding ss. 501.211 and 501.212, a failure 1706 |
|---|
| 2536 | 2536 | | to comply with subsection (1) or engaging in a practice 1707 |
|---|
| 2537 | 2537 | | described in subsection (2) constitutes a violation of the 1708 |
|---|
| 2538 | 2538 | | Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices Act under part II 1709 |
|---|
| 2539 | 2539 | | of chapter 501. Violations must be enforced only by the 1710 |
|---|
| 2540 | 2540 | | enforcing authority, as defined in s. 50 1.203(2), and subject 1711 |
|---|
| 2541 | 2541 | | the violator to the sanctions and penalties provided for in that 1712 |
|---|
| 2542 | 2542 | | part. If such action is successful, the enforcing authority is 1713 |
|---|
| 2543 | 2543 | | entitled to reasonable attorney fees and costs. 1714 |
|---|
| 2544 | 2544 | | (8)(6) The office and the commission may not exercise 1715 |
|---|
| 2545 | 2545 | | authority pursuant to s. 655.061 in relation to this section. 1716 |
|---|
| 2546 | 2546 | | (9) The commission may adopt rules to administer this 1717 |
|---|
| 2547 | 2547 | | section. 1718 |
|---|
| 2548 | 2548 | | Section 38. Paragraph (f) of subsection (26) of section 1719 |
|---|
| 2549 | 2549 | | 280.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 1720 |
|---|
| 2550 | 2550 | | 280.02 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, the term: 1721 |
|---|
| 2551 | 2551 | | (26) "Qualified public depository" means a bank, savings 1722 |
|---|
| 2552 | 2552 | | bank, or savings association that: 1723 |
|---|
| 2553 | 2553 | | (f) Does not engage in the unsafe and unsound practice of 1724 |
|---|
| 2554 | 2554 | | denying, or canceling, suspending, or terminating its services 1725 |
|---|
| 2562 | 2562 | | Page 70 of 159 |
|---|
| 2563 | 2563 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2564 | 2564 | | |
|---|
| 2565 | 2565 | | |
|---|
| 2566 | 2566 | | |
|---|
| 2567 | 2567 | | to a person, or otherwise discriminating against a person in 1726 |
|---|
| 2568 | 2568 | | making available such services or in the terms or conditions of 1727 |
|---|
| 2569 | 2569 | | such services, on the basis of: 1728 |
|---|
| 2570 | 2570 | | 1. The person's political opinions, speech, or 1729 |
|---|
| 2571 | 2571 | | affiliations; 1730 |
|---|
| 2572 | 2572 | | 2. Except as provide d in paragraph (e), the person's 1731 |
|---|
| 2573 | 2573 | | religious beliefs, religious exercise, or religious 1732 |
|---|
| 2574 | 2574 | | affiliations; 1733 |
|---|
| 2575 | 2575 | | 3. Any factor if it is not a quantitative, impartial, and 1734 |
|---|
| 2576 | 2576 | | risk-based standard, including any such factor related to the 1735 |
|---|
| 2577 | 2577 | | person's business sector; or 1736 |
|---|
| 2578 | 2578 | | 4. The use of any rating, scoring, analysis, tabulation, 1737 |
|---|
| 2579 | 2579 | | or action that considers a social credit score based on factors 1738 |
|---|
| 2580 | 2580 | | including, but not limited to: 1739 |
|---|
| 2581 | 2581 | | a. The person's political opinions, speech, or 1740 |
|---|
| 2582 | 2582 | | affiliations. 1741 |
|---|
| 2583 | 2583 | | b. The person's religious beliefs, religiou s exercise, or 1742 |
|---|
| 2584 | 2584 | | religious affiliations. 1743 |
|---|
| 2585 | 2585 | | c. The person's lawful ownership of a firearm. 1744 |
|---|
| 2586 | 2586 | | d. The person's engagement in the lawful manufacture, 1745 |
|---|
| 2587 | 2587 | | distribution, sale, purchase, or use of firearms or ammunition. 1746 |
|---|
| 2588 | 2588 | | e. The person's engagement in the exploration, production, 1747 |
|---|
| 2589 | 2589 | | utilization, transportation, sale, or manufacture of fossil 1748 |
|---|
| 2590 | 2590 | | fuel-based energy, timber, mining, or agriculture. 1749 |
|---|
| 2591 | 2591 | | f. The person's support of the state or Federal Government 1750 |
|---|
| 2599 | 2599 | | Page 71 of 159 |
|---|
| 2600 | 2600 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2601 | 2601 | | |
|---|
| 2602 | 2602 | | |
|---|
| 2603 | 2603 | | |
|---|
| 2604 | 2604 | | in combating illegal immigration, drug trafficking, or human 1751 |
|---|
| 2605 | 2605 | | trafficking. 1752 |
|---|
| 2606 | 2606 | | g. The person's engagement with, facilitation of, 1753 |
|---|
| 2607 | 2607 | | employment by, support of, business relationship with, 1754 |
|---|
| 2608 | 2608 | | representation of, or advocacy for any person described in this 1755 |
|---|
| 2609 | 2609 | | subparagraph. 1756 |
|---|
| 2610 | 2610 | | h. The person's failure to meet or commit to meet, or 1757 |
|---|
| 2611 | 2611 | | expected failure to meet, any of the following as long as such 1758 |
|---|
| 2612 | 2612 | | person is in compliance with applicable state or federal law: 1759 |
|---|
| 2613 | 2613 | | (I) Environmental standards, including emissions 1760 |
|---|
| 2614 | 2614 | | standards, benchmarks, requirements, or disclosures; 1761 |
|---|
| 2615 | 2615 | | (II) Social governance standards, ben chmarks, or 1762 |
|---|
| 2616 | 2616 | | requirements, including, but not limited to, environmental or 1763 |
|---|
| 2617 | 2617 | | social justice; 1764 |
|---|
| 2618 | 2618 | | (III) Corporate board or company employment composition 1765 |
|---|
| 2619 | 2619 | | standards, benchmarks, requirements, or disclosures based on 1766 |
|---|
| 2620 | 2620 | | characteristics protected under the Florida Civ il Rights Act of 1767 |
|---|
| 2621 | 2621 | | 1992; or 1768 |
|---|
| 2622 | 2622 | | (IV) Policies or procedures requiring or encouraging 1769 |
|---|
| 2623 | 2623 | | employee participation in social justice programming, including, 1770 |
|---|
| 2624 | 2624 | | but not limited to, diversity, equity, or inclusion training. 1771 |
|---|
| 2625 | 2625 | | Section 39. Section 717.101, Florida Statute s, is amended 1772 |
|---|
| 2626 | 2626 | | to read: 1773 |
|---|
| 2627 | 2627 | | 717.101 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, unless the 1774 |
|---|
| 2628 | 2628 | | context otherwise requires: 1775 |
|---|
| 2636 | 2636 | | Page 72 of 159 |
|---|
| 2637 | 2637 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2638 | 2638 | | |
|---|
| 2639 | 2639 | | |
|---|
| 2640 | 2640 | | |
|---|
| 2641 | 2641 | | (1) "Aggregate" means the amounts reported for owners of 1776 |
|---|
| 2642 | 2642 | | unclaimed property of less than $10 $50 or where there is no 1777 |
|---|
| 2643 | 2643 | | name for the individual or entity listed on the holder's 1778 |
|---|
| 2644 | 2644 | | records, regardless of the amount to be reported. 1779 |
|---|
| 2645 | 2645 | | (2) "Apparent owner" means the person whose name appears 1780 |
|---|
| 2646 | 2646 | | on the records of the holder as the person entitled to property 1781 |
|---|
| 2647 | 2647 | | held, issued, or owing by the holder. 1782 |
|---|
| 2648 | 2648 | | (3) "Audit" means an action or proceeding to examine and 1783 |
|---|
| 2649 | 2649 | | verify a person's records, books, accounts, and other documents 1784 |
|---|
| 2650 | 2650 | | to ascertain and determine compliance with this chapter. 1785 |
|---|
| 2651 | 2651 | | (4) "Audit agent" means a person with whom the department 1786 |
|---|
| 2652 | 2652 | | enters into a contract with to conduct an audit or examination. 1787 |
|---|
| 2653 | 2653 | | The term includes an independent contractor of the person and 1788 |
|---|
| 2654 | 2654 | | each individual participating in the audit on behalf of the 1789 |
|---|
| 2655 | 2655 | | person or contractor. 1790 |
|---|
| 2656 | 2656 | | (5)(3) "Banking organization" means any and all banks, 1791 |
|---|
| 2657 | 2657 | | trust companies, priv ate bankers, savings banks, industrial 1792 |
|---|
| 2658 | 2658 | | banks, safe-deposit companies, savings and loan associations, 1793 |
|---|
| 2659 | 2659 | | credit unions, and investment companies in this state, organized 1794 |
|---|
| 2660 | 2660 | | under or subject to the laws of this state or of the United 1795 |
|---|
| 2661 | 2661 | | States, including entities org anized under 12 U.S.C. s. 611, but 1796 |
|---|
| 2662 | 2662 | | does not include federal reserve banks. The term also includes 1797 |
|---|
| 2663 | 2663 | | any corporation, business association, or other organization 1798 |
|---|
| 2664 | 2664 | | that: 1799 |
|---|
| 2665 | 2665 | | (a) Is a wholly or partially owned subsidiary of any 1800 |
|---|
| 2673 | 2673 | | Page 73 of 159 |
|---|
| 2674 | 2674 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2675 | 2675 | | |
|---|
| 2676 | 2676 | | |
|---|
| 2677 | 2677 | | |
|---|
| 2678 | 2678 | | banking, banking corporation, or ban k holding company that 1801 |
|---|
| 2679 | 2679 | | performs any or all of the functions of a banking organization; 1802 |
|---|
| 2680 | 2680 | | or 1803 |
|---|
| 2681 | 2681 | | (b) Performs functions pursuant to the terms of a contract 1804 |
|---|
| 2682 | 2682 | | with any banking organization state or national bank, 1805 |
|---|
| 2683 | 2683 | | international banking entity or similar entity, tru st company, 1806 |
|---|
| 2684 | 2684 | | savings bank, industrial savings bank, land bank, safe -deposit 1807 |
|---|
| 2685 | 2685 | | company, private bank, or any organization otherwise defined by 1808 |
|---|
| 2686 | 2686 | | law as a bank or banking organization . 1809 |
|---|
| 2687 | 2687 | | (6)(4) "Business association" means any for-profit or 1810 |
|---|
| 2688 | 2688 | | nonprofit corporation other than a public corporation; joint 1811 |
|---|
| 2689 | 2689 | | stock company; investment company; unincorporated association or 1812 |
|---|
| 2690 | 2690 | | association of two or more individuals for business purposes, 1813 |
|---|
| 2691 | 2691 | | whether or not for profit; partnership; joint venture; limited 1814 |
|---|
| 2692 | 2692 | | liability company; sole pro prietorship; business trust; trust 1815 |
|---|
| 2693 | 2693 | | company; land bank; safe -deposit company; safekeeping 1816 |
|---|
| 2694 | 2694 | | depository; financial organization; insurance company; federally 1817 |
|---|
| 2695 | 2695 | | chartered entity; utility company; or other business entity, 1818 |
|---|
| 2696 | 2696 | | whether or not for profit corporation (other than a public 1819 |
|---|
| 2697 | 2697 | | corporation), joint stock company, investment company, business 1820 |
|---|
| 2698 | 2698 | | trust, partnership, limited liability company, or association of 1821 |
|---|
| 2699 | 2699 | | two or more individuals for business purposes, whether for 1822 |
|---|
| 2700 | 2700 | | profit or not for profit . 1823 |
|---|
| 2701 | 2701 | | (7)(5) "Claimant" means the person on whose behalf a claim 1824 |
|---|
| 2702 | 2702 | | is filed. 1825 |
|---|
| 2710 | 2710 | | Page 74 of 159 |
|---|
| 2711 | 2711 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2712 | 2712 | | |
|---|
| 2713 | 2713 | | |
|---|
| 2714 | 2714 | | |
|---|
| 2715 | 2715 | | (8) "Claimant's representative" means an attorney who is a 1826 |
|---|
| 2716 | 2716 | | member in good standing of The Florida Bar, a certified public 1827 |
|---|
| 2717 | 2717 | | accountant licensed in this state, or private investigator who 1828 |
|---|
| 2718 | 2718 | | is duly licensed to do business in the state, registered with 1829 |
|---|
| 2719 | 2719 | | the department, and authorized by the claimant to claim 1830 |
|---|
| 2720 | 2720 | | unclaimed property on the claimant's behalf. The term does not 1831 |
|---|
| 2721 | 2721 | | include a person acting in a representative capacity, such as a 1832 |
|---|
| 2722 | 2722 | | personal representative, guardian , trustee, or attorney, whose 1833 |
|---|
| 2723 | 2723 | | representation is not contingent upon the discovery or location 1834 |
|---|
| 2724 | 2724 | | of unclaimed property; provided, however, that any agreement 1835 |
|---|
| 2725 | 2725 | | entered into for the purpose of evading s. 717.135 is invalid 1836 |
|---|
| 2726 | 2726 | | and unenforceable. 1837 |
|---|
| 2727 | 2727 | | (9)(6) "Credit balance" means an account balance in the 1838 |
|---|
| 2728 | 2728 | | customer's favor. 1839 |
|---|
| 2729 | 2729 | | (10)(7) "Department" means the Department of Financial 1840 |
|---|
| 2730 | 2730 | | Services. 1841 |
|---|
| 2731 | 2731 | | (11)(8) "Domicile" means the state of incorporation for a 1842 |
|---|
| 2732 | 2732 | | corporation; the state of filing for a business association, 1843 |
|---|
| 2733 | 2733 | | other than a corporation, whose formation or organization 1844 |
|---|
| 2734 | 2734 | | requires a filing with a state; the state of organization for a 1845 |
|---|
| 2735 | 2735 | | business association, other than a corporation, whose formation 1846 |
|---|
| 2736 | 2736 | | or organization does not require a filing with a state; the 1847 |
|---|
| 2737 | 2737 | | state of home office f or a federally charted entity incorporated 1848 |
|---|
| 2738 | 2738 | | under the laws of a state, or, for an unincorporated business 1849 |
|---|
| 2739 | 2739 | | association, the state where the business association is 1850 |
|---|
| 2747 | 2747 | | Page 75 of 159 |
|---|
| 2748 | 2748 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2749 | 2749 | | |
|---|
| 2750 | 2750 | | |
|---|
| 2751 | 2751 | | |
|---|
| 2752 | 2752 | | organized. 1851 |
|---|
| 2753 | 2753 | | (12)(9) "Due diligence" means the use of reasonable and 1852 |
|---|
| 2754 | 2754 | | prudent methods under par ticular circumstances to locate 1853 |
|---|
| 2755 | 2755 | | apparent owners of inactive accounts using the taxpayer 1854 |
|---|
| 2756 | 2756 | | identification number or social security number, if known, which 1855 |
|---|
| 2757 | 2757 | | may include, but are not limited to, using a nationwide 1856 |
|---|
| 2758 | 2758 | | database, cross-indexing with other records of the holder, 1857 |
|---|
| 2759 | 2759 | | mailing to the last known address unless the last known address 1858 |
|---|
| 2760 | 2760 | | is known to be inaccurate, providing written notice as described 1859 |
|---|
| 2761 | 2761 | | in this chapter by electronic mail if an apparent owner has 1860 |
|---|
| 2762 | 2762 | | elected such delivery, or engaging a licensed agency or company 1861 |
|---|
| 2763 | 2763 | | capable of conducting such search and providing updated 1862 |
|---|
| 2764 | 2764 | | addresses. 1863 |
|---|
| 2765 | 2765 | | (13) "Electronic" means relating to technology having 1864 |
|---|
| 2766 | 2766 | | electrical, digital, magnetic, wireless, optical, 1865 |
|---|
| 2767 | 2767 | | electromagnetic, or similar capabilities. 1866 |
|---|
| 2768 | 2768 | | (14)(10) "Financial organizat ion" means a state or federal 1867 |
|---|
| 2769 | 2769 | | savings association, savings and loan association, savings bank, 1868 |
|---|
| 2770 | 2770 | | industrial bank, bank, banking organization, trust company, 1869 |
|---|
| 2771 | 2771 | | international bank agency, cooperative bank, building and loan 1870 |
|---|
| 2772 | 2772 | | association, or credit union. 1871 |
|---|
| 2773 | 2773 | | (15)(11) "Health care provider" means any state -licensed 1872 |
|---|
| 2774 | 2774 | | entity that provides and receives payment for health care 1873 |
|---|
| 2775 | 2775 | | services. These entities include, but are not limited to, 1874 |
|---|
| 2776 | 2776 | | hospitals, outpatient centers, physician practices, and skilled 1875 |
|---|
| 2784 | 2784 | | Page 76 of 159 |
|---|
| 2785 | 2785 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2786 | 2786 | | |
|---|
| 2787 | 2787 | | |
|---|
| 2788 | 2788 | | |
|---|
| 2789 | 2789 | | nursing facilities. 1876 |
|---|
| 2790 | 2790 | | (16)(12) "Holder" means: 1877 |
|---|
| 2791 | 2791 | | (a) A person, wherever organized or domiciled, who is in 1878 |
|---|
| 2792 | 2792 | | possession or control or has custody of property or the rights 1879 |
|---|
| 2793 | 2793 | | to property belonging to another; is indebted to another on an 1880 |
|---|
| 2794 | 2794 | | obligation; or is obligated to hold for the accou nt of, or to 1881 |
|---|
| 2795 | 2795 | | deliver or pay to, the owner, property subject to this chapter; 1882 |
|---|
| 2796 | 2796 | | or: 1883 |
|---|
| 2797 | 2797 | | (a) In possession of property belonging to another; 1884 |
|---|
| 2798 | 2798 | | (b) A trustee in case of a trust ; or 1885 |
|---|
| 2799 | 2799 | | (c) Indebted to another on an obligation . 1886 |
|---|
| 2800 | 2800 | | (17)(13) "Insurance company" means a n association, 1887 |
|---|
| 2801 | 2801 | | corporation, or fraternal or mutual benefit organization, 1888 |
|---|
| 2802 | 2802 | | whether for profit or not for profit, which is engaged in 1889 |
|---|
| 2803 | 2803 | | providing insurance coverage. 1890 |
|---|
| 2804 | 2804 | | (18)(14) "Intangible property" includes, by way of 1891 |
|---|
| 2805 | 2805 | | illustration and not limitation: 1892 |
|---|
| 2806 | 2806 | | (a) Moneys, checks, virtual currency, drafts, deposits, 1893 |
|---|
| 2807 | 2807 | | interest, dividends, and income. 1894 |
|---|
| 2808 | 2808 | | (b) Credit balances, customer overpayments, security 1895 |
|---|
| 2809 | 2809 | | deposits and other instruments as defined by chapter 679, 1896 |
|---|
| 2810 | 2810 | | refunds, unpaid wages, unused airline tickets, and unidentifi ed 1897 |
|---|
| 2811 | 2811 | | remittances. 1898 |
|---|
| 2812 | 2812 | | (c) Stocks, and other intangible ownership interests in 1899 |
|---|
| 2813 | 2813 | | business associations. 1900 |
|---|
| 2821 | 2821 | | Page 77 of 159 |
|---|
| 2822 | 2822 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2823 | 2823 | | |
|---|
| 2824 | 2824 | | |
|---|
| 2825 | 2825 | | |
|---|
| 2826 | 2826 | | (d) Moneys deposited to redeem stocks, bonds, bearer 1901 |
|---|
| 2827 | 2827 | | bonds, original issue discount bonds, coupons, and other 1902 |
|---|
| 2828 | 2828 | | securities, or to make distributions. 1903 |
|---|
| 2829 | 2829 | | (e) Amounts due and payable under the terms of insurance 1904 |
|---|
| 2830 | 2830 | | policies. 1905 |
|---|
| 2831 | 2831 | | (f) Amounts distributable from a trust or custodial fund 1906 |
|---|
| 2832 | 2832 | | established under a plan to provide any health, welfare, 1907 |
|---|
| 2833 | 2833 | | pension, vacation, severance, retirement, death, stock purchase, 1908 |
|---|
| 2834 | 2834 | | profit sharing, employee savings, supplemental unemployment 1909 |
|---|
| 2835 | 2835 | | insurance, or similar benefit. 1910 |
|---|
| 2836 | 2836 | | (19)(15) "Last known address" means a description of the 1911 |
|---|
| 2837 | 2837 | | location of the apparent owner sufficient for the purpose of the 1912 |
|---|
| 2838 | 2838 | | delivery of mail. For the purposes of identifying, repor ting, 1913 |
|---|
| 2839 | 2839 | | and remitting property to the department which is presumed to be 1914 |
|---|
| 2840 | 2840 | | unclaimed, "last known address" includes any partial description 1915 |
|---|
| 2841 | 2841 | | of the location of the apparent owner sufficient to establish 1916 |
|---|
| 2842 | 2842 | | the apparent owner was a resident of this state at the tim e of 1917 |
|---|
| 2843 | 2843 | | last contact with the apparent owner or at the time the property 1918 |
|---|
| 2844 | 2844 | | became due and payable. 1919 |
|---|
| 2845 | 2845 | | (20)(16) "Lawful charges" means charges against dormant 1920 |
|---|
| 2846 | 2846 | | accounts that are authorized by statute for the purpose of 1921 |
|---|
| 2847 | 2847 | | offsetting the costs of maintaining the dorma nt account. 1922 |
|---|
| 2848 | 2848 | | (21)(17) "Managed care payor" means a health care plan 1923 |
|---|
| 2849 | 2849 | | that has a defined system of selecting and limiting health care 1924 |
|---|
| 2850 | 2850 | | providers as evidenced by a managed care contract with the 1925 |
|---|
| 2858 | 2858 | | Page 78 of 159 |
|---|
| 2859 | 2859 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2860 | 2860 | | |
|---|
| 2861 | 2861 | | |
|---|
| 2862 | 2862 | | |
|---|
| 2863 | 2863 | | health care providers. These plans include, but are not limited 1926 |
|---|
| 2864 | 2864 | | to, managed care health insurance companies and health 1927 |
|---|
| 2865 | 2865 | | maintenance organizations. 1928 |
|---|
| 2866 | 2866 | | (22)(18) "Owner" means a person, or the person's legal 1929 |
|---|
| 2867 | 2867 | | representative, entitled to receive or having a legal or 1930 |
|---|
| 2868 | 2868 | | equitable interest in or claim against property subject to t his 1931 |
|---|
| 2869 | 2869 | | chapter; a depositor in the case of a deposit; a beneficiary in 1932 |
|---|
| 2870 | 2870 | | the case of a trust or a deposit in trust; or a payee in the 1933 |
|---|
| 2871 | 2871 | | case of a negotiable instrument or other intangible property a 1934 |
|---|
| 2872 | 2872 | | depositor in the case of a deposit, a beneficiary in the case of 1935 |
|---|
| 2873 | 2873 | | a trust or a deposit in trust, or a payee in the case of other 1936 |
|---|
| 2874 | 2874 | | intangible property, or a person having a legal or equitable 1937 |
|---|
| 2875 | 2875 | | interest in property subject to this chapter or his or her legal 1938 |
|---|
| 2876 | 2876 | | representative. 1939 |
|---|
| 2877 | 2877 | | (23) "Person" means an individual; estate; business 1940 |
|---|
| 2878 | 2878 | | association; corporation; firm; association; joint adventure; 1941 |
|---|
| 2879 | 2879 | | partnership; government or governmental subdivision, agency, or 1942 |
|---|
| 2880 | 2880 | | instrumentality; or any other legal or commercial entity. 1943 |
|---|
| 2881 | 2881 | | (24)(19) "Public corporation" means a corporation created 1944 |
|---|
| 2882 | 2882 | | by the state, founded and owned in the public interest, 1945 |
|---|
| 2883 | 2883 | | supported by public funds, and governed by those deriving their 1946 |
|---|
| 2884 | 2884 | | power from the state. 1947 |
|---|
| 2885 | 2885 | | (25) "Record" means information that is inscribed on a 1948 |
|---|
| 2886 | 2886 | | tangible medium or that is stored in an electronic or other 1949 |
|---|
| 2887 | 2887 | | medium and is retrievable in perceivable form. 1950 |
|---|
| 2895 | 2895 | | Page 79 of 159 |
|---|
| 2896 | 2896 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2897 | 2897 | | |
|---|
| 2898 | 2898 | | |
|---|
| 2899 | 2899 | | |
|---|
| 2900 | 2900 | | (26)(20) "Reportable period" means the calendar year 1951 |
|---|
| 2901 | 2901 | | ending December 31 of each year. 1952 |
|---|
| 2902 | 2902 | | (27)(21) "State," when applied to a part of the United 1953 |
|---|
| 2903 | 2903 | | States, includes any state, district, commonwealth, territory, 1954 |
|---|
| 2904 | 2904 | | insular possession, and any other area subject to the 1955 |
|---|
| 2905 | 2905 | | legislative authority of the United States. 1956 |
|---|
| 2906 | 2906 | | (28)(22) "Trust instrument" means a trust ins trument as 1957 |
|---|
| 2907 | 2907 | | defined in s. 736.0103. 1958 |
|---|
| 2908 | 2908 | | (23) "Ultimate equitable owner" means a natural person 1959 |
|---|
| 2909 | 2909 | | who, directly or indirectly, owns or controls an ownership 1960 |
|---|
| 2910 | 2910 | | interest in a corporation, a foreign corporation, an alien 1961 |
|---|
| 2911 | 2911 | | business organization, or any other form of bu siness 1962 |
|---|
| 2912 | 2912 | | organization, regardless of whether such natural person owns or 1963 |
|---|
| 2913 | 2913 | | controls such ownership interest through one or more natural 1964 |
|---|
| 2914 | 2914 | | persons or one or more proxies, powers of attorney, nominees, 1965 |
|---|
| 2915 | 2915 | | corporations, associations, partnerships, trusts, joint stock 1966 |
|---|
| 2916 | 2916 | | companies, or other entities or devices, or any combination 1967 |
|---|
| 2917 | 2917 | | thereof. 1968 |
|---|
| 2918 | 2918 | | (29) "Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement" means the 1969 |
|---|
| 2919 | 2919 | | form adopted by the department pursuant to s. 717.135 which must 1970 |
|---|
| 2920 | 2920 | | be used, without modification or amendment, by a claimant's 1971 |
|---|
| 2921 | 2921 | | representative to purchase unclaimed property from an owner. 1972 |
|---|
| 2922 | 2922 | | (30) "Unclaimed Property Recovery Agreement" means the 1973 |
|---|
| 2923 | 2923 | | form adopted by the department pursuant to s. 717.135 which must 1974 |
|---|
| 2924 | 2924 | | be used, without modification or amendment, by a claimant's 1975 |
|---|
| 2932 | 2932 | | Page 80 of 159 |
|---|
| 2933 | 2933 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2934 | 2934 | | |
|---|
| 2935 | 2935 | | |
|---|
| 2936 | 2936 | | |
|---|
| 2937 | 2937 | | representative to obtain an owner's consent and authority to 1976 |
|---|
| 2938 | 2938 | | recover unclaimed property on the owner's behalf. 1977 |
|---|
| 2939 | 2939 | | (31)(24) "United States" means any state, district, 1978 |
|---|
| 2940 | 2940 | | commonwealth, territory, insular possession, and any other area 1979 |
|---|
| 2941 | 2941 | | subject to the legislative authority of the U nited States of 1980 |
|---|
| 2942 | 2942 | | America. 1981 |
|---|
| 2943 | 2943 | | (32)(25) "Utility" means a person who owns or operates, 1982 |
|---|
| 2944 | 2944 | | for public use, any plant, equipment, property, franchise, or 1983 |
|---|
| 2945 | 2945 | | license for the transmission of communications or the 1984 |
|---|
| 2946 | 2946 | | production, storage, transmission, sale, delivery, or fur nishing 1985 |
|---|
| 2947 | 2947 | | of electricity, water, steam, or gas. 1986 |
|---|
| 2948 | 2948 | | (33)(a) "Virtual currency" means digital units of exchange 1987 |
|---|
| 2949 | 2949 | | that: 1988 |
|---|
| 2950 | 2950 | | 1. Have a centralized repository or administrator; 1989 |
|---|
| 2951 | 2951 | | 2. Are decentralized and have no centralized repository or 1990 |
|---|
| 2952 | 2952 | | administrator; or 1991 |
|---|
| 2953 | 2953 | | 3. May be created or obtained by computing or 1992 |
|---|
| 2954 | 2954 | | manufacturing effort. 1993 |
|---|
| 2955 | 2955 | | (b) The term does not include any of the following: 1994 |
|---|
| 2956 | 2956 | | 1. Digital units that: 1995 |
|---|
| 2957 | 2957 | | a. Are used solely within online gaming platforms; 1996 |
|---|
