Economic Development; Removes requirement that certain grants received by regional economic development organization must be matched in certain manner; removes certain demonstration requirements of program applicants; removes requirement that interest be deposited in specified manner; provides that specified earnings may be retained & used to make specified awards or for administrative costs.
Low-voltage Alarm System Projects; Specifies nonelectric fence or wall must enclose outside perimeter of low-voltage electric fence; requires low-voltage electric fence to be specified number of feet above such nonelectric fence or wall; permitting low-voltage electric fences to be installed in areas within more than one zoning category; prohibits municipality, county, district, or other entity of local government from adopting or maintaining ordinances or rules that provide additional requirements for low-voltage alarm system projects.
Continuing Contracts; Revises maximum estimated construction cost of construction projects for which governmental entity may enter into continuing contract; requires DMS to annually adjust maximum amount allowed under specified contracts using specified index & publish adjusted amount on DMS's website.
Public Works Projects; Revising the definition of the term "public works project"; revising applicability of a provision that prohibits the state or a political subdivision that contracts for a public works project from taking certain actions under specified circumstances, etc.
Yacht and Ship Brokers’ Act; Revising the definition of the term “yacht”; exempting a person who conducts business as a broker or salesperson in another state from licensure in this state for specified transactions; requiring, rather than authorizing, the Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, and Mobile Homes of the Department of Business and Professional Regulation to deny licenses based on certain criteria, etc
Pregnancy and Parenting Resources Website; Requires DOH, in consultation with DCF & AHCA, to maintain website that provides pregnancy & parenting resources & provide clear & conspicuous link to such website on official website of respective departments & agency; requires DOH to contract with third party to develop such website by specified date. APPROPRIATION: $466,200
This bill updates Florida's residential tenancy laws by formally defining "Florida financial institution" to include specific types of banks and credit unions with insured deposits. It requires landlords holding tenant security deposits or advance rent to place those funds in separate accounts at these approved institutions, either in non-interest-bearing accounts or interest-bearing accounts where tenants receive at least 75% of the interest earned or a 5% annual rate. The legislation also clarifies that fees or bonds used instead of traditional security deposits are not classified as security deposits and updates fire safety requirements for certain multi-story lodging and timeshare buildings. These changes directly affect landlords, tenants, and financial institutions operating within the state.
Offenses Involving Critical Infrastructure; Provides criminal penalties for improperly tampering with critical infrastructure resulting in specified monetary damage or cost to restore; provides for civil liability upon conviction for such violations; provides criminal penalties for trespass upon critical infrastructure; provides notice requirements; provides criminal penalties for unauthorized access to or tampering with specified electronic devices or networks of critical infrastructure.
Dental Insurance Claims; Prohibiting a contract between a health insurer and a dentist from containing certain restrictions on payment methods; prohibiting a health insurer from charging a fee to transmit a payment to a dentist through Automated Clearing House (ACH) transfer unless the dentist has consented to such fee; prohibiting a health insurer from denying claims for procedures included in a prior authorization; prohibiting a contract between a prepaid limited health service organization and a dentist from containing certain restrictions on payment methods, etc.
Violations Against Vulnerable Road Users; Requires person who commits infraction that causes serious bodily injury to, or causes death of, vulnerable road user to pay specified civil penalty; requires person's driver license to be suspended for specified period; requires person to attend specified driver improvement course.
Continuing Education Requirements; Requiring, rather than authorizing, a board, or the Department of Business and Professional Regulation when there is no board, to allow by rule that distance learning may be used to satisfy continuing education requirements; revising the requirements that such continuing education must satisfy; requiring a board, or the department when there is no board, to exempt certain individuals from completing their continuing education requirements, etc.
Qualifications for County Emergency Management Directors; Requiring county emergency management directors to meet specified qualifications; requiring current such directors to meet such qualifications by specified date.
