Rep. Susan Plasencia

Homestead Exemptions for Persons Age 65 and Older; Increases just value limit of real estate eligible for homestead tax exemption that may be adopted by counties or municipalities for certain persons age 65 & older; requires local government entities to amend or adopt ordinances to comply with this act; provides ordinances are null & void after certain date; provides that recipients of homestead exemptions do not need to submit additional application.

Entertainment Industry Tax Credit Program; Creates Florida First Production Partnership Program within DEO; provides tax credit award for entertainment industry projects; provides eligibility & application requirements; provides for liability & penalties on applicant that submits fraudulent information; authorizes transfer of tax credits; authorizes certified project to relinquish tax credits to DOR in exchange for certain payments; provides for expiration of program on specified date.

Public Nuisances; Prohibits person from distributing onto private property any material for purpose of intimidating or threatening owner, resident, or invitee; prohibits person from willfully & maliciously harassing, threatening, or intimidating another person based on person's wearing or displaying of any indicia relating to any religious or ethnic heritage; requires violations be reported as hate crimes; prohibits display or projection of images onto building, structure, or property without permission; prohibits person who willfully enters campus of state university or Florida College System institution for purpose of threatening or intimidating another person from remaining on such campus after being warned to depart.

Agreements of Educational Entities and Foreign Entities; Prohibits state universities & state colleges from accepting grants from or participating in agreements with college or university based in foreign country of concern or foreign principal; provides requirements for state universities, state colleges, BOG, & SBE; prohibits state university or state college from soliciting or accepting gifts from college or university based in foreign country of concern or foreign principal; prohibits private schools owned or operated by person or entity domiciled in, owned by, or in any way controlled by foreign country of concern or foreign principal from participating in certain educational scholarship programs.

Disposal of Department of Transportation Property; Provides that use of property as affordable housing qualifies as use for public purpose in context of authorization of DOT to convey property without consideration to governmental entity.

Protections of Medical Conscience; Authorizes health care providers & health care payors to opt out of participation in or payment for health care services by conscience-based objections without discrimination or threat of adverse actions; requires health care provider to notify patient and health care provider’s supervisor or employee or educational institution in writing when such health care provider declines to participate in health care services; prohibits boards and DOH from taking certain disciplinary actions.

Roller Skating Rink Safety; Provides operator of roller skating rink is not liable for damages or personal injury resulting from inherent risks of roller skating; provides certain persons assume inherent risk of roller skating; provides operator is not required to eliminate, alter, or control inherent risks in roller skating; establishes responsibilities of roller skaters; provides that failure to comply with such responsibilities constitutes negligence.

Florida Retirement System; Revises provisions relating to Special Risk Class normal retirement date, DROP participation, interest accrual rates, COLA, employer retirement contribution rates, investment plan member accounts, member disability coverage, & line-of-duty death benefit coverage.

Education; Revises provisions relating to Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program, part-time enrollment in public schools, transportation of students, graduations requirements, Commissioner of Education duties, & educator certifications.

Emergency Response; Creates Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program within DEO, subject to appropriation; provides program's purpose; specifies program eligibility requirements; authorizes DEO to provide interest-free loans to eligible local governments through specified means; provides for expiration of program; provides appropriations. APPROPRIATION: $700,000,000