| 2958 | 2958 | | b. Have no market or application outside of the online 1997 |
|---|
| 2959 | 2959 | | gaming platforms in sub-subparagraph a.; 1998 |
|---|
| 2960 | 2960 | | c. Cannot be converted into, or redeemed for, fiat 1999 |
|---|
| 2961 | 2961 | | currency or virtual currency; and 2000 |
|---|
| 2969 | 2969 | | Page 81 of 159 |
|---|
| 2970 | 2970 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 2971 | 2971 | | |
|---|
| 2972 | 2972 | | |
|---|
| 2973 | 2973 | | |
|---|
| 2974 | 2974 | | d. Can or cannot be redeemed for real -world goods, 2001 |
|---|
| 2975 | 2975 | | services, discounts, or purchases. 2002 |
|---|
| 2976 | 2976 | | 2. Digital units that can be redeemed for: 2003 |
|---|
| 2977 | 2977 | | a. Real-world goods, services, discounts, or purchases as 2004 |
|---|
| 2978 | 2978 | | part of a customer affinity or rewards program with the issuer 2005 |
|---|
| 2979 | 2979 | | or other designated merchants; or 2006 |
|---|
| 2980 | 2980 | | b. Digital units in another customer affinity or rewards 2007 |
|---|
| 2981 | 2981 | | program, but cannot be converted into, or r edeemed for, fiat 2008 |
|---|
| 2982 | 2982 | | currency or virtual currency. 2009 |
|---|
| 2983 | 2983 | | 3. Digital units used as part of prepaid cards. 2010 |
|---|
| 2984 | 2984 | | Section 40. Subsections (3) and (4) are added to section 2011 |
|---|
| 2985 | 2985 | | 717.102, Florida Statutes, to read: 2012 |
|---|
| 2986 | 2986 | | 717.102 Property presumed unclaimed; general rule. — 2013 |
|---|
| 2987 | 2987 | | (3) A presumption that property is unclaimed is rebutted 2014 |
|---|
| 2988 | 2988 | | by an apparent owner's expression of interest in the property. 2015 |
|---|
| 2989 | 2989 | | An owner's expression of interest in property includes: 2016 |
|---|
| 2990 | 2990 | | (a) A record communicated by the apparent owner to the 2017 |
|---|
| 2991 | 2991 | | holder or agent of the holde r concerning the property or the 2018 |
|---|
| 2992 | 2992 | | account in which the property is held; 2019 |
|---|
| 2993 | 2993 | | (b) An oral communication by the apparent owner to the 2020 |
|---|
| 2994 | 2994 | | holder or agent of the holder concerning the property or the 2021 |
|---|
| 2995 | 2995 | | account in which the property is held, if the holder or its 2022 |
|---|
| 2996 | 2996 | | agent contemporaneously makes and preserves a record of the fact 2023 |
|---|
| 2997 | 2997 | | of the apparent owner's communication; 2024 |
|---|
| 2998 | 2998 | | (c) Presentment of a check or other instrument of payment 2025 |
|---|
| 3006 | 3006 | | Page 82 of 159 |
|---|
| 3007 | 3007 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3008 | 3008 | | |
|---|
| 3009 | 3009 | | |
|---|
| 3010 | 3010 | | |
|---|
| 3011 | 3011 | | of a dividend, interest payment, or other distribution, with 2026 |
|---|
| 3012 | 3012 | | respect to an account, underlying sec urity, or interest in a 2027 |
|---|
| 3013 | 3013 | | business association; 2028 |
|---|
| 3014 | 3014 | | (d) Activity directed by an apparent owner in the account 2029 |
|---|
| 3015 | 3015 | | in which the property is held, including accessing the account 2030 |
|---|
| 3016 | 3016 | | or information concerning the account, or a direction by the 2031 |
|---|
| 3017 | 3017 | | apparent owner to increase , decrease, or otherwise change the 2032 |
|---|
| 3018 | 3018 | | amount or type of property held in the account; 2033 |
|---|
| 3019 | 3019 | | (e) A deposit into or withdrawal from an account at a 2034 |
|---|
| 3020 | 3020 | | financial organization, excluding an automatic deposit or 2035 |
|---|
| 3021 | 3021 | | withdrawal previously authorized by the apparent owner or an 2036 |
|---|
| 3022 | 3022 | | automatic reinvestment of dividends or interest, which does not 2037 |
|---|
| 3023 | 3023 | | constitute an expression of interest; or 2038 |
|---|
| 3024 | 3024 | | (f) Any other action by the apparent owner which 2039 |
|---|
| 3025 | 3025 | | reasonably demonstrates to the holder that the apparent owner 2040 |
|---|
| 3026 | 3026 | | knows that the property exists. 2041 |
|---|
| 3027 | 3027 | | (4) If a holder learns or receives confirmation of an 2042 |
|---|
| 3028 | 3028 | | apparent owner's death, the property shall be presumed unclaimed 2043 |
|---|
| 3029 | 3029 | | 2 years after the date of death, unless a fiduciary appointed to 2044 |
|---|
| 3030 | 3030 | | represent the estate of the apparent owner has made an 2045 |
|---|
| 3031 | 3031 | | expression of interest in the property before the expiration of 2046 |
|---|
| 3032 | 3032 | | the 2-year period. This subsection may not be construed to 2047 |
|---|
| 3033 | 3033 | | extend the otherwise applicable dormancy period prescribed by 2048 |
|---|
| 3034 | 3034 | | this chapter. 2049 |
|---|
| 3035 | 3035 | | Section 41. Subsection (5) of section 717.106, Florida 2050 |
|---|
| 3043 | 3043 | | Page 83 of 159 |
|---|
| 3044 | 3044 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3045 | 3045 | | |
|---|
| 3046 | 3046 | | |
|---|
| 3047 | 3047 | | |
|---|
| 3048 | 3048 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2051 |
|---|
| 3049 | 3049 | | 717.106 Bank deposits and funds in financial 2052 |
|---|
| 3050 | 3050 | | organizations.— 2053 |
|---|
| 3051 | 3051 | | (5) If the documents establishing a deposit described in 2054 |
|---|
| 3052 | 3052 | | subsection (1) state the address of a beneficiary of the 2055 |
|---|
| 3053 | 3053 | | deposit, and the account has a value of at least $50, notice 2056 |
|---|
| 3054 | 3054 | | shall be given to the beneficiary as provided for notice to the 2057 |
|---|
| 3055 | 3055 | | apparent owner under s. 717.117(6) s. 717.117(4). This 2058 |
|---|
| 3056 | 3056 | | subsection shall apply to accounts opened on or after October 1, 2059 |
|---|
| 3057 | 3057 | | 1990. 2060 |
|---|
| 3058 | 3058 | | Section 42. Section 717.1065, Florida Statutes, is created 2061 |
|---|
| 3059 | 3059 | | to read: 2062 |
|---|
| 3060 | 3060 | | 717.1065 Virtual currency. — 2063 |
|---|
| 3061 | 3061 | | (1) Any virtual currency held or owing by a banking 2064 |
|---|
| 3062 | 3062 | | organization, corporation, custodian, exchange, or other entity 2065 |
|---|
| 3063 | 3063 | | engaged in virtual currency business activity is presumed 2066 |
|---|
| 3064 | 3064 | | unclaimed unless the owner, within 5 years, has communicated in 2067 |
|---|
| 3065 | 3065 | | writing with the banking organization, corporation, custodian, 2068 |
|---|
| 3066 | 3066 | | exchange, or other entity engaged in virtual currency business 2069 |
|---|
| 3067 | 3067 | | activity concerning the virtual currency or otherwise indicated 2070 |
|---|
| 3068 | 3068 | | an interest as evidenced by a memorandum or ot her record on file 2071 |
|---|
| 3069 | 3069 | | with the banking organization, corporation, custodian, exchange, 2072 |
|---|
| 3070 | 3070 | | or other entity engaged in virtual currency business activity. 2073 |
|---|
| 3071 | 3071 | | (2) A holder may not deduct from the amount of any virtual 2074 |
|---|
| 3072 | 3072 | | currency subject to this section any charges imp osed by reason 2075 |
|---|
| 3080 | 3080 | | Page 84 of 159 |
|---|
| 3081 | 3081 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3082 | 3082 | | |
|---|
| 3083 | 3083 | | |
|---|
| 3084 | 3084 | | |
|---|
| 3085 | 3085 | | of the virtual currency unless there is a valid and enforceable 2076 |
|---|
| 3086 | 3086 | | written contract between the holder and the owner of the virtual 2077 |
|---|
| 3087 | 3087 | | currency pursuant to which the holder may impose those charges 2078 |
|---|
| 3088 | 3088 | | and the holder does not regularly reverse or othe rwise cancel 2079 |
|---|
| 3089 | 3089 | | those charges with respect to the virtual currency. 2080 |
|---|
| 3090 | 3090 | | Section 43. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 2081 |
|---|
| 3091 | 3091 | | 717.1101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2082 |
|---|
| 3092 | 3092 | | 717.1101 Unclaimed equity and debt of business 2083 |
|---|
| 3093 | 3093 | | associations.— 2084 |
|---|
| 3094 | 3094 | | (1)(a) Stock or other equity interest in a business 2085 |
|---|
| 3095 | 3095 | | association is presumed unclaimed on the date of 3 years after 2086 |
|---|
| 3096 | 3096 | | the earliest of the following: 2087 |
|---|
| 3097 | 3097 | | 1. Three years after The date of the most recent of any 2088 |
|---|
| 3098 | 3098 | | owner-generated activity or communication related to the 2089 |
|---|
| 3099 | 3099 | | account, as recorded and maintained in the holder's database and 2090 |
|---|
| 3100 | 3100 | | records systems sufficient enough to demonstrate the owners 2091 |
|---|
| 3101 | 3101 | | continued awareness or interest in the property dividend, stock 2092 |
|---|
| 3102 | 3102 | | split, or other distribution unclaimed by the apparent owner ; 2093 |
|---|
| 3103 | 3103 | | 2. Three years after the date of the death of the owner, 2094 |
|---|
| 3104 | 3104 | | as evidenced by: The date of a statement of account or other 2095 |
|---|
| 3105 | 3105 | | notification or communication that was returned as 2096 |
|---|
| 3106 | 3106 | | undeliverable; or 2097 |
|---|
| 3107 | 3107 | | a. Notice to the holder of the owner's death by an 2098 |
|---|
| 3108 | 3108 | | administrator, beneficiary, rela tive, or trustee, or by a 2099 |
|---|
| 3109 | 3109 | | personal representative or other legal representative of the 2100 |
|---|
| 3117 | 3117 | | Page 85 of 159 |
|---|
| 3118 | 3118 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3119 | 3119 | | |
|---|
| 3120 | 3120 | | |
|---|
| 3121 | 3121 | | |
|---|
| 3122 | 3122 | | owner's estate; 2101 |
|---|
| 3123 | 3123 | | b. Receipt by the holder of a copy of the death 2102 |
|---|
| 3124 | 3124 | | certificate of the owner; 2103 |
|---|
| 3125 | 3125 | | c. Confirmation by the holder of the owner's death though 2104 |
|---|
| 3126 | 3126 | | other means; or 2105 |
|---|
| 3127 | 3127 | | d. Other evidence from which the holder may reasonably 2106 |
|---|
| 3128 | 3128 | | conclude that the owner is deceased; or 2107 |
|---|
| 3129 | 3129 | | 3. One year after the date on which the holder receives 2108 |
|---|
| 3130 | 3130 | | notice under subparagraph 2. if the notice is received 2 years 2109 |
|---|
| 3131 | 3131 | | or less after the owner's death and the holder lacked knowledge 2110 |
|---|
| 3132 | 3132 | | of the owner's death during that period of 2 years or less The 2111 |
|---|
| 3133 | 3133 | | date the holder discontinued mailings, notifications, or 2112 |
|---|
| 3134 | 3134 | | communications to the apparent owner . 2113 |
|---|
| 3135 | 3135 | | Section 44. Subsection (1) of section 717.112, Florida 2114 |
|---|
| 3136 | 3136 | | Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that 2115 |
|---|
| 3137 | 3137 | | section, to read: 2116 |
|---|
| 3138 | 3138 | | 717.112 Property held by agents and fiduciaries. — 2117 |
|---|
| 3139 | 3139 | | (1) Except as provided in ss. 717.1125 and 733.816, All 2118 |
|---|
| 3140 | 3140 | | intangible property and any income or increment thereon held in 2119 |
|---|
| 3141 | 3141 | | a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another person , 2120 |
|---|
| 3142 | 3142 | | including property held by an attorney in fact or an agent, 2121 |
|---|
| 3143 | 3143 | | except as provided in ss. 717.1125 and 733.816, is presumed 2122 |
|---|
| 3144 | 3144 | | unclaimed unless the owner has within 5 years after it has 2123 |
|---|
| 3145 | 3145 | | become payable or distributable increased or decreased the 2124 |
|---|
| 3146 | 3146 | | principal, accepted payment of principal or income, communicated 2125 |
|---|
| 3154 | 3154 | | Page 86 of 159 |
|---|
| 3155 | 3155 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3156 | 3156 | | |
|---|
| 3157 | 3157 | | |
|---|
| 3158 | 3158 | | |
|---|
| 3159 | 3159 | | in writing concerning the property, or otherwise indicated an 2126 |
|---|
| 3160 | 3160 | | interest as evidenced by a memorandum or other record on file 2127 |
|---|
| 3161 | 3161 | | with the fiduciary. 2128 |
|---|
| 3162 | 3162 | | (6) This section does not r elieve a fiduciary of his or 2129 |
|---|
| 3163 | 3163 | | her duties under applicable general law. 2130 |
|---|
| 3164 | 3164 | | Section 45. Section 717.1125, Florida Statutes, is amended 2131 |
|---|
| 3165 | 3165 | | to read: 2132 |
|---|
| 3166 | 3166 | | 717.1125 Property held by fiduciaries under trust 2133 |
|---|
| 3167 | 3167 | | instruments.—All intangible property and any income or increme nt 2134 |
|---|
| 3168 | 3168 | | thereon held in a fiduciary capacity for the benefit of another 2135 |
|---|
| 3169 | 3169 | | person under a trust instrument is presumed unclaimed unless the 2136 |
|---|
| 3170 | 3170 | | owner has, within 2 years after it has become payable or 2137 |
|---|
| 3171 | 3171 | | distributable, increased or decreased the principal, accepted 2138 |
|---|
| 3172 | 3172 | | payment of principal or income, communicated concerning the 2139 |
|---|
| 3173 | 3173 | | property, or otherwise indicated an interest as evidenced by a 2140 |
|---|
| 3174 | 3174 | | memorandum or other record on file with the fiduciary. This 2141 |
|---|
| 3175 | 3175 | | section does not relieve a fiduciary of his or her duties under 2142 |
|---|
| 3176 | 3176 | | the Florida Trust Code. 2143 |
|---|
| 3177 | 3177 | | Section 46. Effective January 1, 2025, section 717.117, 2144 |
|---|
| 3178 | 3178 | | Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2145 |
|---|
| 3179 | 3179 | | 717.117 Report of unclaimed property. — 2146 |
|---|
| 3180 | 3180 | | (1) Every person holding funds or other property, tangible 2147 |
|---|
| 3181 | 3181 | | or intangible, presumed unclaimed and subject to custody as 2148 |
|---|
| 3182 | 3182 | | unclaimed property under this chapter shall report to the 2149 |
|---|
| 3183 | 3183 | | department on such forms as the department may prescribe by 2150 |
|---|
| 3191 | 3191 | | Page 87 of 159 |
|---|
| 3192 | 3192 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3193 | 3193 | | |
|---|
| 3194 | 3194 | | |
|---|
| 3195 | 3195 | | |
|---|
| 3196 | 3196 | | rule. In lieu of forms, a report identifying 25 or more 2151 |
|---|
| 3197 | 3197 | | different apparent owners must be submitted by the holder via 2152 |
|---|
| 3198 | 3198 | | electronic medium as the department may prescribe by rule. The 2153 |
|---|
| 3199 | 3199 | | report must include: 2154 |
|---|
| 3200 | 3200 | | (a) Except for traveler's checks and money orders, the 2155 |
|---|
| 3201 | 3201 | | name, social security number or taxpayer identification number, 2156 |
|---|
| 3202 | 3202 | | and date of birth, if known, and last known address, if a ny, of 2157 |
|---|
| 3203 | 3203 | | each person appearing from the records of the holder to be the 2158 |
|---|
| 3204 | 3204 | | owner of any property which is presumed unclaimed and which has 2159 |
|---|
| 3205 | 3205 | | a value of $10 $50 or more. 2160 |
|---|
| 3206 | 3206 | | (b) For unclaimed funds that which have a value of $10 $50 2161 |
|---|
| 3207 | 3207 | | or more held or owing under any life or endowment insurance 2162 |
|---|
| 3208 | 3208 | | policy or annuity contract, the identifying information provided 2163 |
|---|
| 3209 | 3209 | | in paragraph (a) for both full name, taxpayer identification 2164 |
|---|
| 3210 | 3210 | | number or social security number, date of birth, if known, and 2165 |
|---|
| 3211 | 3211 | | last known address of the insured or annuitant and of the 2166 |
|---|
| 3212 | 3212 | | beneficiary according to records of the insurance company 2167 |
|---|
| 3213 | 3213 | | holding or owing the funds. 2168 |
|---|
| 3214 | 3214 | | (c) For all tangible property held in a safe -deposit box 2169 |
|---|
| 3215 | 3215 | | or other safekeeping repository, a description of the prope rty 2170 |
|---|
| 3216 | 3216 | | and the place where the property is held and may be inspected by 2171 |
|---|
| 3217 | 3217 | | the department, and any amounts owing to the holder. Contents of 2172 |
|---|
| 3218 | 3218 | | a safe-deposit box or other safekeeping repository which consist 2173 |
|---|
| 3219 | 3219 | | of documents or writings of a private nature and which ha ve 2174 |
|---|
| 3220 | 3220 | | little or no apparent value shall not be presumed unclaimed. 2175 |
|---|
| 3228 | 3228 | | Page 88 of 159 |
|---|
| 3229 | 3229 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3230 | 3230 | | |
|---|
| 3231 | 3231 | | |
|---|
| 3232 | 3232 | | |
|---|
| 3233 | 3233 | | (d) The nature or type of property, any accounting or and 2176 |
|---|
| 3234 | 3234 | | identifying number associated with the property , a if any, or 2177 |
|---|
| 3235 | 3235 | | description of the property , and the amount appearing from the 2178 |
|---|
| 3236 | 3236 | | records to be due. Items of value of less than $10 under $50 2179 |
|---|
| 3237 | 3237 | | each may be reported in the aggregate. 2180 |
|---|
| 3238 | 3238 | | (e) The date the property became payable, demandable, or 2181 |
|---|
| 3239 | 3239 | | returnable, and the date of the last transaction with the 2182 |
|---|
| 3240 | 3240 | | apparent owner with respect to the property. 2183 |
|---|
| 3241 | 3241 | | (f) Any other information the department may prescribe by 2184 |
|---|
| 3242 | 3242 | | rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter. 2185 |
|---|
| 3243 | 3243 | | (2) If the total value of all presumed unclaimed property, 2186 |
|---|
| 3244 | 3244 | | whether tangible or intangible, held by a person is less than 2187 |
|---|
| 3245 | 3245 | | $10, a zero balance report may be filed for that reporting 2188 |
|---|
| 3246 | 3246 | | period. 2189 |
|---|
| 3247 | 3247 | | (f) Any person or business association or public 2190 |
|---|
| 3248 | 3248 | | corporation holding funds presumed unclaimed and having a total 2191 |
|---|
| 3249 | 3249 | | value of $10 or less may file a zero balance rep ort for that 2192 |
|---|
| 3250 | 3250 | | reporting period. The balance brought forward to the new 2193 |
|---|
| 3251 | 3251 | | reporting period is zero. 2194 |
|---|
| 3252 | 3252 | | (g) Such other information as the department may prescribe 2195 |
|---|
| 3253 | 3253 | | by rule as necessary for the administration of this chapter. 2196 |
|---|
| 3254 | 3254 | | (3)(h) Credit balances, customer ove rpayments, security 2197 |
|---|
| 3255 | 3255 | | deposits, and refunds having a value of less than $10 shall not 2198 |
|---|
| 3256 | 3256 | | be presumed unclaimed. 2199 |
|---|
| 3257 | 3257 | | (4)(2) If the holder of property presumed unclaimed and 2200 |
|---|
| 3265 | 3265 | | Page 89 of 159 |
|---|
| 3266 | 3266 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3267 | 3267 | | |
|---|
| 3268 | 3268 | | |
|---|
| 3269 | 3269 | | |
|---|
| 3270 | 3270 | | subject to custody as unclaimed property is a successor holder 2201 |
|---|
| 3271 | 3271 | | or if the holder has changed the holder's name while in 2202 |
|---|
| 3272 | 3272 | | possession of the property, the holder shall file with the 2203 |
|---|
| 3273 | 3273 | | holder's report all known names and addresses of each prior 2204 |
|---|
| 3274 | 3274 | | holder of the property. Compliance with this subsection means 2205 |
|---|
| 3275 | 3275 | | the holder exercises reasonable and prudent eff orts to determine 2206 |
|---|
| 3276 | 3276 | | the names of all prior holders. 2207 |
|---|
| 3277 | 3277 | | (5)(3) The report must be filed before May 1 of each year. 2208 |
|---|
| 3278 | 3278 | | The report applies shall apply to the preceding calendar year. 2209 |
|---|
| 3279 | 3279 | | Upon written request by any person required to file a report, 2210 |
|---|
| 3280 | 3280 | | and upon a showing o f good cause, the department may extend the 2211 |
|---|
| 3281 | 3281 | | reporting date. The department may impose and collect a penalty 2212 |
|---|
| 3282 | 3282 | | of $10 per day up to a maximum of $500 for the failure to timely 2213 |
|---|
| 3283 | 3283 | | report, if an extension was not provided or if the holder of the 2214 |
|---|
| 3284 | 3284 | | property failed the failure to include in a report information 2215 |
|---|
| 3285 | 3285 | | required by this chapter which was in the holder's possession at 2216 |
|---|
| 3286 | 3286 | | the time of reporting . The penalty shall be remitted to the 2217 |
|---|
| 3287 | 3287 | | department within 30 days after the date of the notification to 2218 |
|---|
| 3288 | 3288 | | the holder that the pe nalty is due and owing. As necessary for 2219 |
|---|
| 3289 | 3289 | | proper administration of this chapter, the department may waive 2220 |
|---|
| 3290 | 3290 | | any penalty due with appropriate justification. On written 2221 |
|---|
| 3291 | 3291 | | request by any person required to file a report and upon a 2222 |
|---|
| 3292 | 3292 | | showing of good cause, the depart ment may postpone the reporting 2223 |
|---|
| 3293 | 3293 | | date. The department must provide information contained in a 2224 |
|---|
| 3294 | 3294 | | report filed with the department to any person requesting a copy 2225 |
|---|
| 3302 | 3302 | | Page 90 of 159 |
|---|
| 3303 | 3303 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3304 | 3304 | | |
|---|
| 3305 | 3305 | | |
|---|
| 3306 | 3306 | | |
|---|
| 3307 | 3307 | | of the report or information contained in a report, to the 2226 |
|---|
| 3308 | 3308 | | extent the information requested is not confidential, within 45 2227 |
|---|
| 3309 | 3309 | | days after the department determines that the report has been 2228 |
|---|
| 3310 | 3310 | | processed and added to the unclaimed property database 2229 |
|---|
| 3311 | 3311 | | subsequent to a determination that the report is accurate and 2230 |
|---|
| 3312 | 3312 | | acceptable and that the reported property is the sam e as the 2231 |
|---|
| 3313 | 3313 | | remitted property. 2232 |
|---|
| 3314 | 3314 | | (6)(4) Holders of inactive accounts having a value of $50 2233 |
|---|
| 3315 | 3315 | | or more shall use due diligence to locate and notify apparent 2234 |
|---|
| 3316 | 3316 | | owners that the entity is holding unclaimed property available 2235 |
|---|
| 3317 | 3317 | | for them to recover. Not more than 120 days and not less than 60 2236 |
|---|
| 3318 | 3318 | | days prior to filing the report required by this section, the 2237 |
|---|
| 3319 | 3319 | | holder in possession of property presumed unclaimed and subject 2238 |
|---|
| 3320 | 3320 | | to custody as unclaimed property under this chapter shall send 2239 |
|---|
| 3321 | 3321 | | written notice by first-class United States m ail to the apparent 2240 |
|---|
| 3322 | 3322 | | owner at the apparent owner's last known address from the 2241 |
|---|
| 3323 | 3323 | | holder's records or from other available sources, or via 2242 |
|---|
| 3324 | 3324 | | electronic mail if the apparent owner has elected this method of 2243 |
|---|
| 3325 | 3325 | | delivery, informing the apparent owner that the holder i s in 2244 |
|---|
| 3326 | 3326 | | possession of property subject to this chapter, if the holder 2245 |
|---|
| 3327 | 3327 | | has in its records a mailing or electronic an address for the 2246 |
|---|
| 3328 | 3328 | | apparent owner which the holder's records do not disclose to be 2247 |
|---|
| 3329 | 3329 | | inaccurate. These two means of contact are not mutually 2248 |
|---|
| 3330 | 3330 | | exclusive; if the mailing address is determined to be 2249 |
|---|
| 3331 | 3331 | | inaccurate, electronic mail may be used if so elected by the 2250 |
|---|
| 3339 | 3339 | | Page 91 of 159 |
|---|
| 3340 | 3340 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3341 | 3341 | | |
|---|
| 3342 | 3342 | | |
|---|
| 3343 | 3343 | | |
|---|
| 3344 | 3344 | | apparent owner. 2251 |
|---|
| 3345 | 3345 | | (7) The written notice to the apparent owner required 2252 |
|---|
| 3346 | 3346 | | under this section must: 2253 |
|---|
| 3347 | 3347 | | (a) Contain a heading that reads substantially as follows: 2254 |
|---|
| 3348 | 3348 | | "Notice. The State of Florida requires us to notify you that 2255 |
|---|
| 3349 | 3349 | | your property may be transferred to the custody of the Florida 2256 |
|---|
| 3350 | 3350 | | Department of Financial Services if you do not contact us before 2257 |
|---|
| 3351 | 3351 | | (insert date that is at least 30 days after the date of 2258 |
|---|
| 3352 | 3352 | | notice)." 2259 |
|---|
| 3353 | 3353 | | (b) Identify the type, nature, and, except for property 2260 |
|---|
| 3354 | 3354 | | that does not have a fixed value, value of the property that is 2261 |
|---|
| 3355 | 3355 | | the subject of the notice. 2262 |
|---|
| 3356 | 3356 | | (c) State that the property will be turned over to the 2263 |
|---|
| 3357 | 3357 | | custody of the department as unclaimed pr operty if no response 2264 |
|---|
| 3358 | 3358 | | to this letter is received. 2265 |
|---|
| 3359 | 3359 | | (d) State that any property that is not legal tender of 2266 |
|---|
| 3360 | 3360 | | the United States may be sold or liquidated by the department. 2267 |
|---|
| 3361 | 3361 | | (e) State that after the property is turned over to the 2268 |
|---|
| 3362 | 3362 | | department, an apparent own er seeking return of the property may 2269 |
|---|
| 3363 | 3363 | | file a claim with the department. 2270 |
|---|
| 3364 | 3364 | | (f) State that the property is currently with a holder and 2271 |
|---|
| 3365 | 3365 | | provide instructions that the apparent owner must follow to 2272 |
|---|
| 3366 | 3366 | | prevent the holder from reporting and paying for the property o r 2273 |
|---|
| 3367 | 3367 | | from delivering the property to the department. 2274 |
|---|
| 3368 | 3368 | | (8)(5) Any holder of intangible property may file with the 2275 |
|---|
| 3376 | 3376 | | Page 92 of 159 |
|---|
| 3377 | 3377 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3378 | 3378 | | |
|---|
| 3379 | 3379 | | |
|---|
| 3380 | 3380 | | |
|---|
| 3381 | 3381 | | department a petition for determination that the property is 2276 |
|---|
| 3382 | 3382 | | unclaimed requesting the department to accept custody of the 2277 |
|---|
| 3383 | 3383 | | property. The petition shall state any special circumstances 2278 |
