HB 1549 increases penalties for driving under the influence (DUI) in Florida, directly affecting drivers convicted of DUI offenses. It raises fines (to $1,000-$2,000 for first offenses, $2,000-$3,000 for second offenses) and extends jail terms (to 6-9 months for first offenses, 9-12 months for second offenses). The bill also lengthens license revocation periods (to 180 days-5 years for first offenses, 5-7 years for second offenses) and requires ignition interlock devices for second-time offenders. Additionally, it adjusts reinstatement rules, mandating 12 months of sobriety, DUI program supervision, and restricted driving for those with revoked licenses.
Dental Screenings For K-12 Students; Authorizes dental screenings provided under school health services program to be conducted after written notice & opportunity for parent or guardian to opt out; clarifies district school board parent notification requirements for dental screenings; & provides that specified parental consent requirements do not apply to certain dental screenings.
Open Cannabis Containers in Motor Vehicles; Prohibits person from possessing open cannabis container while operating or passenger in or on motor vehicle or while seated in or on motor vehicle that is parked or stopped within road; specifies circumstances in which open cannabis container is considered to be in person's possession; provides penalties; requires DHSMV to report certain violations to DOH & requires DOH to maintain records of such violations; authorizes local government to adopt certain ordinances; requires DOH to suspend or revoke registration of qualified patients & caregivers under specified circumstances.
Resilient Buildings; Authorizes owners of resilient buildings to receive certain tax credits; provides requirements for tax credit application, receipt, amounts, eligibility, & use; creates Florida Resilient Building Advisory Council; provides duties & requirements for membership of such council.
Electric Utility Ten-year Site Plans; Revises information required to be included in 10-year site plans; revises procedures for review & approval or rejection of such plans by PSC; requires electric utilities to submit revised plans to commission under certain conditions; prohibits electric utilities from filing applications for certification of certain electrical power plant sites; revises information commission is required to consider in its review of such plans; increases amount of fee commission is authorized to establish for review of such plans; revises content of rules commission is authorized to adopt for submitting, processing, & approving such plans.
Bleeding Control Kits in K-12 Schools; Requires responses to severe bleeding incidents on school grounds to be included in each public school's plan for urgent life-saving emergencies; requires public schools to have bleeding control kits on school grounds by specified date; requires DOE to establish guidelines for determining required number of kits for each school; requires certain staff to receive training related to such kits; requires kits & use of such kits to be included in certain drills; & requires kits to be restocked.
Determination of Mental Conditions in Judicial Proceedings; Provides for petitions for involuntary admission to residential services of persons with neurocognitive disorders; provides that forensic clients with neurocognitive disorder have certain rights; authorizes appointment of certain clinical social workers or mental health counselors as experts to evaluate defendants for mental competence to proceed; limits such appointment to evaluations of mental competence to proceed; defines "neurocognitive disorder"; provides for appointment of experts to evaluate mental condition of defendants whose suspected mental condition is neurocognitive disorder; provides for determination of whether defendant whose suspected mental condition is neurocognitive disorder is mentally competent to proceed; provides for training of such defendant in certain circumstances; provides for involuntary commitment of certain defendants determined to be incompetent to proceed due to neurocognitive disorder; provides for retention of jurisdiction over certain defendants found incompetent to proceed & ordered into forensic facility for defendants who have intellectual disabilities, autism, or neurocognitive disorders; provides for dismissal of charges without prejudice when defendant is found incompetent to proceed due to neurocognitive disorder; provides for conditional release, in certain circumstances, of defendant who is incompetent to proceed due to neurocognitive disorder; requires certain juvenile delinquency procedures for children who are incompetent to proceed because of neurocognitive disorder.
Surface Waters; Requires DEP to incorporate habitat equivalency analysis in uniform mitigation assessment method; requires that permits for dredging & filling include certain requirements; requires permitted entities to bear full cost & responsibility for any damage or destruction caused by dredging, filling, or related activities; designates coral reefs as critical natural infrastructure & nature-based solutions.
Abandoned Cemeteries; Requiring the state to be granted an easement for ingress and egress to abandoned cemeteries on private property for specified purposes, etc.
Portable Wireless Device Repair; Requires portable wireless device manufacturers to make certain items available to device owners & independent repair providers; prohibits certain manufacturers from requiring authorized repair providers to continue purchasing certain information in proprietary format; provides that violation is deceptive & unfair trade practice; requires original equipment manufacturers of agricultural equipment to make certain diagnostic & repair information available for no charge & in certain manner to independent repair providers & owners; prohibits original equipment manufacturers from excluding certain information concerning security-related electronic functions.
Pricing Based on Collection of Consumer Information; Declares unlawful any act or practice of surveillance pricing; provides exceptions; requires certain individuals who advertise, promote, label, or publish statement, display, image, offer, or announcement of surveillance pricing to include specified clear & conspicuous disclosure with such statement, display, image, offer, or announcement; provides for penalties; prohibits consumers from waiving certain rights; declaring any such waiver void.
Protection of Specified Persons Against the Fraudulent and Exploitative Conveyance of Property Interests; Revises persons who must report abuse, neglect, or exploitation of vulnerable adults to include clerk of court; requires quitclaim deed be executed in presence of specified number of subscribing witnesses; prohibits recording of such deeds until after specified cooling-off period; authorizes specified adult to designate certain person through filing of power of attorney; requires clerk to contact such person before cooling-off period elapses; authorizes person designated in power of attorney to object in writing to quitclaim deed being recorded; requires clerk to notify persons of right to file rescission; requires clerk to enroll specified adult in statewide Property Alert Service; requires clerk to conduct preliminary investigation; requires clerk to refer objection to not-for-profit legal aid organization for further investigation; authorizes not-for-profit legal aid organization to request additional time to investigate; requires clerk to record quitclaim deed if no fraud or exploitation of specified adult is suspected; requires clerk or not-for-profit legal aid organization that suspects quitclaim deed was obtained through fraudulent or exploitative means to refer matter to state attorney for further investigation & prosecution; requires clerks to provide certain materials written in plain language.
