Rep. Alex Andrade

Advertisements for Legal Services; Specifies prohibited practices relating to advertisements for legal services; requires persons & entities that issue advertisements for legal services to solicit clients to include specified information & statements in such advertisements; prohibits use, obtaining, sale, transfer, or disclosure of consumer's protected health information for specified purpose without written authorization; provides violations are deemed deceptive & unfair trade practices.

Transportation; Revises & provides requirements relating to disabled motor vehicles, autonomous vehicle grading standards, airport zoning regulations, Implementing Solutions from Transportation Research & Evaluating Emerging Technologies Living Lab, certification of aggregate shipments, acceptance of electronic proof of delivery, liability insurance, sharing of cost savings, contractor's certificate of qualification to bid, exemption from public records requirements, request for legislative approval of proposed turnpike projects, M.P.O.'s, allocation of funds to workforce development program. APPROPRIATION: Indeterminate

Florida Kratom Consumer Protection Act; Prohibits sale, delivery, bartering, furnishing, or giving of any kratom product to person under 21 years of age; provides criminal penalties; requires DACS to adopt rules.

Florida State Guard; Revises provisions relating to FSG creation & authorization; provides number of volunteer personnel; establishes Division of State Guard within DMA; provides head of division is director appointed by Governor; removes provisions establishing authority of department & Adjutant General with respect to FSG; provides additional duties of division & director; revises qualifications for FSG applicants; requires specialized unit within FSG; revises criteria for FSG activation; repeals provisions relating to Florida State Defense Force.

Withholding Funds from the Return of Cash Bonds; Requires clerk of court to withhold funds from return of cash bond posted by criminal defendant or his or her spouse, rather than to withhold from return of cash bond posted on behalf of criminal defendant by person other than bail bond agent, funds for specified purposes; requires all cash bond forms to display specified notice.

Defamation, False Light, and Unauthorized Publication of Name or Likenesses; Provides that journalist’s privilege does not apply to defamation claims when defendant is professional journalist or media entity; revises provisions concerning venue for certain actions; provides for attorney fees & costs to prevailing plaintiffs in certain actions; specifies certain persons may not be considered public figures; provides certain allegations are defamatory per se; provides statutory damages to prevailing plaintiffs who are subject of such allegations; creates presumption that statement by anonymous source is presumptively false; provides public figure does not need to show actual malice to prevail in defamation action.

Civil Remedies for Unlawful Employment Practices; Provides limits on judgment for punitive & compensatory damages for certain claims; authorizes aggrieved party to bring civil action for certain claims within specified timeframe regardless of determination made by Commission on Human Relations.

Contacting Consumer Debtors; Prohibits contacting debtors in certain situations; provides requirements for each type of debtor; specifies length of each prohibition; provides enforcement actions against out-of-state consumer debt collectors; provides civil remedies for violations.

Minimum Age for Firearm Purchase or Transfer; Reducing minimum age at which person may purchase firearm & age of purchasers to which specified licensees are prohibited from selling or transferring firearm.

Exemptions for Totally and Permanently Disabled Veterans; Expands eligibility for certain prorated refund.