|---|
| 3384 | 3384 | | that exist, contain the information required by subsection (4) 2279 |
|---|
| 3385 | 3385 | | (2), and show that a diligent search has been made to locate the 2280 |
|---|
| 3386 | 3386 | | owner. If the department finds that the proof of diligent search 2281 |
|---|
| 3387 | 3387 | | is satisfactory, it shall give notice as provided in s. 717.118 2282 |
|---|
| 3388 | 3388 | | and accept custody of the property. 2283 |
|---|
| 3389 | 3389 | | (9)(6) Upon written request by any entity or person 2284 |
|---|
| 3390 | 3390 | | required to file a report, stating such entity's or person's 2285 |
|---|
| 3391 | 3391 | | justification for such action, the department may place that 2286 |
|---|
| 3392 | 3392 | | entity or person in an inactive status as an unclaimed property 2287 |
|---|
| 3393 | 3393 | | "holder." 2288 |
|---|
| 3394 | 3394 | | (10)(7)(a) This section does not apply to the unclaimed 2289 |
|---|
| 3395 | 3395 | | patronage refunds as provided for by contract or through bylaw 2290 |
|---|
| 3396 | 3396 | | provisions of entities organized under chapter 425 or that are 2291 |
|---|
| 3397 | 3397 | | exempt from ad valorem taxation pursuant to s. 196.2002. 2292 |
|---|
| 3398 | 3398 | | (b) This section does not apply to intangible property 2293 |
|---|
| 3399 | 3399 | | held, issued, or owing by a business association subject to the 2294 |
|---|
| 3400 | 3400 | | jurisdiction of the United States Surface Transportation Board 2295 |
|---|
| 3401 | 3401 | | or its successor federal agency if the apparent owner of such 2296 |
|---|
| 3402 | 3402 | | intangible property is a business association. The holder of 2297 |
|---|
| 3403 | 3403 | | such property does not have any obligation to report, to pay, or 2298 |
|---|
| 3404 | 3404 | | to deliver such property to the department. 2299 |
|---|
| 3405 | 3405 | | (c) This section does not apply to cr edit balances, 2300 |
|---|
| 3413 | 3413 | | Page 93 of 159 |
|---|
| 3414 | 3414 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3415 | 3415 | | |
|---|
| 3416 | 3416 | | |
|---|
| 3417 | 3417 | | |
|---|
| 3418 | 3418 | | overpayments, refunds, or outstanding checks owed by a health 2301 |
|---|
| 3419 | 3419 | | care provider to a managed care payor with whom the health care 2302 |
|---|
| 3420 | 3420 | | provider has a managed care contract, provided that the credit 2303 |
|---|
| 3421 | 3421 | | balances, overpayments, refunds, or outstanding chec ks become 2304 |
|---|
| 3422 | 3422 | | due and owing pursuant to the managed care contract. 2305 |
|---|
| 3423 | 3423 | | (11)(8)(a) As used in this subsection, the term "property 2306 |
|---|
| 3424 | 3424 | | identifier" means the descriptor used by the holder to identify 2307 |
|---|
| 3425 | 3425 | | the unclaimed property. 2308 |
|---|
| 3426 | 3426 | | (b) Social security numbers and property id entifiers 2309 |
|---|
| 3427 | 3427 | | contained in reports required under this section, held by the 2310 |
|---|
| 3428 | 3428 | | department, are confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 2311 |
|---|
| 3429 | 3429 | | 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. 2312 |
|---|
| 3430 | 3430 | | (c) This exemption applies to social security numbers and 2313 |
|---|
| 3431 | 3431 | | property identifiers held by the department before, on, or after 2314 |
|---|
| 3432 | 3432 | | the effective date of this exemption. 2315 |
|---|
| 3433 | 3433 | | Section 47. Subsections (4), (5), and (6) of section 2316 |
|---|
| 3434 | 3434 | | 717.119, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (5), 2317 |
|---|
| 3435 | 3435 | | (6), and (7), respectively, and a new subsection (4) and 2318 |
|---|
| 3436 | 3436 | | subsection (8) are added to that section, to read: 2319 |
|---|
| 3437 | 3437 | | 717.119 Payment or delivery of unclaimed property. — 2320 |
|---|
| 3438 | 3438 | | (4) All virtual currency reported under this chapter on 2321 |
|---|
| 3439 | 3439 | | the annual report filing required in s. 717.117 shall be 2322 |
|---|
| 3440 | 3440 | | remitted to the department with the report. The holder shall 2323 |
|---|
| 3441 | 3441 | | liquidate the virtual currency and remit the proceeds to the 2324 |
|---|
| 3442 | 3442 | | department. The liquidation must occur within 30 days before the 2325 |
|---|
| 3450 | 3450 | | Page 94 of 159 |
|---|
| 3451 | 3451 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3452 | 3452 | | |
|---|
| 3453 | 3453 | | |
|---|
| 3454 | 3454 | | |
|---|
| 3455 | 3455 | | filing of the report. Upon delivery of the virtual currency 2326 |
|---|
| 3456 | 3456 | | proceeds to the department, the holder i s relieved of all 2327 |
|---|
| 3457 | 3457 | | liability of every kind in accordance with the provisions of s. 2328 |
|---|
| 3458 | 3458 | | 717.1201 to every person for any losses or damages resulting to 2329 |
|---|
| 3459 | 3459 | | the person by the delivery to the department of the virtual 2330 |
|---|
| 3460 | 3460 | | currency proceeds. 2331 |
|---|
| 3461 | 3461 | | (8) A holder may not assign o r otherwise transfer its 2332 |
|---|
| 3462 | 3462 | | obligation to report, pay, or deliver property or to comply with 2333 |
|---|
| 3463 | 3463 | | the provisions of this chapter, other than to a parent, 2334 |
|---|
| 3464 | 3464 | | subsidiary, or affiliate of the holder. 2335 |
|---|
| 3465 | 3465 | | (a) Unless otherwise agreed to by the parties to a 2336 |
|---|
| 3466 | 3466 | | transaction, the holder's successor by merger or consolidation, 2337 |
|---|
| 3467 | 3467 | | or any person or entity that acquires all or substantially all 2338 |
|---|
| 3468 | 3468 | | of the holder's capital stock or assets, is responsible for 2339 |
|---|
| 3469 | 3469 | | fulfilling the holder's obligation to report, pay, or deliver 2340 |
|---|
| 3470 | 3470 | | property or to comply wi th the duties of this chapter regarding 2341 |
|---|
| 3471 | 3471 | | the transfer of property owed to the holder's successor and 2342 |
|---|
| 3472 | 3472 | | being held for an owner resulting from the merger, 2343 |
|---|
| 3473 | 3473 | | consolidation, or acquisition. 2344 |
|---|
| 3474 | 3474 | | (b) This subsection does not prohibit a holder from 2345 |
|---|
| 3475 | 3475 | | contracting with a t hird party for the reporting of unclaimed 2346 |
|---|
| 3476 | 3476 | | property, but the holder remains responsible to the department 2347 |
|---|
| 3477 | 3477 | | for the complete, accurate, and timely reporting of the 2348 |
|---|
| 3478 | 3478 | | property. 2349 |
|---|
| 3479 | 3479 | | Section 48. Section 717.1201, Florida Statutes, is amended 2350 |
|---|
| 3487 | 3487 | | Page 95 of 159 |
|---|
| 3488 | 3488 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3489 | 3489 | | |
|---|
| 3490 | 3490 | | |
|---|
| 3491 | 3491 | | |
|---|
| 3492 | 3492 | | to read: 2351 |
|---|
| 3493 | 3493 | | 717.1201 Custody by state; holder relieved from liability; 2352 |
|---|
| 3494 | 3494 | | reimbursement of holder paying claim; reclaiming for owner; 2353 |
|---|
| 3495 | 3495 | | defense of holder; payment of safe-deposit box or repository 2354 |
|---|
| 3496 | 3496 | | charges.— 2355 |
|---|
| 3497 | 3497 | | (1) Upon the good faith payment or delivery of unclaimed 2356 |
|---|
| 3498 | 3498 | | property to the department, the state assumes custody and 2357 |
|---|
| 3499 | 3499 | | responsibility for the safekeeping of the property. Any person 2358 |
|---|
| 3500 | 3500 | | who pays or delivers unclaimed property to the department in 2359 |
|---|
| 3501 | 3501 | | good faith is relieved of all liability to the extent of the 2360 |
|---|
| 3502 | 3502 | | value of the property paid or d elivered for any claim then 2361 |
|---|
| 3503 | 3503 | | existing or which thereafter may arise or be made in respect to 2362 |
|---|
| 3504 | 3504 | | the property. 2363 |
|---|
| 3505 | 3505 | | (a) A holder's substantial compliance with s. 717.117(6) 2364 |
|---|
| 3506 | 3506 | | and good faith payment or delivery of unclaimed property to the 2365 |
|---|
| 3507 | 3507 | | department releases the hol der from liability that may arise 2366 |
|---|
| 3508 | 3508 | | from such payment or delivery, and such delivery and payment may 2367 |
|---|
| 3509 | 3509 | | be plead as a defense in any suit or action brought by reason of 2368 |
|---|
| 3510 | 3510 | | such delivery or payment. This section does not relieve a 2369 |
|---|
| 3511 | 3511 | | fiduciary of his or her duties und er the Florida Trust Code or 2370 |
|---|
| 3512 | 3512 | | Florida Probate Code. 2371 |
|---|
| 3513 | 3513 | | (b) If the holder pays or delivers property to the 2372 |
|---|
| 3514 | 3514 | | department in good faith and thereafter any other person claims 2373 |
|---|
| 3515 | 3515 | | the property from the holder paying or delivering, or another 2374 |
|---|
| 3516 | 3516 | | state claims the money or property under that state's laws 2375 |
|---|
| 3524 | 3524 | | Page 96 of 159 |
|---|
| 3525 | 3525 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3526 | 3526 | | |
|---|
| 3527 | 3527 | | |
|---|
| 3528 | 3528 | | |
|---|
| 3529 | 3529 | | relating to escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property, the 2376 |
|---|
| 3530 | 3530 | | department, upon written notice of the claim, shall defend the 2377 |
|---|
| 3531 | 3531 | | holder against the claim and indemnify the holder against any 2378 |
|---|
| 3532 | 3532 | | liability on the claim, except that a holder may not be 2379 |
|---|
| 3533 | 3533 | | indemnified against penalties imposed by another state. 2380 |
|---|
| 3534 | 3534 | | (2) For the purposes of this section, a payment or 2381 |
|---|
| 3535 | 3535 | | delivery of unclaimed property is made in good faith if: 2382 |
|---|
| 3536 | 3536 | | (a) The payment or delivery was made in conjunction with 2383 |
|---|
| 3537 | 3537 | | an accurate and acceptable report. 2384 |
|---|
| 3538 | 3538 | | (b) The payment or delivery was made in a reasonable 2385 |
|---|
| 3539 | 3539 | | attempt to comply with this chapter and other applicable general 2386 |
|---|
| 3540 | 3540 | | law. 2387 |
|---|
| 3541 | 3541 | | (c) The holder had a reasonable basis for believing, based 2388 |
|---|
| 3542 | 3542 | | on the facts then known, that the property was u nclaimed and 2389 |
|---|
| 3543 | 3543 | | subject to this chapter. 2390 |
|---|
| 3544 | 3544 | | (d) There is no showing that the records pursuant to which 2391 |
|---|
| 3545 | 3545 | | the delivery was made did not meet reasonable commercial 2392 |
|---|
| 3546 | 3546 | | standards of practice in the industry. 2393 |
|---|
| 3547 | 3547 | | (3)(2) Any holder who has paid money to the department 2394 |
|---|
| 3548 | 3548 | | pursuant to this chapter may make payment to any person 2395 |
|---|
| 3549 | 3549 | | appearing to be entitled to payment and, upon filing proof that 2396 |
|---|
| 3550 | 3550 | | the payee is entitled thereto, the department shall forthwith 2397 |
|---|
| 3551 | 3551 | | repay the holder without deduction of any fee or other charges. 2398 |
|---|
| 3552 | 3552 | | If repayment is sought for a payment made on a negotiable 2399 |
|---|
| 3553 | 3553 | | instrument, including a traveler's check or money order, the 2400 |
|---|
| 3561 | 3561 | | Page 97 of 159 |
|---|
| 3562 | 3562 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3563 | 3563 | | |
|---|
| 3564 | 3564 | | |
|---|
| 3565 | 3565 | | |
|---|
| 3566 | 3566 | | holder must be repaid under this subsection upon filing proof 2401 |
|---|
| 3567 | 3567 | | that the instrument was duly presented and that the payee is 2402 |
|---|
| 3568 | 3568 | | entitled to payment. The hol der shall be repaid for payment made 2403 |
|---|
| 3569 | 3569 | | under this subsection even if the payment was made to a person 2404 |
|---|
| 3570 | 3570 | | whose claim was barred under s. 717.129(1). 2405 |
|---|
| 3571 | 3571 | | (4)(3) Any holder who has delivered property, including a 2406 |
|---|
| 3572 | 3572 | | certificate of any interest in a business associatio n, other 2407 |
|---|
| 3573 | 3573 | | than money to the department pursuant to this chapter may 2408 |
|---|
| 3574 | 3574 | | reclaim the property if still in the possession of the 2409 |
|---|
| 3575 | 3575 | | department, without payment of any fee or other charges, upon 2410 |
|---|
| 3576 | 3576 | | filing proof that the owner has claimed the property from the 2411 |
|---|
| 3577 | 3577 | | holder. 2412 |
|---|
| 3578 | 3578 | | (5)(4) The department may accept an affidavit of the 2413 |
|---|
| 3579 | 3579 | | holder stating the facts that entitle the holder to recover 2414 |
|---|
| 3580 | 3580 | | money and property under this section as sufficient proof. 2415 |
|---|
| 3581 | 3581 | | (5) If the holder pays or delivers property to the 2416 |
|---|
| 3582 | 3582 | | department in good faith and th ereafter any other person claims 2417 |
|---|
| 3583 | 3583 | | the property from the holder paying or delivering, or another 2418 |
|---|
| 3584 | 3584 | | state claims the money or property under that state's laws 2419 |
|---|
| 3585 | 3585 | | relating to escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property, the 2420 |
|---|
| 3586 | 3586 | | department, upon written notice of the cla im, shall defend the 2421 |
|---|
| 3587 | 3587 | | holder against the claim and indemnify the holder against any 2422 |
|---|
| 3588 | 3588 | | liability on the claim. 2423 |
|---|
| 3589 | 3589 | | (6) For the purposes of this section, "good faith" means 2424 |
|---|
| 3590 | 3590 | | that: 2425 |
|---|
| 3598 | 3598 | | Page 98 of 159 |
|---|
| 3599 | 3599 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3600 | 3600 | | |
|---|
| 3601 | 3601 | | |
|---|
| 3602 | 3602 | | |
|---|
| 3603 | 3603 | | (a) Payment or delivery was made in a reasonable attempt 2426 |
|---|
| 3604 | 3604 | | to comply with this chapt er. 2427 |
|---|
| 3605 | 3605 | | (b) The person delivering the property was not a fiduciary 2428 |
|---|
| 3606 | 3606 | | then in breach of trust in respect to the property and had a 2429 |
|---|
| 3607 | 3607 | | reasonable basis for believing, based on the facts then known to 2430 |
|---|
| 3608 | 3608 | | that person, that the property was unclaimed for the purposes of 2431 |
|---|
| 3609 | 3609 | | this chapter. 2432 |
|---|
| 3610 | 3610 | | (c) There is no showing that the records pursuant to which 2433 |
|---|
| 3611 | 3611 | | the delivery was made did not meet reasonable commercial 2434 |
|---|
| 3612 | 3612 | | standards of practice in the industry. 2435 |
|---|
| 3613 | 3613 | | (6)(7) Property removed from a safe -deposit box or other 2436 |
|---|
| 3614 | 3614 | | safekeeping repository is received by the department subject to 2437 |
|---|
| 3615 | 3615 | | the holder's right under this subsection to be reimbursed for 2438 |
|---|
| 3616 | 3616 | | the actual cost of the opening and to any valid lien or contract 2439 |
|---|
| 3617 | 3617 | | providing for the holder to be reimbursed for unpaid rent or 2440 |
|---|
| 3618 | 3618 | | storage charges. The departmen t shall make the reimbursement to 2441 |
|---|
| 3619 | 3619 | | the holder out of the proceeds remaining after the deduction of 2442 |
|---|
| 3620 | 3620 | | the department's selling cost. 2443 |
|---|
| 3621 | 3621 | | (7) If it appears to the satisfaction of the department 2444 |
|---|
| 3622 | 3622 | | that, because of some mistake of fact, error in calculation, or 2445 |
|---|
| 3623 | 3623 | | erroneous interpretation of a statute, a person has paid or 2446 |
|---|
| 3624 | 3624 | | delivered to the department pursuant to any provision of this 2447 |
|---|
| 3625 | 3625 | | chapter any money or other property not required by this chapter 2448 |
|---|
| 3626 | 3626 | | to be so paid or delivered, the department may, within 5 years 2449 |
|---|
| 3627 | 3627 | | after such erroneous payment or delivery, refund or redeliver 2450 |
|---|
| 3635 | 3635 | | Page 99 of 159 |
|---|
| 3636 | 3636 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3637 | 3637 | | |
|---|
| 3638 | 3638 | | |
|---|
| 3639 | 3639 | | |
|---|
| 3640 | 3640 | | such money or other property to the person, provided that such 2451 |
|---|
| 3641 | 3641 | | money or property has not been paid or delivered to a claimant 2452 |
|---|
| 3642 | 3642 | | or otherwise disposed of in accordance with this chapter. 2453 |
|---|
| 3643 | 3643 | | Section 49. Subsection (1) of section 717.1242, Florida 2454 |
|---|
| 3644 | 3644 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2455 |
|---|
| 3645 | 3645 | | 717.1242 Restatement of jurisdiction of the circuit court 2456 |
|---|
| 3646 | 3646 | | sitting in probate and the department. — 2457 |
|---|
| 3647 | 3647 | | (1) It is and has been the intent of the Legislature that, 2458 |
|---|
| 3648 | 3648 | | pursuant to s. 26.012(2)(b ), circuit courts have jurisdiction of 2459 |
|---|
| 3649 | 3649 | | proceedings relating to the settlement of the estates of 2460 |
|---|
| 3650 | 3650 | | decedents and other jurisdiction usually pertaining to courts of 2461 |
|---|
| 3651 | 3651 | | probate. It is and has been the intent of the Legislature that, 2462 |
|---|
| 3652 | 3652 | | pursuant to this chapter s. 717.124, the department determines 2463 |
|---|
| 3653 | 3653 | | the merits of claims and entitlement to unclaimed for property 2464 |
|---|
| 3654 | 3654 | | paid or delivered to the department under this chapter. 2465 |
|---|
| 3655 | 3655 | | Consistent with this legislative intent, any estate or 2466 |
|---|
| 3656 | 3656 | | beneficiary, devisee, heir, personal representativ e, or other 2467 |
|---|
| 3657 | 3657 | | interested person, as those terms are defined in the Florida 2468 |
|---|
| 3658 | 3658 | | Probate Code and the Florida Trust Code s. 731.201, of an estate 2469 |
|---|
| 3659 | 3659 | | seeking to obtain property paid or delivered to the department 2470 |
|---|
| 3660 | 3660 | | under this chapter must file a claim with the department as 2471 |
|---|
| 3661 | 3661 | | provided in s. 717.124. 2472 |
|---|
| 3662 | 3662 | | Section 50. Subsection (4) of section 717.1243, Florida 2473 |
|---|
| 3663 | 3663 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2474 |
|---|
| 3664 | 3664 | | 717.1243 Small estate accounts. — 2475 |
|---|
| 3672 | 3672 | | Page 100 of 159 |
|---|
| 3673 | 3673 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3674 | 3674 | | |
|---|
| 3675 | 3675 | | |
|---|
| 3676 | 3676 | | |
|---|
| 3677 | 3677 | | (4) This section only applies only if all of the unclaimed 2476 |
|---|
| 3678 | 3678 | | property held by the department on behalf of the owner has an 2477 |
|---|
| 3679 | 3679 | | aggregate value of $20,000 $10,000 or less and no probate 2478 |
|---|
| 3680 | 3680 | | proceeding is pending. 2479 |
|---|
| 3681 | 3681 | | Section 51. Subsection (2) of section 717.129, Florida 2480 |
|---|
| 3682 | 3682 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2481 |
|---|
| 3683 | 3683 | | 717.129 Periods of limitation. — 2482 |
|---|
| 3684 | 3684 | | (2) The department may not commence an No action or 2483 |
|---|
| 3685 | 3685 | | proceeding to enforce this chapter with respect to the 2484 |
|---|
| 3686 | 3686 | | reporting, payment, or delivery of property or any other duty of 2485 |
|---|
| 3687 | 3687 | | a holder under this chapter may be commenced by the department 2486 |
|---|
| 3688 | 3688 | | with respect to any duty of a holder under this chapter more 2487 |
|---|
| 3689 | 3689 | | than 10 years after the duty arose. The period of limitation 2488 |
|---|
| 3690 | 3690 | | established under this subsection is tolled by the earlier of 2489 |
|---|
| 3691 | 3691 | | the department's or audit agent's delivery of a notice t hat a 2490 |
|---|
| 3692 | 3692 | | holder is subject to an audit or examination under s. 717.1301 2491 |
|---|
| 3693 | 3693 | | or the holder's written election to enter into an unclaimed 2492 |
|---|
| 3694 | 3694 | | property voluntary disclosure agreement. 2493 |
|---|
| 3695 | 3695 | | Section 52. Section 717.1301, Florida Statutes, is amended 2494 |
|---|
| 3696 | 3696 | | to read: 2495 |
|---|
| 3697 | 3697 | | 717.1301 Investigations; examinations; subpoenas. — 2496 |
|---|
| 3698 | 3698 | | (1) To carry out the chapter's purpose of protecting the 2497 |
|---|
| 3699 | 3699 | | interest of missing owners through the safeguarding of their 2498 |
|---|
| 3700 | 3700 | | property and to administer and enforce this chapter, the 2499 |
|---|
| 3701 | 3701 | | department may: 2500 |
|---|
| 3709 | 3709 | | Page 101 of 159 |
|---|
| 3710 | 3710 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3711 | 3711 | | |
|---|
| 3712 | 3712 | | |
|---|
| 3713 | 3713 | | |
|---|
| 3714 | 3714 | | (a) Investigate, exami ne, inspect, request, or otherwise 2501 |
|---|
| 3715 | 3715 | | gather information or evidence on, claim documents from a 2502 |
|---|
| 3716 | 3716 | | claimant or a claimant's representative during its review of a 2503 |
|---|
| 3717 | 3717 | | claim. 2504 |
|---|
| 3718 | 3718 | | (b) Audit the records of a person or the records in the 2505 |
|---|
| 3719 | 3719 | | possession of an agent, representat ive, subsidiary, or affiliate 2506 |
|---|
| 3720 | 3720 | | of the person subject to this chapter to determine whether the 2507 |
|---|
| 3721 | 3721 | | person complied with this chapter. Such records may include 2508 |
|---|
| 3722 | 3722 | | information to verify the completeness or accuracy of the 2509 |
|---|
| 3723 | 3723 | | records provided, even if such records may no t identify property 2510 |
|---|
| 3724 | 3724 | | reportable to the department. 2511 |
|---|
| 3725 | 3725 | | (c) Take testimony of a person, including the person's 2512 |
|---|
| 3726 | 3726 | | employee, agent, representative, subsidiary, or affiliate, to 2513 |
|---|
| 3727 | 3727 | | determine whether the person complied with this chapter. 2514 |
|---|
| 3728 | 3728 | | (d) Issue an administrative subpoena to require that the 2515 |
|---|
| 3729 | 3729 | | records specified in paragraph (b) be made available for 2516 |
|---|
| 3730 | 3730 | | examination or audit and that the testimony specified in 2517 |
|---|
| 3731 | 3731 | | paragraph (c) be provided. 2518 |
|---|
| 3732 | 3732 | | (e) Bring an action in a court of competent jurisdiction 2519 |
|---|
| 3733 | 3733 | | seeking enforcement of an a dministrative subpoena issued under 2520 |
|---|
| 3734 | 3734 | | this section, which the court shall consider under procedures 2521 |
|---|
| 3735 | 3735 | | that will lead to an expeditious resolution of the action. 2522 |
|---|
| 3736 | 3736 | | (f) Bring an administrative action or an action in a court 2523 |
|---|
| 3737 | 3737 | | of competent jurisdiction to enforce t his chapter. 2524 |
|---|
| 3738 | 3738 | | (2) If a person is subject to reporting property under 2525 |
|---|
| 3746 | 3746 | | Page 102 of 159 |
|---|
| 3747 | 3747 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3748 | 3748 | | |
|---|
| 3749 | 3749 | | |
|---|
| 3750 | 3750 | | |
|---|
| 3751 | 3751 | | this chapter, the department may require the person to file a 2526 |
|---|
| 3752 | 3752 | | verified report in a form prescribed by the department. The 2527 |
|---|
| 3753 | 3753 | | verified report must: 2528 |
|---|
| 3754 | 3754 | | (a) State whether the person is holding property 2529 |
|---|
| 3755 | 3755 | | reportable under this chapter; 2530 |
|---|
| 3756 | 3756 | | (b) Describe the property not previously reported, the 2531 |
|---|
| 3757 | 3757 | | property about which the department has inquired, or the 2532 |
|---|
| 3758 | 3758 | | property that is in dispute as to whether it is reportable under 2533 |
|---|
| 3759 | 3759 | | this chapter; and 2534 |
|---|
| 3760 | 3760 | | (c) State the amount or value of the property. 2535 |
|---|
| 3761 | 3761 | | (3) The department may authorize a compliance review of a 2536 |
|---|
| 3762 | 3762 | | report for a specified reporting year. The review must be 2537 |
|---|
| 3763 | 3763 | | limited to the contents of the report filed, as required by s. 2538 |
|---|
| 3764 | 3764 | | 717.117 and subsection (2), and all supporti ng documents related 2539 |
|---|
| 3765 | 3765 | | to the reports. If the review results in a finding of a 2540 |
|---|
| 3766 | 3766 | | deficiency in unclaimed property due and payable to the 2541 |
|---|
| 3767 | 3767 | | department, the department shall notify the holder in writing of 2542 |
|---|
| 3768 | 3768 | | the amount of deficiency within 1 year after the authoriza tion 2543 |
|---|
| 3769 | 3769 | | of the compliance review. If the holder fails to pay the 2544 |
|---|
| 3770 | 3770 | | deficiency within 90 days, the department may seek to enforce 2545 |
|---|
| 3771 | 3771 | | the assessment under subsection (1). The department is not 2546 |
|---|
| 3772 | 3772 | | required to conduct a review under this section before 2547 |
|---|
| 3773 | 3773 | | initiating an audit. 2548 |
|---|
| 3774 | 3774 | | (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in a 2549 |
|---|
| 3775 | 3775 | | contract providing for the location or collection of unclaimed 2550 |
|---|
| 3783 | 3783 | | Page 103 of 159 |
|---|
| 3784 | 3784 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3785 | 3785 | | |
|---|
| 3786 | 3786 | | |
|---|
| 3787 | 3787 | | |
|---|
| 3788 | 3788 | | property, the department may authorize the contractor to deduct 2551 |
|---|
| 3789 | 3789 | | its fees and expenses for services provided under the contract 2552 |
|---|
| 3790 | 3790 | | from the unclaimed property that the contractor has recovered or 2553 |
|---|
| 3791 | 3791 | | collected under the contract. The department shall annually 2554 |
|---|
| 3792 | 3792 | | report to the Chief Financial Officer the total amount collected 2555 |
|---|
| 3793 | 3793 | | or recovered by each contractor during the previous fiscal year 2556 |
|---|
| 3794 | 3794 | | and the total fees and expenses deducted by each contractor. 2557 |
|---|
| 3795 | 3795 | | (1) The department may make investigations and 2558 |
|---|
| 3796 | 3796 | | examinations within or outside this state of claims, reports, 2559 |
