Rep. Dotie Joseph

Offenses Evidencing Prejudice; Expands grounds for reclassification of offenses to include prejudice based on gender or gender identity of any person; specifies reclassification occurs if commission of offenses is based on prejudice towards any person on specified grounds; replaces term "mental or physical disability" with term "disability"; defines "disability."

Criminal Justice; Removes provisions relating to operating budget of municipal law enforcement agency; revises prohibition on obstructing traffic by standing on street; prohibits persons from willfully obstructing public streets in order to solicit; removes provisions providing municipality has duty to allow law enforcement agency to respond to riot or unlawful assembly in specified manner; removes provisions providing municipality is civilly liable for specified damages proximately caused by municipality's breach of such duty; removes criminal penalty for assault committed in furtherance of riot or aggravated riot; removes criminal penalty for battery committed in furtherance of riot or aggravated riot; removes provision relating to destroying or demolishing memorial or historic property; removes provisions reclassifying specified burglary offenses committed during riot or aggravated riot & facilitated by conditions arising from riot; removes provision requiring person arrested for such violation to be held in custody until first appearance.

Endangered and Threatened Species; Revises legislative intent of Florida Endangered & Threatened Species Act; directs FWCC & DACS to protect certain endangered or threatened species; revises criteria for placement of species on Regulated Plant Index by DACS; prohibits FWCC & DACS from considering certain costs when designating species as endangered or threatened.

Landlord's Obligation to Maintain Premises; Requires landlords to provide functioning facilities for air-conditioning.

Sales Solicitation; Revises provisions relating to cancellation of home solicitation sales; provides rights of action for home solicitation sale violations; provides liability for damages in civil actions; prohibits telephone solicitors from conducting payment transactions; limits certain solicitation calls; authorizes cancellation of transactions within specified time period.

Landlord's Obligation to Maintain Residential Premises; Requires landlords to provide air-conditioning; provides requirements for landlords if state or local agencies provide landlord with written notice of deficiencies; provides for suspension of rent; provides landlord is liable for percentage of tenant's expenses for specified time if tenant must vacate dwelling unit; specifies how date of compliance is determined; authorizes tenant to provide written quotes to landlord in order to complete repairs & maintenance; specifies methods of providing written notice.

Fuel Sales Tax; Removes annual indexing of fuel sales tax rates.

Equal Rights for Men and Women; Ratifies proposed amendment to U.S. Constitution relating to equal rights for men & women.

Domestic Violence; Revises prohibition on sale or transfer of firearms to persons convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence offenses; prohibits persons convicted of misdemeanor offense of domestic violence from possessing firearm or ammunition; requires persons convicted of misdemeanor offenses of domestic violence to surrender all firearms & ammunition; provides requirements for law enforcement officers carrying out court order & taking possession of firearms & ammunition; requires all law enforcement agencies to develop certain policies & procedures; authorizes defendant to elect to transfer all firearms & ammunitions that he or she owns to another person.

Death Penalty; Repeals provisions providing for death penalty for capital felonies and associated provisions.