|---|
| 3797 | 3797 | | and other records as it deems necessary to administer and 2560 |
|---|
| 3798 | 3798 | | enforce the provisions of this chapt er. In such investigations 2561 |
|---|
| 3799 | 3799 | | and examinations the department may administer oaths, examine 2562 |
|---|
| 3800 | 3800 | | witnesses, issue subpoenas, and otherwise gather evidence. The 2563 |
|---|
| 3801 | 3801 | | department may request any person who has not filed a report 2564 |
|---|
| 3802 | 3802 | | under s. 717.117 to file a verified report stating whether or 2565 |
|---|
| 3803 | 3803 | | not the person is holding any unclaimed property reportable or 2566 |
|---|
| 3804 | 3804 | | deliverable under this chapter. 2567 |
|---|
| 3805 | 3805 | | (2) Subpoenas for witnesses whose evidence is deemed 2568 |
|---|
| 3806 | 3806 | | material to any investigation or examination under this section 2569 |
|---|
| 3807 | 3807 | | may be issued by the de partment under seal of the department, or 2570 |
|---|
| 3808 | 3808 | | by any court of competent jurisdiction, commanding such 2571 |
|---|
| 3809 | 3809 | | witnesses to appear before the department at a time and place 2572 |
|---|
| 3810 | 3810 | | named and to bring such books, records, and documents as may be 2573 |
|---|
| 3811 | 3811 | | specified or to submit such book s, records, and documents to 2574 |
|---|
| 3812 | 3812 | | inspection. Such subpoenas may be served by an authorized 2575 |
|---|
| 3820 | 3820 | | Page 104 of 159 |
|---|
| 3821 | 3821 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3822 | 3822 | | |
|---|
| 3823 | 3823 | | |
|---|
| 3824 | 3824 | | |
|---|
| 3825 | 3825 | | representative of the department. 2576 |
|---|
| 3826 | 3826 | | (3) If any person shall refuse to testify, produce books, 2577 |
|---|
| 3827 | 3827 | | records, and documents, or otherwise refuse to obey a subpoena 2578 |
|---|
| 3828 | 3828 | | issued under this section, the department may present its 2579 |
|---|
| 3829 | 3829 | | petition to a court of competent jurisdiction in or for the 2580 |
|---|
| 3830 | 3830 | | county in which such person resides or has its principal place 2581 |
|---|
| 3831 | 3831 | | of business, whereupon the court shall issue its rule nisi 2582 |
|---|
| 3832 | 3832 | | requiring such person to obe y forthwith the subpoena issued by 2583 |
|---|
| 3833 | 3833 | | the department or show cause for failing to obey said subpoena. 2584 |
|---|
| 3834 | 3834 | | Unless said person shows sufficient cause for failing to obey 2585 |
|---|
| 3835 | 3835 | | the subpoena, the court shall forthwith direct such person to 2586 |
|---|
| 3836 | 3836 | | obey the same subject to such pun ishment as the court may direct 2587 |
|---|
| 3837 | 3837 | | including, but not limited to, the restraint, by injunction or 2588 |
|---|
| 3838 | 3838 | | by appointment of a receiver, of any transfer, pledge, 2589 |
|---|
| 3839 | 3839 | | assignment, or other disposition of such person's assets or any 2590 |
|---|
| 3840 | 3840 | | concealment, alteration, destruction, or o ther disposition of 2591 |
|---|
| 3841 | 3841 | | subpoenaed books, records, or documents as the court deems 2592 |
|---|
| 3842 | 3842 | | appropriate, until such person has fully complied with such 2593 |
|---|
| 3843 | 3843 | | subpoena and the department has completed its investigation or 2594 |
|---|
| 3844 | 3844 | | examination. The department is entitled to the summary procedure 2595 |
|---|
| 3845 | 3845 | | provided in s. 51.011, and the court shall advance the cause on 2596 |
|---|
| 3846 | 3846 | | its calendar. Costs incurred by the department to obtain an 2597 |
|---|
| 3847 | 3847 | | order granting, in whole or in part, its petition shall be taxed 2598 |
|---|
| 3848 | 3848 | | against the subpoenaed person, and failure to comply wit h such 2599 |
|---|
| 3849 | 3849 | | order shall be a contempt of court. 2600 |
|---|
| 3857 | 3857 | | Page 105 of 159 |
|---|
| 3858 | 3858 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3859 | 3859 | | |
|---|
| 3860 | 3860 | | |
|---|
| 3861 | 3861 | | |
|---|
| 3862 | 3862 | | (4) Witnesses shall be entitled to the same fees and 2601 |
|---|
| 3863 | 3863 | | mileage as they may be entitled by law for attending as 2602 |
|---|
| 3864 | 3864 | | witnesses in the circuit court, except where such examination or 2603 |
|---|
| 3865 | 3865 | | investigation is held at the place of business or residence of 2604 |
|---|
| 3866 | 3866 | | the witness. 2605 |
|---|
| 3867 | 3867 | | (5) The material compiled by the department in an 2606 |
|---|
| 3868 | 3868 | | investigation or examination under this chapter is confidential 2607 |
|---|
| 3869 | 3869 | | until the investigation or examination is complete. If any such 2608 |
|---|
| 3870 | 3870 | | material contains a holder's financia l or proprietary 2609 |
|---|
| 3871 | 3871 | | information, it may not be disclosed or made public by the 2610 |
|---|
| 3872 | 3872 | | department after the investigation or audit is completed, except 2611 |
|---|
| 3873 | 3873 | | as required by a court of competent jurisdiction in the course 2612 |
|---|
| 3874 | 3874 | | of a judicial proceeding in which the state is a par ty, or 2613 |
|---|
| 3875 | 3875 | | pursuant to an agreement with another state allowing joint 2614 |
|---|
| 3876 | 3876 | | audits. Such material may be considered trade secret and exempt 2615 |
|---|
| 3877 | 3877 | | from s. 119.07(1) as provided for in s. 119.0715. The records, 2616 |
|---|
| 3878 | 3878 | | data, and information gathered material compiled by the 2617 |
|---|
| 3879 | 3879 | | department in an investigation or audit examination under this 2618 |
|---|
| 3880 | 3880 | | chapter remain remains confidential after the department's 2619 |
|---|
| 3881 | 3881 | | investigation or examination is complete if the department has 2620 |
|---|
| 3882 | 3882 | | submitted the material or any part of it to any law enforcement 2621 |
|---|
| 3883 | 3883 | | agency or other administrative agency for further investigation 2622 |
|---|
| 3884 | 3884 | | or for the filing of a criminal or civil prosecution and such 2623 |
|---|
| 3885 | 3885 | | investigation has not been completed or bec ome inactive. 2624 |
|---|
| 3886 | 3886 | | (6) If an investigation or an audit examination of the 2625 |
|---|
| 3894 | 3894 | | Page 106 of 159 |
|---|
| 3895 | 3895 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3896 | 3896 | | |
|---|
| 3897 | 3897 | | |
|---|
| 3898 | 3898 | | |
|---|
| 3899 | 3899 | | records of any person results in the disclosure of property 2626 |
|---|
| 3900 | 3900 | | reportable and deliverable under this chapter, the department 2627 |
|---|
| 3901 | 3901 | | may assess the cost of the investigation or audit the 2628 |
|---|
| 3902 | 3902 | | examination against the holder at the rate of $100 per 8 -hour 2629 |
|---|
| 3903 | 3903 | | day for each investigator or examiner . Such fee shall be 2630 |
|---|
| 3904 | 3904 | | calculated on an hourly basis and shall be rounded to the 2631 |
|---|
| 3905 | 3905 | | nearest hour. The person shall also pay the travel expense and 2632 |
|---|
| 3906 | 3906 | | per diem subsistence allo wance provided for state employees in 2633 |
|---|
| 3907 | 3907 | | s. 112.061. The person shall not be required to pay a per diem 2634 |
|---|
| 3908 | 3908 | | fee and expenses of an examination or investigation which shall 2635 |
|---|
| 3909 | 3909 | | consume more than 30 worker -days in any one year unless such 2636 |
|---|
| 3910 | 3910 | | examination or investigation i s due to fraudulent practices of 2637 |
|---|
| 3911 | 3911 | | the person, in which case such person shall be required to pay 2638 |
|---|
| 3912 | 3912 | | the entire cost regardless of time consumed. The fee for the 2639 |
|---|
| 3913 | 3913 | | costs of the investigation or audit shall be remitted to the 2640 |
|---|
| 3914 | 3914 | | department within 30 days after the da te of the notification 2641 |
|---|
| 3915 | 3915 | | that the fee is due and owing. Any person who fails to pay the 2642 |
|---|
| 3916 | 3916 | | fee within 30 days after the date of the notification that the 2643 |
|---|
| 3917 | 3917 | | fee is due and owing shall pay to the department interest at the 2644 |
|---|
| 3918 | 3918 | | rate of 12 percent per annum on such fee f rom the date of the 2645 |
|---|
| 3919 | 3919 | | notification. 2646 |
|---|
| 3920 | 3920 | | Section 53. Subsection (1) of section 717.1311, Florida 2647 |
|---|
| 3921 | 3921 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2648 |
|---|
| 3922 | 3922 | | 717.1311 Retention of records. — 2649 |
|---|
| 3923 | 3923 | | (1) Every holder required to file a report under s. 2650 |
|---|
| 3931 | 3931 | | Page 107 of 159 |
|---|
| 3932 | 3932 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3933 | 3933 | | |
|---|
| 3934 | 3934 | | |
|---|
| 3935 | 3935 | | |
|---|
| 3936 | 3936 | | 717.117 shall maintain a record of the speci fic type of 2651 |
|---|
| 3937 | 3937 | | property, amount, name, and last known address of the owner for 2652 |
|---|
| 3938 | 3938 | | 10 5 years after the property becomes reportable, except to the 2653 |
|---|
| 3939 | 3939 | | extent that a shorter time is provided in subsection (2) or by 2654 |
|---|
| 3940 | 3940 | | rule of the department. 2655 |
|---|
| 3941 | 3941 | | Section 54. Paragraph (j) of subsection (1) and subsection 2656 |
|---|
| 3942 | 3942 | | (3) of section 717.1322, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2657 |
|---|
| 3943 | 3943 | | 717.1322 Administrative and civil enforcement. — 2658 |
|---|
| 3944 | 3944 | | (1) The following acts are violations of this chapter and 2659 |
|---|
| 3945 | 3945 | | constitute grounds for an administrative enforcement action by 2660 |
|---|
| 3946 | 3946 | | the department in accordance with the requirements of chapter 2661 |
|---|
| 3947 | 3947 | | 120 and for civil enforcement by the department in a court of 2662 |
|---|
| 3948 | 3948 | | competent jurisdiction: 2663 |
|---|
| 3949 | 3949 | | (j) Requesting or receiving compensation for notifying a 2664 |
|---|
| 3950 | 3950 | | person of his or her unclai med property or assisting another 2665 |
|---|
| 3951 | 3951 | | person in filing a claim for unclaimed property, unless the 2666 |
|---|
| 3952 | 3952 | | person is an attorney licensed to practice law in this state, a 2667 |
|---|
| 3953 | 3953 | | Florida-certified public accountant, or a private investigator 2668 |
|---|
| 3954 | 3954 | | licensed under chapter 493, or ente ring into, or making a 2669 |
|---|
| 3955 | 3955 | | solicitation to enter into, an agreement to file a claim for 2670 |
|---|
| 3956 | 3956 | | unclaimed property owned by another, or a contract or agreement 2671 |
|---|
| 3957 | 3957 | | to purchase unclaimed property, unless such person is registered 2672 |
|---|
| 3958 | 3958 | | with the department under this chapter and an attorney licensed 2673 |
|---|
| 3959 | 3959 | | to practice law in this state in the regular practice of her or 2674 |
|---|
| 3960 | 3960 | | his profession, a Florida -certified public accountant who is 2675 |
|---|
| 3968 | 3968 | | Page 108 of 159 |
|---|
| 3969 | 3969 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 3970 | 3970 | | |
|---|
| 3971 | 3971 | | |
|---|
| 3972 | 3972 | | |
|---|
| 3973 | 3973 | | acting within the scope of the practice of public accounting as 2676 |
|---|
| 3974 | 3974 | | defined in chapter 473, or a private investiga tor licensed under 2677 |
|---|
| 3975 | 3975 | | chapter 493. This paragraph does not apply to a person who has 2678 |
|---|
| 3976 | 3976 | | been granted a durable power of attorney to convey and receive 2679 |
|---|
| 3977 | 3977 | | all of the real and personal property of the owner, is the 2680 |
|---|
| 3978 | 3978 | | court-appointed guardian of the owner, has been empl oyed as an 2681 |
|---|
| 3979 | 3979 | | attorney or qualified representative to contest the department's 2682 |
|---|
| 3980 | 3980 | | denial of a claim, or has been employed as an attorney to 2683 |
|---|
| 3981 | 3981 | | probate the estate of the owner or an heir or legatee of the 2684 |
|---|
| 3982 | 3982 | | owner. 2685 |
|---|
| 3983 | 3983 | | (3) A claimant's representative registrant is subject to 2686 |
|---|
| 3984 | 3984 | | civil enforcement and the disciplinary actions specified in 2687 |
|---|
| 3985 | 3985 | | subsection (2) for violations of subsection (1) by an agent or 2688 |
|---|
| 3986 | 3986 | | employee of the registrant's employer if the claimant's 2689 |
|---|
| 3987 | 3987 | | representative registrant knew or should have known that such 2690 |
|---|
| 3988 | 3988 | | agent or employee was violating any provision of this chapter. 2691 |
|---|
| 3989 | 3989 | | Section 55. Subsection (1) of section 717.1333, Florida 2692 |
|---|
| 3990 | 3990 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 2693 |
|---|
| 3991 | 3991 | | 717.1333 Evidence; estimations; audit reports and 2694 |
|---|
| 3992 | 3992 | | worksheets, investigator examiner's worksheets, investigative 2695 |
|---|
| 3993 | 3993 | | reports and worksheets, other related documents. — 2696 |
|---|
| 3994 | 3994 | | (1) In any proceeding involving a holder under ss. 120.569 2697 |
|---|
| 3995 | 3995 | | and 120.57 in which an audit agent auditor, examiner, or 2698 |
|---|
| 3996 | 3996 | | investigator acting under authority of this chapter is available 2699 |
|---|
| 3997 | 3997 | | for cross-examination, any official written report, worksheet, 2700 |
|---|
| 4005 | 4005 | | Page 109 of 159 |
|---|
| 4006 | 4006 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4007 | 4007 | | |
|---|
| 4008 | 4008 | | |
|---|
| 4009 | 4009 | | |
|---|
| 4010 | 4010 | | or other related paper, or copy thereof, compiled, prepared, 2701 |
|---|
| 4011 | 4011 | | drafted, or otherwise made or received by the audit agent 2702 |
|---|
| 4012 | 4012 | | auditor, examiner, or investigator, after being duly 2703 |
|---|
| 4013 | 4013 | | authenticated by the audit agent auditor, examiner, or 2704 |
|---|
| 4014 | 4014 | | investigator, may be admitted as competent evidence upon the 2705 |
|---|
| 4015 | 4015 | | oath of the audit agent auditor, examiner, or investigator that 2706 |
|---|
| 4016 | 4016 | | the report, worksheet, or related paper was prepared or received 2707 |
|---|
| 4017 | 4017 | | as a result of an audit, examination, or investigation of the 2708 |
|---|
| 4018 | 4018 | | books and records of the person audited, examined, or 2709 |
|---|
| 4019 | 4019 | | investigated, or the agent thereof. 2710 |
|---|
| 4020 | 4020 | | Section 56. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 717.134, 2711 |
|---|
| 4021 | 4021 | | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2712 |
|---|
| 4022 | 4022 | | 717.134 Penalties and interest. — 2713 |
|---|
| 4023 | 4023 | | (1) For any person who willfully fails to render any 2714 |
|---|
| 4024 | 4024 | | report required under this chapter, the department may impose 2715 |
|---|
| 4025 | 4025 | | and collect a penalty of $500 per day up to a maximum of $5,000 2716 |
|---|
| 4026 | 4026 | | and 25 percent of the value of property not reported until an 2717 |
|---|
| 4027 | 4027 | | appropriate a report is provided rendered for any person who 2718 |
|---|
| 4028 | 4028 | | willfully fails to render any report required under this 2719 |
|---|
| 4029 | 4029 | | chapter. Upon a holder's showing of good cause, the department 2720 |
|---|
| 4030 | 4030 | | may waive said penalty or any portion thereof. If the holder 2721 |
|---|
| 4031 | 4031 | | acted in good faith and without negligence, the dep artment shall 2722 |
|---|
| 4032 | 4032 | | waive the penalty provided herein. 2723 |
|---|
| 4033 | 4033 | | (2) For any person who willfully refuses to pay or deliver 2724 |
|---|
| 4034 | 4034 | | unclaimed property to the department as required under this 2725 |
|---|
| 4042 | 4042 | | Page 110 of 159 |
|---|
| 4043 | 4043 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4044 | 4044 | | |
|---|
| 4045 | 4045 | | |
|---|
| 4046 | 4046 | | |
|---|
| 4047 | 4047 | | chapter, the department may impose and collect a penalty of $500 2726 |
|---|
| 4048 | 4048 | | per day up to a maximum of $5,000 and 25 percent of the value of 2727 |
|---|
| 4049 | 4049 | | property not paid or delivered until the property is paid or 2728 |
|---|
| 4050 | 4050 | | delivered for any person who willfully refuses to pay or deliver 2729 |
|---|
| 4051 | 4051 | | abandoned property to the department as required under this 2730 |
|---|
| 4052 | 4052 | | chapter. 2731 |
|---|
| 4053 | 4053 | | Section 57. Section 717.135, Florida Statutes, is amended 2732 |
|---|
| 4054 | 4054 | | to read: 2733 |
|---|
| 4055 | 4055 | | 717.135 Recovery agreements and purchase agreements for 2734 |
|---|
| 4056 | 4056 | | claims filed by a claimant's representative; fees and costs , or 2735 |
|---|
| 4057 | 4057 | | total net gain.— 2736 |
|---|
| 4058 | 4058 | | (1) In order to protect the interests of owners of 2737 |
|---|
| 4059 | 4059 | | unclaimed property, the department shall adopt by rule a form 2738 |
|---|
| 4060 | 4060 | | entitled "Unclaimed Property Recovery Agreement" and a form 2739 |
|---|
| 4061 | 4061 | | entitled "Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement." 2740 |
|---|
| 4062 | 4062 | | (2) The Unclaimed Property Recovery Agreement and the 2741 |
|---|
| 4063 | 4063 | | Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement must include and disclose 2742 |
|---|
| 4064 | 4064 | | all of the following: 2743 |
|---|
| 4065 | 4065 | | (a) The total dollar amount of unclaimed property accounts 2744 |
|---|
| 4066 | 4066 | | claimed or sold. 2745 |
|---|
| 4067 | 4067 | | (b) The total percentage of all authorized fees an d costs 2746 |
|---|
| 4068 | 4068 | | to be paid to the claimant's representative or the percentage of 2747 |
|---|
| 4069 | 4069 | | the value of the property to be paid as net gain to the 2748 |
|---|
| 4070 | 4070 | | purchasing claimant's representative. 2749 |
|---|
| 4071 | 4071 | | (c) The total dollar amount to be deducted and received 2750 |
|---|
| 4079 | 4079 | | Page 111 of 159 |
|---|
| 4080 | 4080 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4081 | 4081 | | |
|---|
| 4082 | 4082 | | |
|---|
| 4083 | 4083 | | |
|---|
| 4084 | 4084 | | from the claimant as fees and c osts by the claimant's 2751 |
|---|
| 4085 | 4085 | | representative or the total net dollar amount to be received by 2752 |
|---|
| 4086 | 4086 | | the purchasing claimant's representative. 2753 |
|---|
| 4087 | 4087 | | (d) The net dollar amount to be received by the claimant 2754 |
|---|
| 4088 | 4088 | | or the seller. 2755 |
|---|
| 4089 | 4089 | | (e) For each account claimed, the unclaimed propert y 2756 |
|---|
| 4090 | 4090 | | account number. 2757 |
|---|
| 4091 | 4091 | | (f) For the Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement, a 2758 |
|---|
| 4092 | 4092 | | statement that the amount of the purchase price will be remitted 2759 |
|---|
| 4093 | 4093 | | to the seller by the purchaser within 30 days after the 2760 |
|---|
| 4094 | 4094 | | execution of the agreement by the seller. 2761 |
|---|
| 4095 | 4095 | | (g) The name, address, e-mail address, phone number, and 2762 |
|---|
| 4096 | 4096 | | license number of the claimant's representative. 2763 |
|---|
| 4097 | 4097 | | (h)1. The manual signature of the claimant or seller and 2764 |
|---|
| 4098 | 4098 | | the date signed, affixed on the agreement by the claimant or 2765 |
|---|
| 4099 | 4099 | | seller. 2766 |
|---|
| 4100 | 4100 | | 2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter to 2767 |
|---|
| 4101 | 4101 | | the contrary, the department may allow an apparent owner, who is 2768 |
|---|
| 4102 | 4102 | | also the claimant or seller, to sign the agreement 2769 |
|---|
| 4103 | 4103 | | electronically for claims of $2,000 or less . All electronic 2770 |
|---|
| 4104 | 4104 | | signatures on the Unclaimed Property Recovery Agreement and the 2771 |
|---|
| 4105 | 4105 | | Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement must be affixed on the 2772 |
|---|
| 4106 | 4106 | | agreement by the claimant or seller using the specific, 2773 |
|---|
| 4107 | 4107 | | exclusive eSignature product and protocol authorized by the 2774 |
|---|
| 4108 | 4108 | | department. 2775 |
|---|
| 4116 | 4116 | | Page 112 of 159 |
|---|
| 4117 | 4117 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4118 | 4118 | | |
|---|
| 4119 | 4119 | | |
|---|
| 4120 | 4120 | | |
|---|
| 4121 | 4121 | | (i) The social security number or taxpayer identification 2776 |
|---|
| 4122 | 4122 | | number of the claimant or seller, if a number has been issued to 2777 |
|---|
| 4123 | 4123 | | the claimant or seller. 2778 |
|---|
| 4124 | 4124 | | (j) The total fees and costs, or the total discount in the 2779 |
|---|
| 4125 | 4125 | | case of a purchase agreement, which may not exceed 30 percent of 2780 |
|---|
| 4126 | 4126 | | the claimed amount. In the case of a recover y agreement, if the 2781 |
|---|
| 4127 | 4127 | | total fees and costs exceed 30 percent, the fees and costs shall 2782 |
|---|
| 4128 | 4128 | | be reduced to 30 percent and the net balance shall be remitted 2783 |
|---|
| 4129 | 4129 | | directly by the department to the claimant. In the case of a 2784 |
|---|
| 4130 | 4130 | | purchase agreement, if the total net gain of th e claimant's 2785 |
|---|
| 4131 | 4131 | | representative exceeds 30 percent, the claim will be denied. 2786 |
|---|
| 4132 | 4132 | | (3) For an Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement form, 2787 |
|---|
| 4133 | 4133 | | proof that the purchaser has made payment must be filed with the 2788 |
|---|
| 4134 | 4134 | | department along with the claim. If proof of payment is not 2789 |
|---|
| 4135 | 4135 | | provided, the claim is void. 2790 |
|---|
| 4136 | 4136 | | (4) A claimant's representative must use the Unclaimed 2791 |
|---|
| 4137 | 4137 | | Property Recovery Agreement or the Unclaimed Property Purchase 2792 |
|---|
| 4138 | 4138 | | Agreement as the exclusive means of entering into an agreement 2793 |
|---|
| 4139 | 4139 | | or a contract with a claimant or seller to f ile a claim with the 2794 |
|---|
| 4140 | 4140 | | department. 2795 |
|---|
| 4141 | 4141 | | (5) Fees and costs may be owed or paid to, or received by, 2796 |
|---|
| 4142 | 4142 | | a claimant's representative only after a filed claim has been 2797 |
|---|
| 4143 | 4143 | | approved and if the claimant's representative used an agreement 2798 |
|---|
| 4144 | 4144 | | authorized by this section. 2799 |
|---|
| 4145 | 4145 | | (6) A claimant's representative may not use or distribute 2800 |
|---|
| 4153 | 4153 | | Page 113 of 159 |
|---|
| 4154 | 4154 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4155 | 4155 | | |
|---|
| 4156 | 4156 | | |
|---|
| 4157 | 4157 | | |
|---|
| 4158 | 4158 | | any other agreement of any type, conveyed by any method, with 2801 |
|---|
| 4159 | 4159 | | respect to the claimant or seller which relates, directly or 2802 |
|---|
| 4160 | 4160 | | indirectly, to unclaimed property accounts held by the 2803 |
|---|
| 4161 | 4161 | | department or the Chief Financial Officer other than the 2804 |
|---|
| 4162 | 4162 | | agreements authorized by this section. Any engagement, 2805 |
|---|
| 4163 | 4163 | | authorization, recovery, or fee agreement that is not authorized 2806 |
|---|
| 4164 | 4164 | | by this section is void. A claimant's representative is subject 2807 |
|---|
| 4165 | 4165 | | to administrative and civil enforc ement under s. 717.1322 if he 2808 |
|---|
| 4166 | 4166 | | or she uses an agreement that is not authorized by this section 2809 |
|---|
| 4167 | 4167 | | and if the agreement is used to apply, directly or indirectly, 2810 |
|---|
| 4168 | 4168 | | to unclaimed property held by this state . This subsection does 2811 |
|---|
| 4169 | 4169 | | not prohibit lawful nonagreement, no ncontractual, or advertising 2812 |
|---|
| 4170 | 4170 | | communications between or among the parties. 2813 |
|---|
| 4171 | 4171 | | (7) The Unclaimed Property Recovery Agreement and the 2814 |
|---|
| 4172 | 4172 | | Unclaimed Property Purchase Agreement may not contain language 2815 |
|---|
| 4173 | 4173 | | that makes the agreement irrevocable or that creates an 2816 |
|---|
| 4174 | 4174 | | assignment of any portion of unclaimed property held by the 2817 |
|---|
| 4175 | 4175 | | department. 2818 |
|---|
| 4176 | 4176 | | (8) When a claim is approved, the department may pay any 2819 |
|---|
| 4177 | 4177 | | additional account that is owned by the claimant but has not 2820 |
|---|
| 4178 | 4178 | | been claimed at the time of approval, provided that a subsequent 2821 |
|---|
| 4179 | 4179 | | claim has not been filed or is not pending for the claimant at 2822 |
|---|
| 4180 | 4180 | | the time of approval. 2823 |
|---|
| 4181 | 4181 | | (9) This section does not supersede s. 717.1241. 2824 |
|---|
| 4182 | 4182 | | (10) This section does not apply to the sale and purchase 2825 |
|---|
| 4190 | 4190 | | Page 114 of 159 |
|---|
| 4191 | 4191 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4192 | 4192 | | |
|---|
| 4193 | 4193 | | |
|---|
| 4194 | 4194 | | |
|---|
| 4195 | 4195 | | of Florida-held unclaimed property accounts through a bankruptcy 2826 |
|---|
| 4196 | 4196 | | estate representative or other person or entity authorized 2827 |
|---|
| 4197 | 4197 | | pursuant to Title XI of the United States Code or an order of a 2828 |
|---|
| 4198 | 4198 | | bankruptcy court to act on behalf or for the benefit of the 2829 |
|---|
| 4199 | 4199 | | debtor, its creditors, and its bankruptcy estate. 2830 |
|---|
| 4200 | 4200 | | Section 58. Subsecti ons (1), (2), and (3) of section 2831 |
|---|
| 4201 | 4201 | | 717.1400, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 2832 |
|---|
| 4202 | 4202 | | 717.1400 Registration. — 2833 |
|---|
| 4203 | 4203 | | (1) In order to file claims as a claimant's 2834 |
|---|
| 4204 | 4204 | | representative, acquire ownership of or entitlement to unclaimed 2835 |
|---|
| 4205 | 4205 | | property, receive a distribution of f ees and costs from the 2836 |
|---|
| 4206 | 4206 | | department, and obtain unclaimed property dollar amounts and 2837 |
|---|
| 4207 | 4207 | | numbers of reported shares of stock held by the department, a 2838 |
|---|
| 4208 | 4208 | | private investigator holding a Class "C" individual license 2839 |
|---|
| 4209 | 4209 | | under chapter 493 must register with the departmen t on such form 2840 |
|---|
| 4210 | 4210 | | as the department prescribes by rule and must be verified by the 2841 |
|---|
| 4211 | 4211 | | applicant. To register with the department, a private 2842 |
|---|
| 4212 | 4212 | | investigator must provide: 2843 |
|---|
| 4213 | 4213 | | (a) A legible copy of the applicant's Class "A" business 2844 |
|---|
| 4214 | 4214 | | license under chapter 493 or that of the applicant's firm or 2845 |
|---|
| 4215 | 4215 | | employer which holds a Class "A" business license under chapter 2846 |
|---|
| 4216 | 4216 | | 493. 2847 |
|---|
| 4217 | 4217 | | (b) A legible copy of the applicant's Class "C" individual 2848 |
|---|
| 4218 | 4218 | | license issued under chapter 493. 2849 |
|---|
| 4219 | 4219 | | (c) The business address and telephone number of the 2850 |
|---|
| 4227 | 4227 | | Page 115 of 159 |
|---|
| 4228 | 4228 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4229 | 4229 | | |
|---|
| 4230 | 4230 | | |
|---|
| 4231 | 4231 | | |
|---|
| 4232 | 4232 | | applicant's private investigative firm or employer. 2851 |
|---|
| 4233 | 4233 | | (d) The names of agents or employees, if any, who are 2852 |
|---|
| 4234 | 4234 | | designated to act on behalf of the private investigator, 2853 |
|---|
| 4235 | 4235 | | together with a legible copy of their photo identification 2854 |
|---|
| 4236 | 4236 | | issued by an agency of the United States, or a state, or a 2855 |
|---|
| 4237 | 4237 | | political subdivision thereof. 2856 |
|---|
| 4238 | 4238 | | (e) Sufficient information to enable the department to 2857 |
|---|
| 4239 | 4239 | | disburse funds by electronic funds transfer. 2858 |
|---|
| 4240 | 4240 | | (f) The tax identification number of the private 2859 |
|---|
| 4241 | 4241 | | investigator's firm or employer which holds a Class "A" b usiness 2860 |
|---|
| 4242 | 4242 | | license under chapter 493. 2861 |
|---|
| 4243 | 4243 | | (2) In order to file claims as a claimant's 2862 |
|---|
| 4244 | 4244 | | representative, acquire ownership of or entitlement to unclaimed 2863 |
|---|
| 4245 | 4245 | | property, receive a distribution of fees and costs from the 2864 |
|---|
| 4246 | 4246 | | department, and obtain unclaimed property dollar a mounts and 2865 |
|---|
| 4247 | 4247 | | numbers of reported shares of stock held by the department, a 2866 |
|---|
| 4248 | 4248 | | Florida-certified public accountant must register with the 2867 |
|---|
| 4249 | 4249 | | department on such form as the department prescribes by rule and 2868 |
|---|
| 4250 | 4250 | | must be verified by the applicant. To register with the 2869 |
|---|
| 4251 | 4251 | | department, a Florida-certified public accountant must provide: 2870 |
|---|
| 4252 | 4252 | | (a) The applicant's Florida Board of Accountancy number. 2871 |
|---|
| 4253 | 4253 | | (b) A legible copy of the applicant's current driver 2872 |
|---|
| 4254 | 4254 | | license showing the full name and current address of such 2873 |
|---|
| 4255 | 4255 | | person. If a current dr iver license is not available, another 2874 |
|---|
| 4256 | 4256 | | form of identification showing the full name and current address 2875 |
|---|
| 4264 | 4264 | | Page 116 of 159 |
|---|
| 4265 | 4265 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4266 | 4266 | | |
|---|
| 4267 | 4267 | | |
|---|
| 4268 | 4268 | | |
|---|
| 4269 | 4269 | | of such person or persons shall be filed with the department. 2876 |
|---|
| 4270 | 4270 | | (c) The business address and telephone number of the 2877 |
|---|
| 4271 | 4271 | | applicant's public accounting firm or employer. 2878 |
|---|
| 4272 | 4272 | | (d) The names of agents or employees, if any, who are 2879 |
|---|
| 4273 | 4273 | | designated to act on behalf of the Florida -certified public 2880 |
|---|
| 4274 | 4274 | | accountant, together with a legible copy of their photo 2881 |
|---|
| 4275 | 4275 | | identification issued by an agency of the United States, or a 2882 |
|---|
| 4276 | 4276 | | state, or a political subdivision thereof. 2883 |
|---|
| 4277 | 4277 | | (e) Sufficient information to enable the department to 2884 |
|---|
| 4278 | 4278 | | disburse funds by electronic funds transfer. 2885 |
|---|
| 4279 | 4279 | | (f) The tax identification number of the accountant's 2886 |
|---|
| 4280 | 4280 | | public accounting firm employer. 2887 |
|---|
| 4281 | 4281 | | (3) In order to file claims a s a claimant's 2888 |
|---|
| 4282 | 4282 | | representative, acquire ownership of or entitlement to unclaimed 2889 |
|---|
| 4283 | 4283 | | property, receive a distribution of fees and costs from the 2890 |
|---|
| 4284 | 4284 | | department, and obtain unclaimed property dollar amounts and 2891 |
|---|
| 4285 | 4285 | | numbers of reported shares of stock held by the departm ent, an 2892 |
|---|
| 4286 | 4286 | | attorney licensed to practice in this state must register with 2893 |
|---|
| 4287 | 4287 | | the department on such form as the department prescribes by rule 2894 |
|---|
| 4288 | 4288 | | and must be verified by the applicant. To register with the 2895 |
|---|
| 4289 | 4289 | | department, such attorney must provide: 2896 |
|---|
| 4290 | 4290 | | (a) The applicant's Florida Bar number. 2897 |
|---|
| 4291 | 4291 | | (b) A legible copy of the applicant's current driver 2898 |
|---|
| 4292 | 4292 | | license showing the full name and current address of such 2899 |
|---|
| 4293 | 4293 | | person. If a current driver license is not available, another 2900 |
|---|
| 4301 | 4301 | | Page 117 of 159 |
|---|
| 4302 | 4302 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4303 | 4303 | | |
|---|
| 4304 | 4304 | | |
|---|
| 4305 | 4305 | | |
|---|
| 4306 | 4306 | | form of identification showing the full name and current ad dress 2901 |
|---|
| 4307 | 4307 | | of such person or persons shall be filed with the department. 2902 |
|---|
| 4308 | 4308 | | (c) The business address and telephone number of the 2903 |
|---|
| 4309 | 4309 | | applicant's firm or employer. 2904 |
|---|
| 4310 | 4310 | | (d) The names of agents or employees, if any, who are 2905 |
|---|
| 4311 | 4311 | | designated to act on behalf of the attorney, to gether with a 2906 |
|---|
| 4312 | 4312 | | legible copy of their photo identification issued by an agency 2907 |
|---|
| 4313 | 4313 | | of the United States, or a state, or a political subdivision 2908 |
|---|
| 4314 | 4314 | | thereof. 2909 |
|---|
| 4315 | 4315 | | (e) Sufficient information to enable the department to 2910 |
|---|
| 4316 | 4316 | | disburse funds by electronic funds transfer. 2911 |
|---|
| 4317 | 4317 | | (f) The tax identification number of the attorney's firm 2912 |
|---|
| 4318 | 4318 | | or employer. 2913 |
|---|
| 4319 | 4319 | | Section 59. Paragraph (c) of subsection (10) of section 2914 |
|---|
| 4320 | 4320 | | 766.302, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2915 |
|---|
| 4321 | 4321 | | 766.302 Definitions; ss. 766.301 -766.316.—As used in ss. 2916 |
|---|
| 4322 | 4322 | | 766.301-766.316, the term: 2917 |
|---|
| 4323 | 4323 | | (10) "Family residential or custodial care" means care 2918 |
|---|
| 4324 | 4324 | | normally rendered by trained professional attendants which is 2919 |
|---|
| 4325 | 4325 | | beyond the scope of child care duties, but which is provided by 2920 |
|---|
| 4326 | 4326 | | family members. Family members who provide nonprofessional 2921 |
|---|
| 4327 | 4327 | | residential or custodial care may not be compensated under this 2922 |
|---|
| 4328 | 4328 | | act for care that falls within the scope of child care duties 2923 |
|---|
| 4329 | 4329 | | and other services normally and gratuitously provided by family 2924 |
|---|
| 4330 | 4330 | | members. Family residential or custodial care shall be performed 2925 |
|---|
| 4338 | 4338 | | Page 118 of 159 |
|---|
| 4339 | 4339 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4340 | 4340 | | |
|---|
| 4341 | 4341 | | |
|---|
| 4342 | 4342 | | |
|---|
| 4343 | 4343 | | only at the direction and control of a physician when such care 2926 |
|---|
| 4344 | 4344 | | is medically necessary. Reasonable charges for expenses for 2927 |
|---|
| 4345 | 4345 | | family residential or custodial care provided by a family member 2928 |
|---|
| 4346 | 4346 | | shall be determined as follows: 2929 |
|---|
| 4347 | 4347 | | (c) The award of family residential or cus todial care as 2930 |
|---|
| 4348 | 4348 | | defined in this section shall not be included in the current 2931 |
|---|
| 4349 | 4349 | | estimates for purposes of s. 766.314(9)(c). 2932 |
|---|
| 4350 | 4350 | | Section 60. Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) of section 2933 |
|---|
| 4351 | 4351 | | 766.314, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2934 |
|---|
| 4352 | 4352 | | 766.314 Assessments; plan of operation.— 2935 |
|---|
| 4353 | 4353 | | (9) 2936 |
|---|
| 4354 | 4354 | | (c) If the total of all current estimates equals or 2937 |
|---|
| 4355 | 4355 | | exceeds 100 80 percent of the funds on hand and the funds that 2938 |
|---|
| 4356 | 4356 | | will become available to the association within the next 12 2939 |
|---|
| 4357 | 4357 | | months from all sources described in subsection subsections (4) 2940 |
|---|
| 4358 | 4358 | | and (5) and paragraph (5)(a) (7)(a), the association may not 2941 |
|---|
| 4359 | 4359 | | accept any new claims without express authority from the 2942 |
|---|
| 4360 | 4360 | | Legislature. Nothing in This section does not preclude precludes 2943 |
|---|
| 4361 | 4361 | | the association from accepting any claim if the injury occurred 2944 |
|---|
| 4362 | 4362 | | 18 months or more before the effective date of this suspension. 2945 |
|---|
| 4363 | 4363 | | Within 30 days after the effective date of this suspension, the 2946 |
|---|
| 4364 | 4364 | | association shall notify the Governor, the Speaker of the House 2947 |
|---|
| 4365 | 4365 | | of Representatives, the President of the Senate, the Office of 2948 |
|---|
| 4366 | 4366 | | Insurance Regulation, the Agency for Health Care Administration, 2949 |
|---|
| 4367 | 4367 | | and the Department of Health of this suspension. 2950 |
|---|
| 4375 | 4375 | | Page 119 of 159 |
|---|
| 4376 | 4376 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4377 | 4377 | | |
|---|
| 4378 | 4378 | | |
|---|
| 4379 | 4379 | | |
|---|
| 4380 | 4380 | | Section 61. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section 2951 |
|---|
| 4381 | 4381 | | 197.582, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 2952 |
|---|
| 4382 | 4382 | | 197.582 Disbursement of proceeds of sale. — 2953 |
|---|
| 4383 | 4383 | | (2)(a) If the property is purchased for an amount in 2954 |
|---|
| 4384 | 4384 | | excess of the statutory bid of the certificateholder, the 2955 |
|---|
| 4385 | 4385 | | surplus must be paid over and disbursed by the clerk as set 2956 |
|---|
| 4386 | 4386 | | forth in subsections (3), (5), and (6). If the opening bid 2957 |
|---|
| 4387 | 4387 | | included the homestead assessment pursuant to s. 197.502(6)(c), 2958 |
|---|
| 4388 | 4388 | | that amount must be treated as surplus and distributed in the 2959 |
|---|
| 4389 | 4389 | | same manner. The clerk shall distribute the surplus to the 2960 |
|---|
| 4390 | 4390 | | governmental units for the payment of any lien of record held by 2961 |
|---|
| 4391 | 4391 | | a governmental unit against the property, including any tax 2962 |
|---|
| 4392 | 4392 | | certificates not incorporated in the tax deed application and 2963 |
|---|
| 4393 | 4393 | | omitted taxes, if any. If there remains a balance of 2964 |
|---|
| 4394 | 4394 | | undistributed funds, the balance must be retained by the clerk 2965 |
|---|
| 4395 | 4395 | | for the benefit of persons described in s. 197 .522(1)(a), except 2966 |
|---|
| 4396 | 4396 | | those persons described in s. 197.502(4)(h), as their interests 2967 |
|---|
| 4397 | 4397 | | may appear. The clerk shall mail notices to such persons 2968 |
|---|
| 4398 | 4398 | | notifying them of the funds held for their benefit at the 2969 |
|---|
| 4399 | 4399 | | addresses provided in s. 197.502(4). Such notice constitut es 2970 |
|---|
| 4400 | 4400 | | compliance with the requirements of s. 717.117(6) s. 717.117(4). 2971 |
|---|
| 4401 | 4401 | | Any service charges and costs of mailing notices shall be paid 2972 |
|---|
| 4402 | 4402 | | out of the excess balance held by the clerk. Notice must be 2973 |
|---|
| 4403 | 4403 | | provided in substantially the following form: 2974 |
|---|
| 4404 | 4404 | | NOTICE OF SURPLUS FUNDS FROM TAX DEED SALE 2975 |
|---|
| 4412 | 4412 | | Page 120 of 159 |
|---|
| 4413 | 4413 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4414 | 4414 | | |
|---|
| 4415 | 4415 | | |
|---|
| 4416 | 4416 | | |
|---|
| 4417 | 4417 | | CLERK OF COURT 2976 |
|---|
| 4418 | 4418 | | .... COUNTY, FLORIDA 2977 |
|---|
| 4419 | 4419 | | Tax Deed #........ 2978 |
|---|
| 4420 | 4420 | | Certificate #........ 2979 |
|---|
| 4421 | 4421 | | Property Description: ........ 2980 |
|---|
| 4422 | 4422 | | Pursuant to chapter 197, Florida Statutes, the above 2981 |
|---|
| 4423 | 4423 | | property was sold at public sale on ...(date of sale)..., and a 2982 |
|---|
| 4424 | 4424 | | surplus of $...(amount)... (subject to change) will be held by 2983 |
|---|
| 4425 | 4425 | | this office for 120 days beginning on the date of this notice to 2984 |
|---|
| 4426 | 4426 | | benefit the persons having an interest in this property as 2985 |
|---|
| 4427 | 4427 | | described in section 197.502(4), Florida Statutes, as their 2986 |
|---|
| 4428 | 4428 | | interests may appear (except for those persons described in 2987 |
|---|
| 4429 | 4429 | | section 197.502(4)(h), Florida Statutes). 2988 |
|---|
| 4430 | 4430 | | To the extent possible, these funds will be used to satisfy 2989 |
|---|
| 4431 | 4431 | | in full each claimant with a senior mortgage or lien in the 2990 |
|---|
| 4432 | 4432 | | property before distribution of any funds t o any junior mortgage 2991 |
|---|
| 4433 | 4433 | | or lien claimant or to the former property owner. To be 2992 |
|---|
| 4434 | 4434 | | considered for funds when they are distributed, you must file a 2993 |
|---|
| 4435 | 4435 | | notarized statement of claim with this office within 120 days of 2994 |
|---|
| 4436 | 4436 | | this notice. If you are a lienholder, your claim must include 2995 |
|---|
| 4437 | 4437 | | the particulars of your lien and the amounts currently due. Any 2996 |
|---|
| 4438 | 4438 | | lienholder claim that is not filed within the 120 -day deadline 2997 |
|---|
| 4439 | 4439 | | is barred. 2998 |
|---|
| 4440 | 4440 | | A copy of this notice must be attached to your statement of 2999 |
|---|
| 4441 | 4441 | | claim. After the office examines the filed c laim statements, it 3000 |
|---|
| 4449 | 4449 | | Page 121 of 159 |
|---|
| 4450 | 4450 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4451 | 4451 | | |
|---|
| 4452 | 4452 | | |
|---|
| 4453 | 4453 | | |
|---|
| 4454 | 4454 | | will notify you if you are entitled to any payment. 3001 |
|---|
| 4455 | 4455 | | Dated: ........ 3002 |
|---|
| 4456 | 4456 | | Clerk of Court 3003 |
|---|
| 4457 | 4457 | | Section 62. Subsection (1) of section 717.1382, Florida 3004 |
|---|
| 4458 | 4458 | | Statutes, is amended to read: 3005 |
|---|
| 4459 | 4459 | | 717.1382 United States savings bond; unclaimed property; 3006 |
|---|
| 4460 | 4460 | | escheatment; procedure. — 3007 |
|---|
| 4461 | 4461 | | (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a United 3008 |
|---|
| 4462 | 4462 | | States savings bond in possession of the department or 3009 |
|---|
| 4463 | 4463 | | registered to a person with a last known address in the state, 3010 |
|---|
| 4464 | 4464 | | including a bond that is lost, stolen, or destroyed, is presumed 3011 |
|---|
| 4465 | 4465 | | abandoned and unclaimed 5 years after the bond reaches maturity 3012 |
|---|
| 4466 | 4466 | | and no longer earns interest and shall be reported and remitted 3013 |
|---|
| 4467 | 4467 | | to the department by the financial institution or other holder 3014 |
|---|
| 4468 | 4468 | | in accordance with ss. 717.117(1) and (5) (3) and 717.119, if 3015 |
|---|
| 4469 | 4469 | | the department is not in possession of the bond. 3016 |
|---|
| 4470 | 4470 | | Section 63. The Division of Law Revision is directed to 3017 |
|---|
| 4471 | 4471 | | prepare a reviser's bill for the 2025 Regular Session of the 3018 |
|---|
| 4472 | 4472 | | Legislature to change the term "Division of Investigative and 3019 |
|---|
| 4473 | 4473 | | Forensic Services" wherever the term appears in the Florida 3020 |
|---|
| 4474 | 4474 | | Statutes to "Division of Criminal Investigations." 3021 |
|---|
| 4475 | 4475 | | Section 64. By September 1, 2024, the Florida Birth-3022 |
|---|
| 4476 | 4476 | | Related Neurological Injury Compensation Association shall, in 3023 |
|---|
| 4477 | 4477 | | consultation with the Office of Insurance Re gulation and the 3024 |
|---|
| 4478 | 4478 | | Agency for Health Care Administration, submit a report to the 3025 |
|---|
| 4486 | 4486 | | Page 122 of 159 |
|---|
| 4487 | 4487 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4488 | 4488 | | |
|---|
| 4489 | 4489 | | |
|---|
| 4490 | 4490 | | |
|---|
| 4491 | 4491 | | Governor, the Chief Financial Officer, the President of the 3026 |
|---|
| 4492 | 4492 | | Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives which 3027 |
|---|
| 4493 | 4493 | | must include, but is not limited to, the following: 3028 |
|---|
| 4494 | 4494 | | (1) Recommendations for defining actuarial soundness for 3029 |
|---|
| 4495 | 4495 | | the association, including options for phase -in, if appropriate. 3030 |
|---|
| 4496 | 4496 | | (2) Recommendations for timing of reporting actuarial 3031 |
|---|
| 4497 | 4497 | | soundness and to whom the soundness should be reported. 3032 |
|---|
| 4498 | 4498 | | (3) Recommendations for ensuring a revenue level to 3033 |
|---|
| 4499 | 4499 | | maintain actuarial soundness, including options for phase -in, if 3034 |
|---|
| 4500 | 4500 | | appropriate. 3035 |
|---|
| 4501 | 4501 | | Section 65. Effective July 1, 2024, paragraph (b) of 3036 |
|---|
| 4502 | 4502 | | subsection (1) and subsection (7) of section 17.57, Florida 3037 |
|---|
| 4503 | 4503 | | Statutes, are amended to rea d: 3038 |
|---|
| 4504 | 4504 | | 17.57 Deposits and investments of state money. — 3039 |
|---|
| 4505 | 4505 | | (1)(b) The Chief Financial Officer, or other parties with 3040 |
|---|
| 4506 | 4506 | | the permission of the Chief Financial Officer, shall deposit the 3041 |
|---|
| 4507 | 4507 | | money of the state or any money in the State Treasury in such 3042 |
|---|
| 4508 | 4508 | | qualified public depositories of the state as will offer 3043 |
|---|
| 4509 | 4509 | | satisfactory collateral security for such deposits, pursuant to 3044 |
|---|
| 4510 | 4510 | | chapter 280. It is the duty of the Chief Financial Officer, 3045 |
|---|
| 4511 | 4511 | | consistent with the cash requirements of the state, to keep such 3046 |
|---|
| 4512 | 4512 | | money fully invested or dep osited as provided herein in order 3047 |
|---|
| 4513 | 4513 | | that the state may realize maximum earnings and benefits. 3048 |
|---|
| 4514 | 4514 | | Nothing in this section shall preclude credit unions designated 3049 |
|---|
| 4515 | 4515 | | as public depositories from participation. 3050 |
|---|
| 4523 | 4523 | | Page 123 of 159 |
|---|
| 4524 | 4524 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4525 | 4525 | | |
|---|
| 4526 | 4526 | | |
|---|
| 4527 | 4527 | | |
|---|
| 4528 | 4528 | | (7) In addition to the deposits authorized under this 3051 |
|---|
| 4529 | 4529 | | section and notwithstanding any other provisions of law, funds 3052 |
|---|
| 4530 | 4530 | | that are not needed to meet the disbursement needs of the state 3053 |
|---|
| 4531 | 4531 | | may be deposited by the Chief Financial Officer in accordance 3054 |
|---|
| 4532 | 4532 | | with the following conditions: 3055 |
|---|
| 4533 | 4533 | | (a) The funds are initially deposi ted in a qualified 3056 |
|---|
| 4534 | 4534 | | public depository, as defined in s. 280.02, selected by the 3057 |
|---|
| 4535 | 4535 | | Chief Financial Officer. 3058 |
|---|
| 4536 | 4536 | | (b) The selected depository arranges for depositing the 3059 |
|---|
| 4537 | 4537 | | funds in financial deposit instruments insured by : 3060 |
|---|
| 4538 | 4538 | | 1. The Federal Deposit Insurance Corporat ion in one or 3061 |
|---|
| 4539 | 4539 | | more federally insured banks or savings and loan associations, 3062 |
|---|
| 4540 | 4540 | | wherever located, for the account of the state. 3063 |
|---|
| 4541 | 4541 | | 2. For credit unions designated as qualified public 3064 |
|---|
| 4542 | 4542 | | depositories, the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund. 3065 |
|---|
| 4543 | 4543 | | (c) The full amount of the principal and accrued interest 3066 |
|---|
| 4544 | 4544 | | of each financial deposit instrument is insured by the Federal 3067 |
|---|
| 4545 | 4545 | | Deposit Insurance Corporation or, for credit unions designated 3068 |
|---|
| 4546 | 4546 | | as qualified public depositories, the National Credit Union 3069 |
|---|
| 4547 | 4547 | | Share Insurance Fund . 3070 |
|---|
| 4548 | 4548 | | (d) The selected depository acts as custodian for the 3071 |
|---|
| 4549 | 4549 | | state with respect to each financial deposit instrument issued 3072 |
|---|
| 4550 | 4550 | | for its account. 3073 |
|---|
| 4551 | 4551 | | Section 66. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (4) of 3074 |
|---|
| 4552 | 4552 | | section 17.68, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3075 |
|---|
| 4560 | 4560 | | Page 124 of 159 |
|---|
| 4561 | 4561 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4562 | 4562 | | |
|---|
| 4563 | 4563 | | |
|---|
| 4564 | 4564 | | |
|---|
| 4565 | 4565 | | 17.68 Financial Literacy Program for Individuals with 3076 |
|---|
| 4566 | 4566 | | Developmental Disabilities. — 3077 |
|---|
| 4567 | 4567 | | (4) Within 90 days after the department establishes the 3078 |
|---|
| 4568 | 4568 | | website clearinghouse and publishes the brochure, each bank, 3079 |
|---|
| 4569 | 4569 | | credit union, savings association, and savings bank that is a 3080 |
|---|
| 4570 | 4570 | | qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02 shall: 3081 |
|---|
| 4571 | 4571 | | (a) Make copies of the department's brochures available, 3082 |
|---|
| 4572 | 4572 | | upon the request of the consumer, at its principal place of 3083 |
|---|
| 4573 | 4573 | | business and each branch office located in this state which has 3084 |
|---|
| 4574 | 4574 | | in-person teller services by having copies of the brochure 3085 |
|---|
| 4575 | 4575 | | available or having the capability to print a copy of the 3086 |
|---|
| 4576 | 4576 | | brochure from the department's website. Upon request, the 3087 |
|---|
| 4577 | 4577 | | department shall provide copies of the brochure to a bank, 3088 |
|---|
| 4578 | 4578 | | credit union, savings association, or s avings bank. 3089 |
|---|
| 4579 | 4579 | | (b) Provide on its website a hyperlink to the department's 3090 |
|---|
| 4580 | 4580 | | website clearinghouse. If the department changes the website 3091 |
|---|
| 4581 | 4581 | | address for the clearinghouse, the bank, credit union, savings 3092 |
|---|
| 4582 | 4582 | | association, or savings bank must update the hyperlink wit hin 90 3093 |
|---|
| 4583 | 4583 | | days after notification by the department of such change. 3094 |
|---|
| 4584 | 4584 | | Section 67. Effective July 1, 2024, subsections (6), (10), 3095 |
|---|
| 4585 | 4585 | | (21), (23), and (26) of section 280.02, Florida Statutes, are 3096 |
|---|
| 4586 | 4586 | | amended to read: 3097 |
|---|
| 4587 | 4587 | | 280.02 Definitions. —As used in this chapter, th e term: 3098 |
|---|
| 4588 | 4588 | | (6) "Capital account" or "tangible equity capital" means 3099 |
|---|
| 4589 | 4589 | | total equity capital, as defined on the balance -sheet portion of 3100 |
|---|
| 4597 | 4597 | | Page 125 of 159 |
|---|
| 4598 | 4598 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4599 | 4599 | | |
|---|
| 4600 | 4600 | | |
|---|
| 4601 | 4601 | | |
|---|
| 4602 | 4602 | | the Consolidated Reports of Condition and Income (call report) , 3101 |
|---|
| 4603 | 4603 | | or net worth, as described in the National Credit Union 3102 |
|---|
| 4604 | 4604 | | Administration 5300 Call Report , less intangible assets, as 3103 |
|---|
| 4605 | 4605 | | submitted to the regulatory financial banking authority. 3104 |
|---|
| 4606 | 4606 | | (10) "Custodian" means the Chief Financial Officer or a 3105 |
|---|
| 4607 | 4607 | | bank, credit union, savings association, or trust company that: 3106 |
|---|
| 4608 | 4608 | | (a) Is organized an d existing under the laws of this 3107 |
|---|
| 4609 | 4609 | | state, any other state, or the United States; 3108 |
|---|
| 4610 | 4610 | | (b) Has executed all forms required under this chapter or 3109 |
|---|
| 4611 | 4611 | | any rule adopted hereunder; 3110 |
|---|
| 4612 | 4612 | | (c) Agrees to be subject to the jurisdiction of the courts 3111 |
|---|
| 4613 | 4613 | | of this state, or of the co urts of the United States which are 3112 |
|---|
| 4614 | 4614 | | located within this state, for the purpose of any litigation 3113 |
|---|
| 4615 | 4615 | | arising out of this chapter; and 3114 |
|---|
| 4616 | 4616 | | (d) Has been approved by the Chief Financial Officer to 3115 |
|---|
| 4617 | 4617 | | act as a custodian. 3116 |
|---|
| 4618 | 4618 | | (21) "Pool figure" means the total average mon thly 3117 |
|---|
| 4619 | 4619 | | balances of public deposits held by all banks, savings banks, or 3118 |
|---|
| 4620 | 4620 | | savings associations or held separately by all credit unions 3119 |
|---|
| 4621 | 4621 | | qualified public depositories during the immediately preceding 3120 |
|---|
| 4622 | 4622 | | 12-month period. 3121 |
|---|
| 4623 | 4623 | | (23) "Public deposit" means the moneys of t he state or of 3122 |
|---|
| 4624 | 4624 | | any state university, county, school district, community college 3123 |
|---|
| 4625 | 4625 | | district, special district, metropolitan government, or 3124 |
|---|
| 4626 | 4626 | | municipality, including agencies, boards, bureaus, commissions, 3125 |
|---|
| 4634 | 4634 | | Page 126 of 159 |
|---|
| 4635 | 4635 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4636 | 4636 | | |
|---|
| 4637 | 4637 | | |
|---|
| 4638 | 4638 | | |
|---|
| 4639 | 4639 | | and institutions of any of the foregoing, or of any cour t, and 3126 |
|---|
| 4640 | 4640 | | includes the moneys of all county officers, including 3127 |
|---|
| 4641 | 4641 | | constitutional officers, which are placed on deposit in a bank, 3128 |
|---|
| 4642 | 4642 | | credit union, savings bank, or savings association. This 3129 |
|---|
| 4643 | 4643 | | includes, but is not limited to, time deposit accounts, demand 3130 |
|---|
| 4644 | 4644 | | deposit accounts, and nonnegotiable certificates of deposit. 3131 |
|---|
| 4645 | 4645 | | Moneys in deposit notes and in other nondeposit accounts such as 3132 |
|---|
| 4646 | 4646 | | repurchase or reverse repurchase operations are not public 3133 |
|---|
| 4647 | 4647 | | deposits. Securities, mutual funds, and similar types of 3134 |
|---|
| 4648 | 4648 | | investments are not publi c deposits and are not subject to this 3135 |
|---|
| 4649 | 4649 | | chapter. 3136 |
|---|
| 4650 | 4650 | | (26) "Qualified public depository" means a bank, credit 3137 |
|---|
| 4651 | 4651 | | union, savings bank, or savings association that: 3138 |
|---|
| 4652 | 4652 | | (a) Is organized and exists under the laws of the United 3139 |
|---|
| 4653 | 4653 | | States, or the laws of this state , or the laws of any other 3140 |
|---|
| 4654 | 4654 | | state or territory of the United States. 3141 |
|---|
| 4655 | 4655 | | (b) Has its principal place of business in this state or 3142 |
|---|
| 4656 | 4656 | | has a branch office in this state which is authorized under the 3143 |
|---|
| 4657 | 4657 | | laws of this state or of the United States to receive deposits 3144 |
|---|
| 4658 | 4658 | | in this state. 3145 |
|---|
| 4659 | 4659 | | (c) Is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance 3146 |
|---|
| 4660 | 4660 | | Corporation or the National Credit Union Share Insurance Fund 3147 |
|---|
| 4661 | 4661 | | Has deposit insurance pursuant to the Federal Deposit Insurance 3148 |
|---|
| 4662 | 4662 | | Act, as amended, 12 U.S.C. ss. 1811 et seq . 3149 |
|---|
| 4663 | 4663 | | (d) Has procedures and prac tices for accurate 3150 |
|---|
| 4671 | 4671 | | Page 127 of 159 |
|---|
| 4672 | 4672 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4673 | 4673 | | |
|---|
| 4674 | 4674 | | |
|---|
| 4675 | 4675 | | |
|---|
| 4676 | 4676 | | identification, classification, reporting, and collateralization 3151 |
|---|
| 4677 | 4677 | | of public deposits. 3152 |
|---|
| 4678 | 4678 | | (e) Makes determinations about the provision of services 3153 |
|---|
| 4679 | 4679 | | or the denial of services based on an analysis of risk factors 3154 |
|---|
| 4680 | 4680 | | unique to each customer or mem ber. This paragraph does not 3155 |
|---|
| 4681 | 4681 | | restrict a qualified public depository that claims a religious 3156 |
|---|
| 4682 | 4682 | | purpose from making such determinations based on the religious 3157 |
|---|
| 4683 | 4683 | | beliefs, religious exercise, or religious affiliations of a 3158 |
|---|
| 4684 | 4684 | | customer or member. 3159 |
|---|
| 4685 | 4685 | | (f) Does not engage in the unsafe and unsound practice of 3160 |
|---|
| 4686 | 4686 | | denying or canceling its services to a person, or otherwise 3161 |
|---|
| 4687 | 4687 | | discriminating against a person in making available such 3162 |
|---|
| 4688 | 4688 | | services or in the terms or conditions of such services, on the 3163 |
|---|
| 4689 | 4689 | | basis of: 3164 |
|---|
| 4690 | 4690 | | 1. The person's politica l opinions, speech, or 3165 |
|---|
| 4691 | 4691 | | affiliations; 3166 |
|---|
| 4692 | 4692 | | 2. Except as provided in paragraph (e), the person's 3167 |
|---|
| 4693 | 4693 | | religious beliefs, religious exercise, or religious 3168 |
|---|
| 4694 | 4694 | | affiliations; 3169 |
|---|
| 4695 | 4695 | | 3. Any factor if it is not a quantitative, impartial, and 3170 |
|---|
| 4696 | 4696 | | risk-based standard, including any suc h factor related to the 3171 |
|---|
| 4697 | 4697 | | person's business sector; or 3172 |
|---|
| 4698 | 4698 | | 4. The use of any rating, scoring, analysis, tabulation, 3173 |
|---|
| 4699 | 4699 | | or action that considers a social credit score based on factors 3174 |
|---|
| 4700 | 4700 | | including, but not limited to: 3175 |
|---|
| 4708 | 4708 | | Page 128 of 159 |
|---|
| 4709 | 4709 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4710 | 4710 | | |
|---|
| 4711 | 4711 | | |
|---|
| 4712 | 4712 | | |
|---|
| 4713 | 4713 | | a. The person's political opinions, speech, or 3176 |
|---|
| 4714 | 4714 | | affiliations. 3177 |
|---|
| 4715 | 4715 | | b. The person's religious beliefs, religious exercise, or 3178 |
|---|
| 4716 | 4716 | | religious affiliations. 3179 |
|---|
| 4717 | 4717 | | c. The person's lawful ownership of a firearm. 3180 |
|---|
| 4718 | 4718 | | d. The person's engagement in the lawful manufacture, 3181 |
|---|
| 4719 | 4719 | | distribution, sale, purchase, or use of firearms or a mmunition. 3182 |
|---|
| 4720 | 4720 | | e. The person's engagement in the exploration, production, 3183 |
|---|
| 4721 | 4721 | | utilization, transportation, sale, or manufacture of fossil 3184 |
|---|
| 4722 | 4722 | | fuel-based energy, timber, mining, or agriculture. 3185 |
|---|
| 4723 | 4723 | | f. The person's support of the state or Federal Government 3186 |
|---|
| 4724 | 4724 | | in combating illegal immigration, drug trafficking, or human 3187 |
|---|
| 4725 | 4725 | | trafficking. 3188 |
|---|
| 4726 | 4726 | | g. The person's engagement with, facilitation of, 3189 |
|---|
| 4727 | 4727 | | employment by, support of, business relationship with, 3190 |
|---|
| 4728 | 4728 | | representation of, or advocacy for any person described in this 3191 |
|---|
| 4729 | 4729 | | subparagraph. 3192 |
|---|
| 4730 | 4730 | | h. The person's failure to meet or commit to meet, or 3193 |
|---|
| 4731 | 4731 | | expected failure to meet, any of the following as long as such 3194 |
|---|
| 4732 | 4732 | | person is in compliance with applicable state or federal law: 3195 |
|---|
| 4733 | 4733 | | (I) Environmental standards, including emissions 3196 |
|---|
| 4734 | 4734 | | standards, benchmarks, requiremen ts, or disclosures; 3197 |
|---|
| 4735 | 4735 | | (II) Social governance standards, benchmarks, or 3198 |
|---|
| 4736 | 4736 | | requirements, including, but not limited to, environmental or 3199 |
|---|
| 4737 | 4737 | | social justice; 3200 |
|---|
| 4745 | 4745 | | Page 129 of 159 |
|---|
| 4746 | 4746 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4747 | 4747 | | |
|---|
| 4748 | 4748 | | |
|---|
| 4749 | 4749 | | |
|---|
| 4750 | 4750 | | (III) Corporate board or company employment composition 3201 |
|---|
| 4751 | 4751 | | standards, benchmarks, requirements, or disclosur es based on 3202 |
|---|
| 4752 | 4752 | | characteristics protected under the Florida Civil Rights Act of 3203 |
|---|
| 4753 | 4753 | | 1992; or 3204 |
|---|
| 4754 | 4754 | | (IV) Policies or procedures requiring or encouraging 3205 |
|---|
| 4755 | 4755 | | employee participation in social justice programming, including, 3206 |
|---|
| 4756 | 4756 | | but not limited to, diversity, equity, or inclusion training. 3207 |
|---|
| 4757 | 4757 | | (g) Meets all the requirements of this chapter. 3208 |
|---|
| 4758 | 4758 | | (h) Has been designated by the Chief Financial Officer as 3209 |
|---|
| 4759 | 4759 | | a qualified public depository. 3210 |
|---|
| 4760 | 4760 | | Section 68. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (1) of 3211 |
|---|
| 4761 | 4761 | | section 280.025, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3212 |
|---|
| 4762 | 4762 | | 280.025 Attestation required. — 3213 |
|---|
| 4763 | 4763 | | (1) Beginning July 1, 2024 2023, the following entities 3214 |
|---|
| 4764 | 4764 | | must attest, under penalty of perjury, on a form prescribed by 3215 |
|---|
| 4765 | 4765 | | the Chief Financial Officer, whether the entity is in compliance 3216 |
|---|
| 4766 | 4766 | | with s. 280.02(26)(e) and (f ): 3217 |
|---|
| 4767 | 4767 | | (a) A bank, savings bank, credit union, or savings 3218 |
|---|
| 4768 | 4768 | | association, upon application or reapplication for designation 3219 |
|---|
| 4769 | 4769 | | as a qualified public depository. 3220 |
|---|
| 4770 | 4770 | | (b) A qualified public depository, upon filing the report 3221 |
|---|
| 4771 | 4771 | | required by s. 280.16(1)(d). 3222 |
|---|
| 4772 | 4772 | | Section 69. Effective July 1, 2024, paragraph (a) of 3223 |
|---|
| 4773 | 4773 | | subsection (3) of section 280.03, Florida Statutes, is amended 3224 |
|---|
| 4774 | 4774 | | to read: 3225 |
|---|
| 4782 | 4782 | | Page 130 of 159 |
|---|
| 4783 | 4783 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4784 | 4784 | | |
|---|
| 4785 | 4785 | | |
|---|
| 4786 | 4786 | | |
|---|
| 4787 | 4787 | | 280.03 Public deposits to be secured; prohibitions; 3226 |
|---|
| 4788 | 4788 | | exemptions.— 3227 |
|---|
| 4789 | 4789 | | (3) The following are exempt from the requirements of, and 3228 |
|---|
| 4790 | 4790 | | protection under, this chapter: 3229 |
|---|
| 4791 | 4791 | | (a) Public deposits deposited in a bank , credit union, or 3230 |
|---|
| 4792 | 4792 | | savings association by a trust department or trust company which 3231 |
|---|
| 4793 | 4793 | | are fully secured under trust business laws. 3232 |
|---|
| 4794 | 4794 | | Section 70. Effective July 1, 2024, section 280.042, 3233 |
|---|
| 4795 | 4795 | | Florida Statutes, is created to read: 3234 |
|---|
| 4796 | 4796 | | 280.042 Credit union designations as qualified public 3235 |
|---|
| 4797 | 4797 | | depositories; withdrawal by the Chief Financial Officer from 3236 |
|---|
| 4798 | 4798 | | collateral agreements; limits on public deposits. — 3237 |
|---|
| 4799 | 4799 | | (1) The Chief Financial Officer may not designate a cred it 3238 |
|---|
| 4800 | 4800 | | union as a qualified public depository unless, at the time the 3239 |
|---|
| 4801 | 4801 | | credit union submits its agreement of contingent liability and 3240 |
|---|
| 4802 | 4802 | | its collateral agreement. The credit union submits a signed 3241 |
|---|
| 4803 | 4803 | | statement from a public depositor indicating that if the credit 3242 |
|---|
| 4804 | 4804 | | union is designated as a qualified public depository, the public 3243 |
|---|
| 4805 | 4805 | | depositor intends to deposit public funds with the credit union. 3244 |
|---|
| 4806 | 4806 | | (2) Within 10 business days after the Chief Financial 3245 |
|---|
| 4807 | 4807 | | Officer notifies the credit union that the Chief Financial 3246 |
|---|
| 4808 | 4808 | | Officer has withdrawn from the collateral agreement, the credit 3247 |
|---|
| 4809 | 4809 | | union must return all public deposits that the credit union 3248 |
|---|
| 4810 | 4810 | | holds to the public depositor who deposited the funds. The 3249 |
|---|
| 4811 | 4811 | | notice provided for in this subsection may be sent to a credit 3250 |
|---|
| 4819 | 4819 | | Page 131 of 159 |
|---|
| 4820 | 4820 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4821 | 4821 | | |
|---|
| 4822 | 4822 | | |
|---|
| 4823 | 4823 | | |
|---|
| 4824 | 4824 | | union by regular mail or by e-mail. 3251 |
|---|
| 4825 | 4825 | | (3)(a) All credit unions designated as qualified public 3252 |
|---|
| 4826 | 4826 | | depositories may hold only the following public deposits: 3253 |
|---|
| 4827 | 4827 | | 1. A total combined amount of not more than 7 percent of 3254 |
|---|
| 4828 | 4828 | | the total funds held in the state treasury. 3255 |
|---|
| 4829 | 4829 | | 2. A total combined amo unt of not more than 7 percent of 3256 |
|---|
| 4830 | 4830 | | all public deposits of any state university or any state 3257 |
|---|
| 4831 | 4831 | | college. 3258 |
|---|
| 4832 | 4832 | | (b) A credit union may not hold public deposits of more 3259 |
|---|
| 4833 | 4833 | | than 10 percent of its total institution's assets. 3260 |
|---|
| 4834 | 4834 | | Section 71. Effective July 1, 2024, subsect ion (11) of 3261 |
|---|
| 4835 | 4835 | | section 280.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3262 |
|---|
| 4836 | 4836 | | 280.05 Powers and duties of the Chief Financial Officer. —3263 |
|---|
| 4837 | 4837 | | In fulfilling the requirements of this act, the Chief Financial 3264 |
|---|
| 4838 | 4838 | | Officer has the power to take the following actions he or she 3265 |
|---|
| 4839 | 4839 | | deems necessary to protect the integrity of the public deposits 3266 |
|---|
| 4840 | 4840 | | program: 3267 |
|---|
| 4841 | 4841 | | (11) Sell securities for the purpose of paying losses to 3268 |
|---|
| 4842 | 4842 | | public depositors not covered by deposit or share insurance. 3269 |
|---|
| 4843 | 4843 | | Section 72. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (1) of 3270 |
|---|
| 4844 | 4844 | | section 280.052, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3271 |
|---|
| 4845 | 4845 | | 280.052 Order of suspension or disqualification; 3272 |
|---|
| 4846 | 4846 | | procedure.— 3273 |
|---|
| 4847 | 4847 | | (1) The suspension or disqualification of a bank , credit 3274 |
|---|
| 4848 | 4848 | | union, or savings association as a qualified public depository 3275 |
|---|
| 4856 | 4856 | | Page 132 of 159 |
|---|
| 4857 | 4857 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4858 | 4858 | | |
|---|
| 4859 | 4859 | | |
|---|
| 4860 | 4860 | | |
|---|
| 4861 | 4861 | | must be by order of the Ch ief Financial Officer and must be 3276 |
|---|
| 4862 | 4862 | | mailed to the qualified public depository by registered or 3277 |
|---|
| 4863 | 4863 | | certified mail. 3278 |
|---|
| 4864 | 4864 | | Section 73. Effective July 1, 2024, paragraph (c) of 3279 |
|---|
| 4865 | 4865 | | subsection (1) and paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 3280 |
|---|
| 4866 | 4866 | | 280.053, Florida Statutes, a re amended to read: 3281 |
|---|
| 4867 | 4867 | | 280.053 Period of suspension or disqualification; 3282 |
|---|
| 4868 | 4868 | | obligations during period; reinstatement. — 3283 |
|---|
| 4869 | 4869 | | (1) 3284 |
|---|
| 4870 | 4870 | | (c) Upon expiration of the suspension period, the bank , 3285 |
|---|
| 4871 | 4871 | | credit union, or savings association may, by order of the Chief 3286 |
|---|
| 4872 | 4872 | | Financial Officer, be reinstated as a qualified public 3287 |
|---|
| 4873 | 4873 | | depository, unless the cause of the suspension has not been 3288 |
|---|
| 4874 | 4874 | | corrected or the bank , credit union, or savings association is 3289 |
|---|
| 4875 | 4875 | | otherwise not in compliance with this chapter or any rule 3290 |
|---|
| 4876 | 4876 | | adopted pursuant to this chapter. 3291 |
|---|
| 4877 | 4877 | | (2) 3292 |
|---|
| 4878 | 4878 | | (c) Upon expiration of the disqualification period, the 3293 |
|---|
| 4879 | 4879 | | bank, credit union, or savings association may reapply for 3294 |
|---|
| 4880 | 4880 | | qualification as a qualified public depository. If a 3295 |
|---|
| 4881 | 4881 | | disqualified bank, credit union, or savings association is 3296 |
|---|
| 4882 | 4882 | | purchased or otherwise acquired by new owners, it may reapply to 3297 |
|---|
| 4883 | 4883 | | the Chief Financial Officer to be a qualified public depository 3298 |
|---|
| 4884 | 4884 | | before prior to the expiration date of the disqualification 3299 |
|---|
| 4885 | 4885 | | period. Redesignation as a qualified public depository may occur 3300 |
|---|
| 4893 | 4893 | | Page 133 of 159 |
|---|
| 4894 | 4894 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4895 | 4895 | | |
|---|
| 4896 | 4896 | | |
|---|
| 4897 | 4897 | | |
|---|
| 4898 | 4898 | | only after the Chief Fin ancial Officer has determined that all 3301 |
|---|
| 4899 | 4899 | | requirements for holding public deposits under the law have been 3302 |
|---|
| 4900 | 4900 | | met. 3303 |
|---|
| 4901 | 4901 | | Section 74. Effective July 1, 2024, section 280.055, 3304 |
|---|
| 4902 | 4902 | | Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3305 |
|---|
| 4903 | 4903 | | 280.055 Cease and desist order; corrective order; 3306 |
|---|
| 4904 | 4904 | | administrative penalty. — 3307 |
|---|
| 4905 | 4905 | | (1) The Chief Financial Officer may issue a cease and 3308 |
|---|
| 4906 | 4906 | | desist order and a corrective order upon determining that: 3309 |
|---|
| 4907 | 4907 | | (a) A qualified public depository has requested and 3310 |
|---|
| 4908 | 4908 | | obtained a release of pledged collateral without approval of t he 3311 |
|---|
| 4909 | 4909 | | Chief Financial Officer; 3312 |
|---|
| 4910 | 4910 | | (b) A bank, credit union, savings association, or other 3313 |
|---|
| 4911 | 4911 | | financial institution is holding public deposits without a 3314 |
|---|
| 4912 | 4912 | | certificate of qualification issued by the Chief Financial 3315 |
|---|
| 4913 | 4913 | | Officer; 3316 |
|---|
| 4914 | 4914 | | (c) A qualified public depository pledges , deposits, or 3317 |
|---|
| 4915 | 4915 | | arranges for the issuance of unacceptable collateral; 3318 |
|---|
| 4916 | 4916 | | (d) A custodian has released pledged collateral without 3319 |
|---|
| 4917 | 4917 | | approval of the Chief Financial Officer; 3320 |
|---|
| 4918 | 4918 | | (e) A qualified public depository or a custodian has not 3321 |
|---|
| 4919 | 4919 | | furnished to the Chief Financial Officer, when the Chief 3322 |
|---|
| 4920 | 4920 | | Financial Officer requested, a power of attorney or bond power 3323 |
|---|
| 4921 | 4921 | | or bond assignment form required by the bond agent or bond 3324 |
|---|
| 4922 | 4922 | | trustee for each issue of registered certificated securities 3325 |
|---|
| 4930 | 4930 | | Page 134 of 159 |
|---|
| 4931 | 4931 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4932 | 4932 | | |
|---|
| 4933 | 4933 | | |
|---|
| 4934 | 4934 | | |
|---|
| 4935 | 4935 | | pledged and registered in the name, or nominee name, of the 3326 |
|---|
| 4936 | 4936 | | qualified public depository or custodian; 3327 |
|---|
| 4937 | 4937 | | (f) A qualified public depository; a bank, credit union, 3328 |
|---|
| 4938 | 4938 | | savings association, or other financial institution; or a 3329 |
|---|
| 4939 | 4939 | | custodian has committed any other violation of this chapter or 3330 |
|---|
| 4940 | 4940 | | any rule adopted pursuant to this chapter that the Chief 3331 |
|---|
| 4941 | 4941 | | Financial Officer determines may be remedied by a cease and 3332 |
|---|
| 4942 | 4942 | | desist order or corrective order; or 3333 |
|---|
| 4943 | 4943 | | (g) A qualified public depository no longer meets the 3334 |
|---|
| 4944 | 4944 | | definition of a qualified public depository under s. 280.02 . 3335 |
|---|
| 4945 | 4945 | | (2) Any qualified public depository or other bank, credit 3336 |
|---|
| 4946 | 4946 | | union, savings association, or financial institution or 3337 |
|---|
| 4947 | 4947 | | custodian that violates a cease and desist order or corrective 3338 |
|---|
| 4948 | 4948 | | order of the Chief Financial Officer is subject to an 3339 |
|---|
| 4949 | 4949 | | administrative penalt y not exceeding $1,000 for each violation 3340 |
|---|
| 4950 | 4950 | | of the order. Each day the violation of the order continues 3341 |
|---|
| 4951 | 4951 | | constitutes a separate violation. 3342 |
|---|
| 4952 | 4952 | | Section 75. Effective July 1, 2024, section 280.07, 3343 |
|---|
| 4953 | 4953 | | Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3344 |
|---|
| 4954 | 4954 | | 280.07 Mutual responsibi lity and contingent liability. — 3345 |
|---|
| 4955 | 4955 | | (1) A Any bank, savings bank, or savings association that 3346 |
|---|
| 4956 | 4956 | | is designated as a qualified public depository and that is not 3347 |
|---|
| 4957 | 4957 | | insolvent shall guarantee public depositors against loss caused 3348 |
|---|
| 4958 | 4958 | | by the default or insolvency of other banks, savings banks, or 3349 |
|---|
| 4959 | 4959 | | savings associations that are designated as qualified public 3350 |
|---|
| 4967 | 4967 | | Page 135 of 159 |
|---|
| 4968 | 4968 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 4969 | 4969 | | |
|---|
| 4970 | 4970 | | |
|---|
| 4971 | 4971 | | |
|---|
| 4972 | 4972 | | depositories. 3351 |
|---|
| 4973 | 4973 | | (2) A credit union that is designated as a qualified 3352 |
|---|
| 4974 | 4974 | | public depository and that is not insolvent shall guarantee 3353 |
|---|
| 4975 | 4975 | | public depositors against loss caused by the default or 3354 |
|---|
| 4976 | 4976 | | insolvency of other credit unions that are designated as 3355 |
|---|
| 4977 | 4977 | | qualified public depositories. 3356 |
|---|
| 4978 | 4978 | | 3357 |
|---|
| 4979 | 4979 | | Each qualified public depository shall execute a form prescribed 3358 |
|---|
| 4980 | 4980 | | by the Chief Financial Officer for such guarantee which must 3359 |
|---|
| 4981 | 4981 | | shall be approved by the board of directors and must shall 3360 |
|---|
| 4982 | 4982 | | become an official record of the institution. 3361 |
|---|
| 4983 | 4983 | | Section 76. Effective July 1, 2024, subsections (1) and 3362 |
|---|
| 4984 | 4984 | | (3) of section 280.08, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 3363 |
|---|
| 4985 | 4985 | | 280.08 Procedure for payment of losses. —When the Chief 3364 |
|---|
| 4986 | 4986 | | Financial Officer determines that a default or insolvency has 3365 |
|---|
| 4987 | 4987 | | occurred, he or she shall provide notice as required in s. 3366 |
|---|
| 4988 | 4988 | | 280.085 and implement the following procedures: 3367 |
|---|
| 4989 | 4989 | | (1) The Division of Treasury, in cooperation with the 3368 |
|---|
| 4990 | 4990 | | Office of Financial Regulati on of the Financial Services 3369 |
|---|
| 4991 | 4991 | | Commission or the receiver of the qualified public depository in 3370 |
|---|
| 4992 | 4992 | | default, shall ascertain the amount of funds of each public 3371 |
|---|
| 4993 | 4993 | | depositor on deposit at such depository and the amount of 3372 |
|---|
| 4994 | 4994 | | deposit or share insurance applicable to suc h deposits. 3373 |
|---|
| 4995 | 4995 | | (3)(a) The loss to public depositors shall be satisfied, 3374 |
|---|
| 4996 | 4996 | | insofar as possible, first through any applicable deposit or 3375 |
|---|
| 5004 | 5004 | | Page 136 of 159 |
|---|
| 5005 | 5005 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5006 | 5006 | | |
|---|
| 5007 | 5007 | | |
|---|
| 5008 | 5008 | | |
|---|
| 5009 | 5009 | | share insurance and then through demanding payment under letters 3376 |
|---|
| 5010 | 5010 | | of credit or the sale of collateral pledged or deposited by the 3377 |
|---|
| 5011 | 5011 | | defaulting depository. The Chief Financial Officer may assess 3378 |
|---|
| 5012 | 5012 | | qualified public depositories as provided in paragraph (b) , 3379 |
|---|
| 5013 | 5013 | | subject to the segregation of contingent liability in s. 280.07, 3380 |
|---|
| 5014 | 5014 | | for the total loss if the demand for payment or sale of 3381 |
|---|
| 5015 | 5015 | | collateral cannot be accomplished within 7 business days. 3382 |
|---|
| 5016 | 5016 | | (b) The Chief Financial Officer shall provide coverage of 3383 |
|---|
| 5017 | 5017 | | any remaining loss by assessment against the other qualified 3384 |
|---|
| 5018 | 5018 | | public depositories. The Chief Financial Officer shall determine 3385 |
|---|
| 5019 | 5019 | | such assessment for each qualified public depository by 3386 |
|---|
| 5020 | 5020 | | multiplying the total amount of any remaining loss to all public 3387 |
|---|
| 5021 | 5021 | | depositors by a percentage which represents the average monthly 3388 |
|---|
| 5022 | 5022 | | balance of public deposits held by each qualified public 3389 |
|---|
| 5023 | 5023 | | depository during the previous 12 months divided by the total 3390 |
|---|
| 5024 | 5024 | | average monthly balances of public deposits held by all 3391 |
|---|
| 5025 | 5025 | | qualified public depositories, excluding the defaulting 3392 |
|---|
| 5026 | 5026 | | depository, during the same period. The assessment calculation 3393 |
|---|
| 5027 | 5027 | | must shall be computed to six decimal places. 3394 |
|---|
| 5028 | 5028 | | Section 77. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (4) of 3395 |
|---|
| 5029 | 5029 | | section 280.085, Florida Statutes, is amended, and subsection 3396 |
|---|
| 5030 | 5030 | | (1) of that section is republished, to read: 3397 |
|---|
| 5031 | 5031 | | 280.085 Notice to claimants. — 3398 |
|---|
| 5032 | 5032 | | (1) Upon determining the default or insolvency of a 3399 |
|---|
| 5033 | 5033 | | qualified public depository, the Chief Financial Officer shall 3400 |
|---|
| 5041 | 5041 | | Page 137 of 159 |
|---|
| 5042 | 5042 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5043 | 5043 | | |
|---|
| 5044 | 5044 | | |
|---|
| 5045 | 5045 | | |
|---|
| 5046 | 5046 | | notify, by first-class mail, all public depositors that have 3401 |
|---|
| 5047 | 5047 | | complied with s. 280.17 of such default or insolvency. The 3402 |
|---|
| 5048 | 5048 | | notice must direct all public depositors having claims or 3403 |
|---|
| 5049 | 5049 | | demands against the Public Deposits Trust Fund occasioned by the 3404 |
|---|
| 5050 | 5050 | | default or insolvency to file their claims with the Chief 3405 |
|---|
| 5051 | 5051 | | Financial Officer within 30 days after the date of the notice. 3406 |
|---|
| 5052 | 5052 | | (4) The notice required in subsection (1) is not required 3407 |
|---|
| 5053 | 5053 | | if the default or insolvency of a qua lified public depository is 3408 |
|---|
| 5054 | 5054 | | resolved in a manner in which all Florida public deposits are 3409 |
|---|
| 5055 | 5055 | | acquired by another insured bank, credit union, savings bank, or 3410 |
|---|
| 5056 | 5056 | | savings association. 3411 |
|---|
| 5057 | 5057 | | Section 78. Effective July 1, 2024, section 280.09, 3412 |
|---|
| 5058 | 5058 | | Florida Statutes, is ame nded to read: 3413 |
|---|
| 5059 | 5059 | | 280.09 Public Deposits Trust Fund. — 3414 |
|---|
| 5060 | 5060 | | (1) In order to facilitate the administration of this 3415 |
|---|
| 5061 | 5061 | | chapter, there is created the Public Deposits Trust Fund, 3416 |
|---|
| 5062 | 5062 | | hereafter in this section designated "the fund." The proceeds 3417 |
|---|
| 5063 | 5063 | | from the sale of securities or draw on letters of credit held as 3418 |
|---|
| 5064 | 5064 | | collateral or from any assessment pursuant to s. 280.08 must 3419 |
|---|
| 5065 | 5065 | | shall be deposited into the fund. The Chief Financial Officer 3420 |
|---|
| 5066 | 5066 | | must segregate and separately account for any collateral 3421 |
|---|
| 5067 | 5067 | | proceeds, assessments, or administrative penalties attributable 3422 |
|---|
| 5068 | 5068 | | to a credit union from any collateral proceeds, assessments, or 3423 |
|---|
| 5069 | 5069 | | administrative penalties attributable to any bank, savings bank, 3424 |
|---|
| 5070 | 5070 | | or savings association. Any administrative penalty collected 3425 |
|---|
| 5078 | 5078 | | Page 138 of 159 |
|---|
| 5079 | 5079 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5080 | 5080 | | |
|---|
| 5081 | 5081 | | |
|---|
| 5082 | 5082 | | |
|---|
| 5083 | 5083 | | pursuant to this chapter sha ll be deposited into the Treasury 3426 |
|---|
| 5084 | 5084 | | Administrative and Investment Trust Fund. 3427 |
|---|
| 5085 | 5085 | | (2) The Chief Financial Officer is authorized to pay any 3428 |
|---|
| 5086 | 5086 | | losses to public depositors from the fund, subject to the 3429 |
|---|
| 5087 | 5087 | | limitations provided in subsection (1), and there are hereby 3430 |
|---|
| 5088 | 5088 | | appropriated from the fund such sums as may be necessary from 3431 |
|---|
| 5089 | 5089 | | time to time to pay the losses. The term "losses," for purposes 3432 |
|---|
| 5090 | 5090 | | of this chapter, must shall also include losses of interest or 3433 |
|---|
| 5091 | 5091 | | other accumulations to the public depositor as a result of 3434 |
|---|
| 5092 | 5092 | | penalties for early withdrawal required by Depository 3435 |
|---|
| 5093 | 5093 | | Institution Deregulatory Commission Regulations or applicable 3436 |
|---|
| 5094 | 5094 | | successor federal laws or regulations because of suspension or 3437 |
|---|
| 5095 | 5095 | | disqualification of a qualified public depository by the Chief 3438 |
|---|
| 5096 | 5096 | | Financial Officer pursua nt to s. 280.05 or because of withdrawal 3439 |
|---|
| 5097 | 5097 | | from the public deposits program pursuant to s. 280.11. In that 3440 |
|---|
| 5098 | 5098 | | event, the Chief Financial Officer is authorized to assess 3441 |
|---|
| 5099 | 5099 | | against the suspended, disqualified, or withdrawing public 3442 |
|---|
| 5100 | 5100 | | depository, in addition to any am ount authorized by any other 3443 |
|---|
| 5101 | 5101 | | provision of this chapter, an administrative penalty equal to 3444 |
|---|
| 5102 | 5102 | | the amount of the early withdrawal penalty and to pay that 3445 |
|---|
| 5103 | 5103 | | amount over to the public depositor as reimbursement for such 3446 |
|---|
| 5104 | 5104 | | loss. Any money in the fund estimated not to be needed for 3447 |
|---|
| 5105 | 5105 | | immediate cash requirements shall be invested pursuant to s. 3448 |
|---|
| 5106 | 5106 | | 17.61. 3449 |
|---|
| 5107 | 5107 | | Section 79. Effective July 1, 2024, subsections (1) and 3450 |
|---|
| 5115 | 5115 | | Page 139 of 159 |
|---|
| 5116 | 5116 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5117 | 5117 | | |
|---|
| 5118 | 5118 | | |
|---|
| 5119 | 5119 | | |
|---|
| 5120 | 5120 | | (3) of section 280.10, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 3451 |
|---|
| 5121 | 5121 | | 280.10 Effect of merger, acquisition, or consolid ation; 3452 |
|---|
| 5122 | 5122 | | change of name or address. — 3453 |
|---|
| 5123 | 5123 | | (1) When a qualified public depository is merged into, 3454 |
|---|
| 5124 | 5124 | | acquired by, or consolidated with a bank, credit union, savings 3455 |
|---|
| 5125 | 5125 | | bank, or savings association that is not a qualified public 3456 |
|---|
| 5126 | 5126 | | depository: 3457 |
|---|
| 5127 | 5127 | | (a) The resulting institut ion shall automatically become a 3458 |
|---|
| 5128 | 5128 | | qualified public depository subject to the requirements of the 3459 |
|---|
| 5129 | 5129 | | public deposits program. 3460 |
|---|
| 5130 | 5130 | | (b) The contingent liability of the former institution 3461 |
|---|
| 5131 | 5131 | | shall be a liability of the resulting institution. 3462 |
|---|
| 5132 | 5132 | | (c) The public deposits and associated collateral of the 3463 |
|---|
| 5133 | 5133 | | former institution shall be public deposits and collateral of 3464 |
|---|
| 5134 | 5134 | | the resulting institution. 3465 |
|---|
| 5135 | 5135 | | (d) The resulting institution shall, within 90 calendar 3466 |
|---|
| 5136 | 5136 | | days after the effective date of the merger, acquisition, or 3467 |
|---|
| 5137 | 5137 | | consolidation, deliver to the Chief Financial Officer: 3468 |
|---|
| 5138 | 5138 | | 1. Documentation in its name as required for participation 3469 |
|---|
| 5139 | 5139 | | in the public deposits program; or 3470 |
|---|
| 5140 | 5140 | | 2. Written notice of intent to withdraw from the program 3471 |
|---|
| 5141 | 5141 | | as provided in s. 280.11 and a proposed effective date of 3472 |
|---|
| 5142 | 5142 | | withdrawal which shall be within 180 days after the effective 3473 |
|---|
| 5143 | 5143 | | date of the acquisition, merger, or consolidation of the former 3474 |
|---|
| 5144 | 5144 | | institution. 3475 |
|---|
| 5152 | 5152 | | Page 140 of 159 |
|---|
| 5153 | 5153 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5154 | 5154 | | |
|---|
| 5155 | 5155 | | |
|---|
| 5156 | 5156 | | |
|---|
| 5157 | 5157 | | (e) If the resulting institution does not meet 3476 |
|---|
| 5158 | 5158 | | qualifications to become a qualified public depository or does 3477 |
|---|
| 5159 | 5159 | | not submit required documentation within 90 calendar days after 3478 |
|---|
| 5160 | 5160 | | the effective date of the merger, acquisition, or consolidation, 3479 |
|---|
| 5161 | 5161 | | the Chief Financial Officer shall initiate mandatory withdrawal 3480 |
|---|
| 5162 | 5162 | | actions as provided in s. 280.11 and shall set an effective date 3481 |
|---|
| 5163 | 5163 | | of withdrawal that is within 180 days after the effective date 3482 |
|---|
| 5164 | 5164 | | of the acquisition, merger, or consolidation of the former 3483 |
|---|
| 5165 | 5165 | | institution. 3484 |
|---|
| 5166 | 5166 | | (3) If the default or insolvency of a qualified public 3485 |
|---|
| 5167 | 5167 | | depository results in acquisition of all or part of its Florida 3486 |
|---|
| 5168 | 5168 | | public deposits by a bank, credit union, savings bank, or 3487 |
|---|
| 5169 | 5169 | | savings association that is not a qualified public depository, 3488 |
|---|
| 5170 | 5170 | | the bank, credit union, savings bank, or savings association 3489 |
|---|
| 5171 | 5171 | | acquiring the Florida public deposits is subject to subsection 3490 |
|---|
| 5172 | 5172 | | (1). 3491 |
|---|
| 5173 | 5173 | | Section 80. Effective July 1, 2024, subsection (1) of 3492 |
|---|
| 5174 | 5174 | | section 280.13, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 3493 |
|---|
| 5175 | 5175 | | 280.13 Eligible collateral. — 3494 |
|---|
| 5176 | 5176 | | (1) Securities eligible to be pledged as collateral by 3495 |
|---|
| 5177 | 5177 | | qualified public depositories banks and savings associations 3496 |
|---|
| 5178 | 5178 | | shall be limited to: 3497 |
|---|
| 5179 | 5179 | | (a) Direct obligations of the United States Government. 3498 |
|---|
| 5180 | 5180 | | (b) Obligations of any federal agency that are fully 3499 |
|---|
| 5181 | 5181 | | guaranteed as to payment of principal and interest by the United 3500 |
|---|
| 5189 | 5189 | | Page 141 of 159 |
|---|
| 5190 | 5190 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5191 | 5191 | | |
|---|
| 5192 | 5192 | | |
|---|
| 5193 | 5193 | | |
|---|
| 5194 | 5194 | | States Government. 3501 |
|---|
| 5195 | 5195 | | (c) Obligations of the following federal ag encies: 3502 |
|---|
| 5196 | 5196 | | 1. Farm credit banks. 3503 |
|---|
| 5197 | 5197 | | 2. Federal land banks. 3504 |
|---|
| 5198 | 5198 | | 3. The Federal Home Loan Bank and its district banks. 3505 |
|---|
| 5199 | 5199 | | 4. Federal intermediate credit banks. 3506 |
|---|
| 5200 | 5200 | | 5. The Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation. 3507 |
|---|
| 5201 | 5201 | | 6. The Federal National Mortgage Association. 3508 |
|---|
| 5202 | 5202 | | 7. Obligations guaranteed by the Government National 3509 |
|---|
| 5203 | 5203 | | Mortgage Association. 3510 |
|---|
| 5204 | 5204 | | (d) General obligations of a state of the United States, 3511 |
|---|
| 5205 | 5205 | | or of Puerto Rico, or of a political subdivision or municipality 3512 |
|---|
| 5206 | 5206 | | thereof. 3513 |
|---|
| 5207 | 5207 | | (e) Obligations issued by the Florida State Board of 3514 |
|---|
| 5208 | 5208 | | Education under authority of the State Constitution or 3515 |
|---|
| 5209 | 5209 | | applicable statutes. 3516 |
|---|
| 5210 | 5210 | | (f) Tax anticipation certificates or warrants of counties 3517 |
|---|
| 5211 | 5211 | | or municipalities having maturities not exceeding 1 year. 3518 |
|---|
| 5212 | 5212 | | (g) Public housing authority obligations. 3519 |
|---|
| 5213 | 5213 | | (h) Revenue bonds or certificates of a state of the United 3520 |
|---|
| 5214 | 5214 | | States or of a political subdivision or municipality thereof. 3521 |
|---|
| 5215 | 5215 | | (i) Corporate bonds of any corporation that is not an 3522 |
|---|
| 5216 | 5216 | | affiliate or subsidiary of the qualified public depository. 3523 |
|---|
| 5217 | 5217 | | Section 81. Effective July 1 , 2024, paragraph (b) of 3524 |
|---|
| 5218 | 5218 | | subsection (4) of section 280.17, Florida Statutes, is amended, 3525 |
|---|
| 5226 | 5226 | | Page 142 of 159 |
|---|
| 5227 | 5227 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5228 | 5228 | | |
|---|
| 5229 | 5229 | | |
|---|
| 5230 | 5230 | | |
|---|
| 5231 | 5231 | | and paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of that section is 3526 |
|---|
| 5232 | 5232 | | reenacted, to read: 3527 |
|---|
| 5233 | 5233 | | 280.17 Requirements for public depositors; notice to 3528 |
|---|
| 5234 | 5234 | | public depositors and governmental un its; loss of protection. —In 3529 |
|---|
| 5235 | 5235 | | addition to any other requirement specified in this chapter, 3530 |
|---|
| 5236 | 5236 | | public depositors shall comply with the following: 3531 |
|---|
| 5237 | 5237 | | (1)(a) Each official custodian of moneys that meet the 3532 |
|---|
| 5238 | 5238 | | definition of a public deposit under s. 280.02 shall ensure such 3533 |
|---|
| 5239 | 5239 | | moneys are placed in a qualified public depository unless the 3534 |
|---|
| 5240 | 5240 | | moneys are exempt under the laws of this state. 3535 |
|---|
| 5241 | 5241 | | (4) If public deposits are in a qualified public 3536 |
|---|
| 5242 | 5242 | | depository that has been declared to be in default or insolvent, 3537 |
|---|
| 5243 | 5243 | | each public depositor sh all: 3538 |
|---|
| 5244 | 5244 | | (b) Submit to the Chief Financial Officer for each public 3539 |
|---|
| 5245 | 5245 | | deposit, within 30 days after the date of official notification 3540 |
|---|
| 5246 | 5246 | | from the Chief Financial Officer, the following: 3541 |
|---|
| 5247 | 5247 | | 1. A claim form and agreement, as prescribed by the Chief 3542 |
|---|
| 5248 | 5248 | | Financial Officer, executed under oath, accompanied by proof of 3543 |
|---|
| 5249 | 5249 | | authority to execute the form on behalf of the public depositor. 3544 |
|---|
| 5250 | 5250 | | 2. A completed public deposit identification and 3545 |
|---|
| 5251 | 5251 | | acknowledgment form, as described in subsection (2). 3546 |
|---|
| 5252 | 5252 | | 3. Evidence of the insurance afforded t he deposit pursuant 3547 |
|---|
| 5253 | 5253 | | to the Federal Deposit Insurance Act or the Federal Credit Union 3548 |
|---|
| 5254 | 5254 | | Act, as appropriate. 3549 |
|---|
| 5255 | 5255 | | Section 82. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3550 |
|---|
| 5263 | 5263 | | Page 143 of 159 |
|---|
| 5264 | 5264 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5265 | 5265 | | |
|---|
| 5266 | 5266 | | |
|---|
| 5267 | 5267 | | |
|---|
| 5268 | 5268 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3551 |
|---|
| 5269 | 5269 | | Florida Statutes, in a refe rence thereto, subsection (1) of 3552 |
|---|
| 5270 | 5270 | | section 24.114, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3553 |
|---|
| 5271 | 5271 | | 24.114 Bank deposits and control of lottery transactions. — 3554 |
|---|
| 5272 | 5272 | | (1) All moneys received by each retailer from the 3555 |
|---|
| 5273 | 5273 | | operation of the state lottery, including, but not lim ited to, 3556 |
|---|
| 5274 | 5274 | | all ticket sales, interest, gifts, and donations, less the 3557 |
|---|
| 5275 | 5275 | | amount retained as compensation for the sale of the tickets and 3558 |
|---|
| 5276 | 5276 | | the amount paid out as prizes, shall be remitted to the 3559 |
|---|
| 5277 | 5277 | | department or deposited in a qualified public depository, as 3560 |
|---|
| 5278 | 5278 | | defined in s. 280.02, as directed by the department. The 3561 |
|---|
| 5279 | 5279 | | department shall have the responsibility for all administrative 3562 |
|---|
| 5280 | 5280 | | functions related to the receipt of funds. The department may 3563 |
|---|
| 5281 | 5281 | | also require each retailer to file with the department reports 3564 |
|---|
| 5282 | 5282 | | of the retailer's receipts and transactions in the sale of 3565 |
|---|
| 5283 | 5283 | | lottery tickets in such form and containing such information as 3566 |
|---|
| 5284 | 5284 | | the department may require. The department may require any 3567 |
|---|
| 5285 | 5285 | | person, including a qualified public depository, to perform any 3568 |
|---|
| 5286 | 5286 | | function, activity, or serv ice in connection with the operation 3569 |
|---|
| 5287 | 5287 | | of the lottery as it may deem advisable pursuant to this act and 3570 |
|---|
| 5288 | 5288 | | rules of the department, and such functions, activities, or 3571 |
|---|
| 5289 | 5289 | | services shall constitute lawful functions, activities, and 3572 |
|---|
| 5290 | 5290 | | services of such person. 3573 |
|---|
| 5291 | 5291 | | Section 83. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3574 |
|---|
| 5292 | 5292 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3575 |
|---|
| 5300 | 5300 | | Page 144 of 159 |
|---|
| 5301 | 5301 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5302 | 5302 | | |
|---|
| 5303 | 5303 | | |
|---|
| 5304 | 5304 | | |
|---|
| 5305 | 5305 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (e) of 3576 |
|---|
| 5306 | 5306 | | subsection (3) of section 125.901, Florida Statutes, is 3577 |
|---|
| 5307 | 5307 | | reenacted to read: 3578 |
|---|
| 5308 | 5308 | | 125.901 Children's services; independent special district; 3579 |
|---|
| 5309 | 5309 | | council; powers, duties, and functions; public records 3580 |
|---|
| 5310 | 5310 | | exemption.— 3581 |
|---|
| 5311 | 5311 | | (3) 3582 |
|---|
| 5312 | 5312 | | (e)1. All moneys received by the council on children's 3583 |
|---|
| 5313 | 5313 | | services shall be deposited in qualified public depositories, as 3584 |
|---|
| 5314 | 5314 | | defined in s. 280.02, with separate and distinguishable accounts 3585 |
|---|
| 5315 | 5315 | | established specifically for the council and shall be withdrawn 3586 |
|---|
| 5316 | 5316 | | only by checks signed by the chair of the council and 3587 |
|---|
| 5317 | 5317 | | countersigned by either one other member of the council on 3588 |
|---|
| 5318 | 5318 | | children's services or by a chief executive officer who shall be 3589 |
|---|
| 5319 | 5319 | | so authorized by the council. 3590 |
|---|
| 5320 | 5320 | | 2. Upon entering the duties of office, the chair and the 3591 |
|---|
| 5321 | 5321 | | other member of the council or chief executive officer who signs 3592 |
|---|
| 5322 | 5322 | | its checks shall each give a surety bond in the sum of at le ast 3593 |
|---|
| 5323 | 5323 | | $1,000 for each $1 million or portion thereof of the council's 3594 |
|---|
| 5324 | 5324 | | annual budget, which bond shall be conditioned that each shall 3595 |
|---|
| 5325 | 5325 | | faithfully discharge the duties of his or her office. The 3596 |
|---|
| 5326 | 5326 | | premium on such bond may be paid by the district as part of the 3597 |
|---|
| 5327 | 5327 | | expense of the council. No other member of the council shall be 3598 |
|---|
| 5328 | 5328 | | required to give bond or other security. 3599 |
|---|
| 5329 | 5329 | | 3. No funds of the district shall be expended except by 3600 |
|---|
| 5337 | 5337 | | Page 145 of 159 |
|---|
| 5338 | 5338 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5339 | 5339 | | |
|---|
| 5340 | 5340 | | |
|---|
| 5341 | 5341 | | |
|---|
| 5342 | 5342 | | check as aforesaid, except expenditures from a petty cash 3601 |
|---|
| 5343 | 5343 | | account which shall not at any time exc eed $100. All 3602 |
|---|
| 5344 | 5344 | | expenditures from petty cash shall be recorded on the books and 3603 |
|---|
| 5345 | 5345 | | records of the council on children's services. No funds of the 3604 |
|---|
| 5346 | 5346 | | council on children's services, excepting expenditures from 3605 |
|---|
| 5347 | 5347 | | petty cash, shall be expended without prior approval of the 3606 |
|---|
| 5348 | 5348 | | council, in addition to the budgeting thereof. 3607 |
|---|
| 5349 | 5349 | | Section 84. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3608 |
|---|
| 5350 | 5350 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3609 |
|---|
| 5351 | 5351 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, section 136.01, 3610 |
|---|
| 5352 | 5352 | | Florida Statutes, is re enacted to read: 3611 |
|---|
| 5353 | 5353 | | 136.01 County depositories. —Each county depository shall 3612 |
|---|
| 5354 | 5354 | | be a qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02 for the 3613 |
|---|
| 5355 | 5355 | | following funds: county funds; funds of all county officers, 3614 |
|---|
| 5356 | 5356 | | including constitutional officers; funds of the school board; 3615 |
|---|
| 5357 | 5357 | | and funds of the community college district board of trustees. 3616 |
|---|
| 5358 | 5358 | | This enumeration of funds is made not by way of limitation, but 3617 |
|---|
| 5359 | 5359 | | of illustration; and it is the intent hereof that all funds of 3618 |
|---|
| 5360 | 5360 | | the county, the board of county commissioners or the sever al 3619 |
|---|
| 5361 | 5361 | | county officers, the school board, or the community college 3620 |
|---|
| 5362 | 5362 | | district board of trustees be included. 3621 |
|---|
| 5363 | 5363 | | Section 85. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3622 |
|---|
| 5364 | 5364 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3623 |
|---|
| 5365 | 5365 | | Florida Statutes, in a referen ce thereto, subsection (11) of 3624 |
|---|
| 5366 | 5366 | | section 159.608, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3625 |
|---|
| 5374 | 5374 | | Page 146 of 159 |
|---|
| 5375 | 5375 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5376 | 5376 | | |
|---|
| 5377 | 5377 | | |
|---|
| 5378 | 5378 | | |
|---|
| 5379 | 5379 | | 159.608 Powers of housing finance authorities. —A housing 3626 |
|---|
| 5380 | 5380 | | finance authority shall constitute a public body corporate and 3627 |
|---|
| 5381 | 5381 | | politic, exercising the public and essential g overnmental 3628 |
|---|
| 5382 | 5382 | | functions set forth in this act, and shall exercise its power to 3629 |
|---|
| 5383 | 5383 | | borrow only for the purpose as provided herein: 3630 |
|---|
| 5384 | 5384 | | (11) To invest and reinvest surplus funds of the housing 3631 |
|---|
| 5385 | 5385 | | finance authority in accordance with s. 218.415. However, in 3632 |
|---|
| 5386 | 5386 | | addition to the investments expressly authorized in s. 3633 |
|---|
| 5387 | 5387 | | 218.415(16)(a)-(g) and (17)(a)-(d), a housing finance authority 3634 |
|---|
| 5388 | 5388 | | may invest surplus funds in interest -bearing time deposits or 3635 |
|---|
| 5389 | 5389 | | savings accounts that are fully insured by the Federal Deposit 3636 |
|---|
| 5390 | 5390 | | Insurance Corporation r egardless of whether the bank or 3637 |
|---|
| 5391 | 5391 | | financial institution in which the deposit or investment is made 3638 |
|---|
| 5392 | 5392 | | is a qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02. This 3639 |
|---|
| 5393 | 5393 | | subsection is supplementary to and may not be construed as 3640 |
|---|
| 5394 | 5394 | | limiting any powers of a housing fin ance authority or providing 3641 |
|---|
| 5395 | 5395 | | or implying a limiting construction of any other statutory 3642 |
|---|
| 5396 | 5396 | | provision. 3643 |
|---|
| 5397 | 5397 | | Section 86. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3644 |
|---|
| 5398 | 5398 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3645 |
|---|
| 5399 | 5399 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference th ereto, section 175.301, 3646 |
|---|
| 5400 | 5400 | | Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3647 |
|---|
| 5401 | 5401 | | 175.301 Depository for pension funds. —For any 3648 |
|---|
| 5402 | 5402 | | municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local 3649 |
|---|
| 5403 | 5403 | | law municipality, local law special fire control district, or 3650 |
|---|
| 5411 | 5411 | | Page 147 of 159 |
|---|
| 5412 | 5412 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5413 | 5413 | | |
|---|
| 5414 | 5414 | | |
|---|
| 5415 | 5415 | | |
|---|
| 5416 | 5416 | | local law plan under this chapter, all funds of the 3651 |
|---|
| 5417 | 5417 | | firefighters' pension trust fund of any chapter plan or local 3652 |
|---|
| 5418 | 5418 | | law plan under this chapter may be deposited by the board of 3653 |
|---|
| 5419 | 5419 | | trustees with the treasurer of the municipality or special fire 3654 |
|---|
| 5420 | 5420 | | control district, acting in a mini sterial capacity only, who 3655 |
|---|
| 5421 | 5421 | | shall be liable in the same manner and to the same extent as he 3656 |
|---|
| 5422 | 5422 | | or she is liable for the safekeeping of funds for the 3657 |
|---|
| 5423 | 5423 | | municipality or special fire control district. However, any 3658 |
|---|
| 5424 | 5424 | | funds so deposited with the treasurer of the munici pality or 3659 |
|---|
| 5425 | 5425 | | special fire control district shall be kept in a separate fund 3660 |
|---|
| 5426 | 5426 | | by the treasurer or clearly identified as such funds of the 3661 |
|---|
| 5427 | 5427 | | firefighters' pension trust fund. In lieu thereof, the board of 3662 |
|---|
| 5428 | 5428 | | trustees shall deposit the funds of the firefighters' pensi on 3663 |
|---|
| 5429 | 5429 | | trust fund in a qualified public depository as defined in s. 3664 |
|---|
| 5430 | 5430 | | 280.02, which depository with regard to such funds shall conform 3665 |
|---|
| 5431 | 5431 | | to and be bound by all of the provisions of chapter 280. 3666 |
|---|
| 5432 | 5432 | | Section 87. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3667 |
|---|
| 5433 | 5433 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3668 |
|---|
| 5434 | 5434 | | Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsection (8) of 3669 |
|---|
| 5435 | 5435 | | section 175.401, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3670 |
|---|
| 5436 | 5436 | | 175.401 Retiree health insurance subsidy. —For any 3671 |
|---|
| 5437 | 5437 | | municipality, special fire control district, chapter plan, local 3672 |
|---|
| 5438 | 5438 | | law municipality, local law special fire control district, or 3673 |
|---|
| 5439 | 5439 | | local law plan under this chapter, under the broad grant of home 3674 |
|---|
| 5440 | 5440 | | rule powers under the State Constitution and chapter 166, 3675 |
|---|
| 5448 | 5448 | | Page 148 of 159 |
|---|
| 5449 | 5449 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5450 | 5450 | | |
|---|
| 5451 | 5451 | | |
|---|
| 5452 | 5452 | | |
|---|
| 5453 | 5453 | | municipalities have the authority to esta blish and administer 3676 |
|---|
| 5454 | 5454 | | locally funded health insurance subsidy programs. In addition, 3677 |
|---|
| 5455 | 5455 | | special fire control districts may, by resolution, establish and 3678 |
|---|
| 5456 | 5456 | | administer locally funded health insurance subsidy programs. 3679 |
|---|
| 5457 | 5457 | | Pursuant thereto: 3680 |
|---|
| 5458 | 5458 | | (8) DEPOSIT OF HEALTH INSU RANCE SUBSIDY FUNDS. —All funds 3681 |
|---|
| 5459 | 5459 | | of the health insurance subsidy fund may be deposited by the 3682 |
|---|
| 5460 | 5460 | | board of trustees with the treasurer of the municipality or 3683 |
|---|
| 5461 | 5461 | | special fire control district, acting in a ministerial capacity 3684 |
|---|
| 5462 | 5462 | | only, who shall be liable in the same ma nner and to the same 3685 |
|---|
| 5463 | 5463 | | extent as he or she is liable for the safekeeping of funds for 3686 |
|---|
| 5464 | 5464 | | the municipality or special fire control district. Any funds so 3687 |
|---|
| 5465 | 5465 | | deposited shall be segregated by the treasurer in a separate 3688 |
|---|
| 5466 | 5466 | | fund, clearly identified as funds of the health insurance 3689 |
|---|
| 5467 | 5467 | | subsidy fund. In lieu thereof, the board of trustees shall 3690 |
|---|
| 5468 | 5468 | | deposit the funds of the health insurance subsidy fund in a 3691 |
|---|
| 5469 | 5469 | | qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02, which shall 3692 |
|---|
| 5470 | 5470 | | conform to and be bound by the provisions of chapter 280 with 3693 |
|---|
| 5471 | 5471 | | regard to such funds. In no case shall the funds of the health 3694 |
|---|
| 5472 | 5472 | | insurance subsidy fund be deposited in any financial 3695 |
|---|
| 5473 | 5473 | | institution, brokerage house trust company, or other entity that 3696 |
|---|
| 5474 | 5474 | | is not a public depository as provided by s. 280.02. 3697 |
|---|
| 5475 | 5475 | | Section 88. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3698 |
|---|
| 5476 | 5476 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3699 |
|---|
| 5477 | 5477 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, section 185.30, 3700 |
|---|
| 5485 | 5485 | | Page 149 of 159 |
|---|
| 5486 | 5486 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5487 | 5487 | | |
|---|
| 5488 | 5488 | | |
|---|
| 5489 | 5489 | | |
|---|
| 5490 | 5490 | | Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3701 |
|---|
| 5491 | 5491 | | 185.30 Depository for retirement fund. —For any 3702 |
|---|
| 5492 | 5492 | | municipality, chapter plan, local law municipality, or local law 3703 |
|---|
| 5493 | 5493 | | plan under this chapter, all funds of the municipal police 3704 |
|---|
| 5494 | 5494 | | officers' retirement trust fund of any municipality, chapter 3705 |
|---|
| 5495 | 5495 | | plan, local law municipality, or local law plan under this 3706 |
|---|
| 5496 | 5496 | | chapter may be deposited by the board of trustees with the 3707 |
|---|
| 5497 | 5497 | | treasurer of the municipality acting in a ministerial capacity 3708 |
|---|
| 5498 | 5498 | | only, who shall be liable in the same manner and to the same 3709 |
|---|
| 5499 | 5499 | | extent as he or she is liable for the safekeeping of funds for 3710 |
|---|
| 5500 | 5500 | | the municipality. However, an y funds so deposited with the 3711 |
|---|
| 5501 | 5501 | | treasurer of the municipality shall be kept in a separate fund 3712 |
|---|
| 5502 | 5502 | | by the municipal treasurer or clearly identified as such funds 3713 |
|---|
| 5503 | 5503 | | of the municipal police officers' retirement trust fund. In lieu 3714 |
|---|
| 5504 | 5504 | | thereof, the board of trustees shal l deposit the funds of the 3715 |
|---|
| 5505 | 5505 | | municipal police officers' retirement trust fund in a qualified 3716 |
|---|
| 5506 | 5506 | | public depository as defined in s. 280.02, which depository with 3717 |
|---|
| 5507 | 5507 | | regard to such funds shall conform to and be bound by all of the 3718 |
|---|
| 5508 | 5508 | | provisions of chapter 280. 3719 |
|---|
| 5509 | 5509 | | Section 89. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3720 |
|---|
| 5510 | 5510 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3721 |
|---|
| 5511 | 5511 | | Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsection (8) of 3722 |
|---|
| 5512 | 5512 | | section 185.50, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3723 |
|---|
| 5513 | 5513 | | 185.50 Retiree health in surance subsidy.—For any 3724 |
|---|
| 5514 | 5514 | | municipality, chapter plan, local law municipality, or local law 3725 |
|---|
| 5522 | 5522 | | Page 150 of 159 |
|---|
| 5523 | 5523 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5524 | 5524 | | |
|---|
| 5525 | 5525 | | |
|---|
| 5526 | 5526 | | |
|---|
| 5527 | 5527 | | plan under this chapter, under the broad grant of home rule 3726 |
|---|
| 5528 | 5528 | | powers under the State Constitution and chapter 166, 3727 |
|---|
| 5529 | 5529 | | municipalities have the authority to establish and ad minister 3728 |
|---|
| 5530 | 5530 | | locally funded health insurance subsidy programs. Pursuant 3729 |
|---|
| 5531 | 5531 | | thereto: 3730 |
|---|
| 5532 | 5532 | | (8) DEPOSIT OF PENSION FUNDS. —All funds of the health 3731 |
|---|
| 5533 | 5533 | | insurance subsidy fund may be deposited by the board of trustees 3732 |
|---|
| 5534 | 5534 | | with the treasurer of the municipality, acting in a minist erial 3733 |
|---|
| 5535 | 5535 | | capacity only, who shall be liable in the same manner and to the 3734 |
|---|
| 5536 | 5536 | | same extent as he or she is liable for the safekeeping of funds 3735 |
|---|
| 5537 | 5537 | | for the municipality. Any funds so deposited shall be segregated 3736 |
|---|
| 5538 | 5538 | | by said treasurer in a separate fund, clearly identified as 3737 |
|---|
| 5539 | 5539 | | funds of the health insurance subsidy fund. In lieu thereof, the 3738 |
|---|
| 5540 | 5540 | | board of trustees shall deposit the funds of the health 3739 |
|---|
| 5541 | 5541 | | insurance subsidy fund in a qualified public depository as 3740 |
|---|
| 5542 | 5542 | | defined in s. 280.02, which shall conform to and be bound by the 3741 |
|---|
| 5543 | 5543 | | provisions of chapter 280 with regard to such funds. In no case 3742 |
|---|
| 5544 | 5544 | | shall the funds of the health insurance subsidy fund be 3743 |
|---|
| 5545 | 5545 | | deposited in any financial institution, brokerage house trust 3744 |
|---|
| 5546 | 5546 | | company, or other entity that is not a public depository as 3745 |
|---|
| 5547 | 5547 | | provided by s. 280.02 . 3746 |
|---|
| 5548 | 5548 | | Section 90. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3747 |
|---|
| 5549 | 5549 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3748 |
|---|
| 5550 | 5550 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (3) of 3749 |
|---|
| 5551 | 5551 | | section 190.007, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3750 |
|---|
| 5559 | 5559 | | Page 151 of 159 |
|---|
| 5560 | 5560 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5561 | 5561 | | |
|---|
| 5562 | 5562 | | |
|---|
| 5563 | 5563 | | |
|---|
| 5564 | 5564 | | 190.007 Board of supervisors; general duties. — 3751 |
|---|
| 5565 | 5565 | | (3) The board is authorized to select as a depository for 3752 |
|---|
| 5566 | 5566 | | its funds any qualified public depository as defined in s. 3753 |
|---|
| 5567 | 5567 | | 280.02 which meets all the requirements of chapter 280 and has 3754 |
|---|
| 5568 | 5568 | | been designated by the Chief Financ ial Officer as a qualified 3755 |
|---|
| 5569 | 5569 | | public depository, upon such terms and conditions as to the 3756 |
|---|
| 5570 | 5570 | | payment of interest by such depository upon the funds so 3757 |
|---|
| 5571 | 5571 | | deposited as the board may deem just and reasonable. 3758 |
|---|
| 5572 | 5572 | | Section 91. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3759 |
|---|
| 5573 | 5573 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3760 |
|---|
| 5574 | 5574 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (16) of 3761 |
|---|
| 5575 | 5575 | | section 191.006, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3762 |
|---|
| 5576 | 5576 | | 191.006 General powers. —The district shall have, and the 3763 |
|---|
| 5577 | 5577 | | board may exercise by majority vote, the following powers: 3764 |
|---|
| 5578 | 5578 | | (16) To select as a depository for its funds any qualified 3765 |
|---|
| 5579 | 5579 | | public depository as defined in s. 280.02 which meets all the 3766 |
|---|
| 5580 | 5580 | | requirements of chapter 280 and has been designated by the Chief 3767 |
|---|
| 5581 | 5581 | | Financial Officer as a q ualified public depository, upon such 3768 |
|---|
| 5582 | 5582 | | terms and conditions as to the payment of interest upon the 3769 |
|---|
| 5583 | 5583 | | funds deposited as the board deems just and reasonable. 3770 |
|---|
| 5584 | 5584 | | Section 92. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3771 |
|---|
| 5585 | 5585 | | incorporating the amendment made by this ac t to section 280.02, 3772 |
|---|
| 5586 | 5586 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (2) of 3773 |
|---|
| 5587 | 5587 | | section 215.34, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3774 |
|---|
| 5588 | 5588 | | 215.34 State funds; noncollectible items; procedure. — 3775 |
|---|
| 5596 | 5596 | | Page 152 of 159 |
|---|
| 5597 | 5597 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5598 | 5598 | | |
|---|
| 5599 | 5599 | | |
|---|
| 5600 | 5600 | | |
|---|
| 5601 | 5601 | | (2) Whenever a check, draft, or other order for the 3776 |
|---|
| 5602 | 5602 | | payment of money is returned by the Chief Financial Officer, or 3777 |
|---|
| 5603 | 5603 | | by a qualified public depository as defined in s. 280.02, to a 3778 |
|---|
| 5604 | 5604 | | state officer, a state agency, or the judicial branch for 3779 |
|---|
| 5605 | 5605 | | collection, the officer, agency, or judicial branch shall add to 3780 |
|---|
| 5606 | 5606 | | the amount due a service fee of $15 or 5 percent of the face 3781 |
|---|
| 5607 | 5607 | | amount of the check, draft, or order, whichever is greater. An 3782 |
|---|
| 5608 | 5608 | | agency or the judicial branch may adopt a rule which prescribes 3783 |
|---|
| 5609 | 5609 | | a lesser maximum service fee, which shall be added to the amount 3784 |
|---|
| 5610 | 5610 | | due for the dishonored check, draft, or other order tendered for 3785 |
|---|
| 5611 | 5611 | | a particular service, license, tax, fee, or other charge, but in 3786 |
|---|
| 5612 | 5612 | | no event shall the fee be less than $15. The service fee shall 3787 |
|---|
| 5613 | 5613 | | be in addition to all other penalties imposed by law, except 3788 |
|---|
| 5614 | 5614 | | that when other char ges or penalties are imposed by an agency 3789 |
|---|
| 5615 | 5615 | | related to a noncollectible item, the amount of the service fee 3790 |
|---|
| 5616 | 5616 | | shall not exceed $150. Proceeds from this fee shall be deposited 3791 |
|---|
| 5617 | 5617 | | in the same fund as the collected item. Nothing in this section 3792 |
|---|
| 5618 | 5618 | | shall be construed as authorization to deposit moneys outside 3793 |
|---|
| 5619 | 5619 | | the State Treasury unless specifically authorized by law. 3794 |
|---|
| 5620 | 5620 | | Section 93. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3795 |
|---|
| 5621 | 5621 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3796 |
|---|
| 5622 | 5622 | | Florida Statutes, in references th ereto, paragraph (c) of 3797 |
|---|
| 5623 | 5623 | | subsection (16), paragraph (c) of subsection (17), and paragraph 3798 |
|---|
| 5624 | 5624 | | (a) of subsection (23) of section 218.415, Florida Statutes, are 3799 |
|---|
| 5625 | 5625 | | reenacted to read: 3800 |
|---|
| 5633 | 5633 | | Page 153 of 159 |
|---|
| 5634 | 5634 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5635 | 5635 | | |
|---|
| 5636 | 5636 | | |
|---|
| 5637 | 5637 | | |
|---|
| 5638 | 5638 | | 218.415 Local government investment policies. —Investment 3801 |
|---|
| 5639 | 5639 | | activity by a unit of lo cal government must be consistent with a 3802 |
|---|
| 5640 | 5640 | | written investment plan adopted by the governing body, or in the 3803 |
|---|
| 5641 | 5641 | | absence of the existence of a governing body, the respective 3804 |
|---|
| 5642 | 5642 | | principal officer of the unit of local government and maintained 3805 |
|---|
| 5643 | 5643 | | by the unit of local gov ernment or, in the alternative, such 3806 |
|---|
| 5644 | 5644 | | activity must be conducted in accordance with subsection (17). 3807 |
|---|
| 5645 | 5645 | | Any such unit of local government shall have an investment 3808 |
|---|
| 5646 | 5646 | | policy for any public funds in excess of the amounts needed to 3809 |
|---|
| 5647 | 5647 | | meet current expenses as provided in subsections (1)-(16), or 3810 |
|---|
| 5648 | 5648 | | shall meet the alternative investment guidelines contained in 3811 |
|---|
| 5649 | 5649 | | subsection (17). Such policies shall be structured to place the 3812 |
|---|
| 5650 | 5650 | | highest priority on the safety of principal and liquidity of 3813 |
|---|
| 5651 | 5651 | | funds. The optimization of investment ret urns shall be secondary 3814 |
|---|
| 5652 | 5652 | | to the requirements for safety and liquidity. Each unit of local 3815 |
|---|
| 5653 | 5653 | | government shall adopt policies that are commensurate with the 3816 |
|---|
| 5654 | 5654 | | nature and size of the public funds within its custody. 3817 |
|---|
| 5655 | 5655 | | (16) AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS; WRITTEN INVESTMEN T POLICIES.—3818 |
|---|
| 5656 | 5656 | | Those units of local government electing to adopt a written 3819 |
|---|
| 5657 | 5657 | | investment policy as provided in subsections (1) -(15) may by 3820 |
|---|
| 5658 | 5658 | | resolution invest and reinvest any surplus public funds in their 3821 |
|---|
| 5659 | 5659 | | control or possession in: 3822 |
|---|
| 5660 | 5660 | | (c) Interest-bearing time deposits or savings accounts in 3823 |
|---|
| 5661 | 5661 | | qualified public depositories as defined in s. 280.02. 3824 |
|---|
| 5662 | 5662 | | (17) AUTHORIZED INVESTMENTS; NO WRITTEN INVESTMENT 3825 |
|---|
| 5670 | 5670 | | Page 154 of 159 |
|---|
| 5671 | 5671 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5672 | 5672 | | |
|---|
| 5673 | 5673 | | |
|---|
| 5674 | 5674 | | |
|---|
| 5675 | 5675 | | POLICY.—Those units of local government electing not to adopt a 3826 |
|---|
| 5676 | 5676 | | written investment policy in accordance with investment policies 3827 |
|---|
| 5677 | 5677 | | developed as provided in subsections (1) -(15) may invest or 3828 |
|---|
| 5678 | 5678 | | reinvest any surplus public funds in their control or possession 3829 |
|---|
| 5679 | 5679 | | in: 3830 |
|---|
| 5680 | 5680 | | (c) Interest-bearing time deposits or savings accounts in 3831 |
|---|
| 5681 | 5681 | | qualified public depositories, as defined in s. 280.02. 3832 |
|---|
| 5682 | 5682 | | 3833 |
|---|
| 5683 | 5683 | | The securities listed in paragraphs (c) and (d) shall be 3834 |
|---|
| 5684 | 5684 | | invested to provide sufficient liquidity to pay obligations as 3835 |
|---|
| 5685 | 5685 | | they come due. 3836 |
|---|
| 5686 | 5686 | | (23) AUTHORIZED DEPOSITS. —In addition to the investments 3837 |
|---|
| 5687 | 5687 | | authorized for local governments in subsections (16) and (17) 3838 |
|---|
| 5688 | 5688 | | and notwithstanding any other provisions of law, a unit of local 3839 |
|---|
| 5689 | 5689 | | government may deposit any portion of surplus public funds in 3840 |
|---|
| 5690 | 5690 | | its control or possession in accordance with the following 3841 |
|---|
| 5691 | 5691 | | conditions: 3842 |
|---|
| 5692 | 5692 | | (a) The funds are initially deposited in a qualified 3843 |
|---|
| 5693 | 5693 | | public depository, as defined in s. 280.02, selected by the unit 3844 |
|---|
| 5694 | 5694 | | of local government. 3845 |
|---|
| 5695 | 5695 | | Section 94. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3846 |
|---|
| 5696 | 5696 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3847 |
|---|
| 5697 | 5697 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (h) of 3848 |
|---|
| 5698 | 5698 | | subsection (4) of section 255.502, Florida Statutes, is 3849 |
|---|
| 5699 | 5699 | | reenacted to read: 3850 |
|---|
| 5707 | 5707 | | Page 155 of 159 |
|---|
| 5708 | 5708 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5709 | 5709 | | |
|---|
| 5710 | 5710 | | |
|---|
| 5711 | 5711 | | |
|---|
| 5712 | 5712 | | 255.502 Definitions; ss. 255.501 -255.525.—As used in this 3851 |
|---|
| 5713 | 5713 | | act, the following words and terms shall have the following 3852 |
|---|
| 5714 | 5714 | | meanings unless the context otherwise requires: 3853 |
|---|
| 5715 | 5715 | | (4) "Authorized investments" means and includes without 3854 |
|---|
| 5716 | 5716 | | limitation any investment in: 3855 |
|---|
| 5717 | 5717 | | (h) Savings accounts in, or certificates of deposit of, 3856 |
|---|
| 5718 | 5718 | | qualified public depositories as defined in s. 280.02, in an 3857 |
|---|
| 5719 | 5719 | | amount that does not exceed 15 percent of the net wort h of the 3858 |
|---|
| 5720 | 5720 | | institution, or a lesser amount as determined by rule by the 3859 |
|---|
| 5721 | 5721 | | State Board of Administration, provided such savings accounts 3860 |
|---|
| 5722 | 5722 | | and certificates of deposit are secured in the manner prescribed 3861 |
|---|
| 5723 | 5723 | | in chapter 280. 3862 |
|---|
| 5724 | 5724 | | 3863 |
|---|
| 5725 | 5725 | | Investments in any security authorized in this subsection may be 3864 |
|---|
| 5726 | 5726 | | under repurchase agreements or reverse repurchase agreements. 3865 |
|---|
| 5727 | 5727 | | Section 95. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3866 |
|---|
| 5728 | 5728 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3867 |
|---|
| 5729 | 5729 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsec tion (15) of 3868 |
|---|
| 5730 | 5730 | | section 280.051, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3869 |
|---|
| 5731 | 5731 | | 280.051 Grounds for suspension or disqualification of a 3870 |
|---|
| 5732 | 5732 | | qualified public depository. —A qualified public depository may 3871 |
|---|
| 5733 | 5733 | | be suspended or disqualified or both if the Chief Financial 3872 |
|---|
| 5734 | 5734 | | Officer determines that the qualified public depository has: 3873 |
|---|
| 5735 | 5735 | | (15) No longer meets the definition of a qualified public 3874 |
|---|
| 5736 | 5736 | | depository under s. 280.02. 3875 |
|---|
| 5744 | 5744 | | Page 156 of 159 |
|---|
| 5745 | 5745 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5746 | 5746 | | |
|---|
| 5747 | 5747 | | |
|---|
| 5748 | 5748 | | |
|---|
| 5749 | 5749 | | Section 96. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3876 |
|---|
| 5750 | 5750 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to secti on 280.02, 3877 |
|---|
| 5751 | 5751 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (1) of 3878 |
|---|
| 5752 | 5752 | | section 280.18, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3879 |
|---|
| 5753 | 5753 | | 280.18 Protection of public depositors; liability of the 3880 |
|---|
| 5754 | 5754 | | state.— 3881 |
|---|
| 5755 | 5755 | | (1) When public deposits are made in accordance with this 3882 |
|---|
| 5756 | 5756 | | chapter, there shall be protection from loss to public 3883 |
|---|
| 5757 | 5757 | | depositors, as defined in s. 280.02, in the absence of 3884 |
|---|
| 5758 | 5758 | | negligence, malfeasance, misfeasance, or nonfeasance on the part 3885 |
|---|
| 5759 | 5759 | | of the public depositor or on the part of his or her agents or 3886 |
|---|
| 5760 | 5760 | | employees. 3887 |
|---|
| 5761 | 5761 | | Section 97. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3888 |
|---|
| 5762 | 5762 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3889 |
|---|
| 5763 | 5763 | | Florida Statutes, in references thereto, subsections (1) and (2) 3890 |
|---|
| 5764 | 5764 | | of section 331.309, Florida Statutes, are reenacted to read: 3891 |
|---|
| 5765 | 5765 | | 331.309 Treasurer; depositories; fiscal agent. — 3892 |
|---|
| 5766 | 5766 | | (1) The board shall designate an individual who is a 3893 |
|---|
| 5767 | 5767 | | resident of the state, or a qualified public depository as 3894 |
|---|
| 5768 | 5768 | | defined in s. 280.02, as treasurer of Space Florida, who shall 3895 |
|---|
| 5769 | 5769 | | have charge of the funds of Space Florida. Such funds shall be 3896 |
|---|
| 5770 | 5770 | | disbursed only upon the order of or pursuant to the resolution 3897 |
|---|
| 5771 | 5771 | | of the board by warrant, check, authorization, or direct deposit 3898 |
|---|
| 5772 | 5772 | | pursuant to s. 215.85, signed or authorized by the treasurer or 3899 |
|---|
| 5773 | 5773 | | his or her representative or by such other p ersons as may be 3900 |
|---|
| 5781 | 5781 | | Page 157 of 159 |
|---|
| 5782 | 5782 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5783 | 5783 | | |
|---|
| 5784 | 5784 | | |
|---|
| 5785 | 5785 | | |
|---|
| 5786 | 5786 | | authorized by the board. The board may give the treasurer such 3901 |
|---|
| 5787 | 5787 | | other or additional powers and duties as the board may deem 3902 |
|---|
| 5788 | 5788 | | appropriate and shall establish the treasurer's compensation. 3903 |
|---|
| 5789 | 5789 | | The board may require the treasurer to give a bond in such 3904 |
|---|
| 5790 | 5790 | | amount, on such terms, and with such sureties as may be deemed 3905 |
|---|
| 5791 | 5791 | | satisfactory to the board to secure the performance by the 3906 |
|---|
| 5792 | 5792 | | treasurer of his or her powers and duties. The board shall audit 3907 |
|---|
| 5793 | 5793 | | or have audited the books of the treasurer at least once a year. 3908 |
|---|
| 5794 | 5794 | | (2) The board is authorized to select as depositories in 3909 |
|---|
| 5795 | 5795 | | which the funds of the board and of Space Florida shall be 3910 |
|---|
| 5796 | 5796 | | deposited any qualified public depository as defined in s. 3911 |
|---|
| 5797 | 5797 | | 280.02, upon such terms and conditions as to the payment of 3912 |
|---|
| 5798 | 5798 | | interest by such depository upon the funds so deposited as the 3913 |
|---|
| 5799 | 5799 | | board may deem just and reasonable. The funds of Space Florida 3914 |
|---|
| 5800 | 5800 | | may be kept in or removed from the State Treasury upon written 3915 |
|---|
| 5801 | 5801 | | notification from the chair of the board to the Chief Financial 3916 |
|---|
| 5802 | 5802 | | Officer. 3917 |
|---|
| 5803 | 5803 | | Section 98. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3918 |
|---|
| 5804 | 5804 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3919 |
|---|
| 5805 | 5805 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, subsection (2) of 3920 |
|---|
| 5806 | 5806 | | section 373.553, Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3921 |
|---|
| 5807 | 5807 | | 373.553 Treasurer of the b oard; payment of funds; 3922 |
|---|
| 5808 | 5808 | | depositories.— 3923 |
|---|
| 5809 | 5809 | | (2) The board is authorized to select as depositories in 3924 |
|---|
| 5810 | 5810 | | which the funds of the board and of the district shall be 3925 |
|---|
| 5818 | 5818 | | Page 158 of 159 |
|---|
| 5819 | 5819 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5820 | 5820 | | |
|---|
| 5821 | 5821 | | |
|---|
| 5822 | 5822 | | |
|---|
| 5823 | 5823 | | deposited in any qualified public depository as defined in s. 3926 |
|---|
| 5824 | 5824 | | 280.02, and such deposits shall be sec ured in the manner 3927 |
|---|
| 5825 | 5825 | | provided in chapter 280. 3928 |
|---|
| 5826 | 5826 | | Section 99. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3929 |
|---|
| 5827 | 5827 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3930 |
|---|
| 5828 | 5828 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, section 631.221, 3931 |
|---|
| 5829 | 5829 | | Florida Statutes, is reenacted to read: 3932 |
|---|
| 5830 | 5830 | | 631.221 Deposit of moneys collected. —The moneys collected 3933 |
|---|
| 5831 | 5831 | | by the department in a proceeding under this chapter shall be 3934 |
|---|
| 5832 | 5832 | | deposited in a qualified public depository as defined in s. 3935 |
|---|
| 5833 | 5833 | | 280.02, which depository with regards to such funds shall 3936 |
|---|
| 5834 | 5834 | | conform to and be bound by all the provisions of chapter 280, or 3937 |
|---|
| 5835 | 5835 | | invested with the Chief Financial Officer pursuant to chapter 3938 |
|---|
| 5836 | 5836 | | 18. For the purpose of accounting for the assets and 3939 |
|---|
| 5837 | 5837 | | transactions of the estate, the receiver shall use such 3940 |
|---|
| 5838 | 5838 | | accounting books, records, and systems as the court directs 3941 |
|---|
| 5839 | 5839 | | after it hears and considers the recommendations of the 3942 |
|---|
| 5840 | 5840 | | receiver. 3943 |
|---|
| 5841 | 5841 | | Section 100. Effective July 1, 2024, for the purpose of 3944 |
|---|
| 5842 | 5842 | | incorporating the amendment made by this act to section 280.02, 3945 |
|---|
| 5843 | 5843 | | Florida Statutes, in a reference thereto, paragraph (c) of 3946 |
|---|
| 5844 | 5844 | | subsection (3) of section 723.06115, Florida Statutes, is 3947 |
|---|
| 5845 | 5845 | | reenacted to read: 3948 |
|---|
| 5846 | 5846 | | 723.06115 Florida Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund. — 3949 |
|---|
| 5847 | 5847 | | (3) The department shall distribute moneys in the Florida 3950 |
|---|
| 5855 | 5855 | | Page 159 of 159 |
|---|
| 5856 | 5856 | | F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S |
|---|
| 5857 | 5857 | | |
|---|
| 5858 | 5858 | | |
|---|
| 5859 | 5859 | | |
|---|
| 5860 | 5860 | | Mobile Home Relocation Trust Fund to the Florida Mobile Home 3951 |
|---|
| 5861 | 5861 | | Relocation Corporation in accordance with the following: 3952 |
|---|
| 5862 | 5862 | | (c) Funds transferred from the trust fund to the 3953 |
|---|
| 5863 | 5863 | | corporation shall be transferred electronically and shall be 3954 |
|---|
| 5864 | 5864 | | transferred to and maintained in a qualified public depository 3955 |
|---|
| 5865 | 5865 | | as defined in s. 280.02 which is specified by the corporation. 3956 |
|---|
| 5866 | 5866 | | Section 101. Except as otherwise expressly provided in 3957 |
|---|
| 5867 | 5867 | | this act, this act shall take effect upon becoming a law. 3958 |
|---|