Rep. Lindsay Cross

Appointment of Courtroom Animal Advocates; Authorizes court to order separate advocate be appointed in interests of justice for certain civil & criminal proceedings regarding cat or dog's welfare or custody; provides judge's decision denying appointment is not subject to appeal; authorizes appointed advocate to take certain actions involving proceedings; provides requirements for advocate.

State Recognition of Indian Tribes and Bands; Provides for state recognition of specified Indian tribes & bands.

Affordable Housing; Authorizes municipalities to create community land bank programs to sell eligible real property by private sale for purposes of affordable housing & provides requirements for such programs; authorizes Florida Housing Finance Corporation to allocate tax credit to certain projects; authorizes tax credit to be transferred by recipient; authorizes corporation to establish procedures, exercise powers, & prepare annual plan; requires plan to be approved by Governor; provides FHFC with certain powers & responsibilities relating to Affordable Housing Construction Loan Program; provides requirements for program.

Small Business Investment Corporation; Creates Small Business Investment Corporation; provides purpose; provides for board of directors appointed by Secretary of Economic Opportunity; provides that Secretary of Economic Opportunity shall serve as chief executive officer; provides powers of corporation; requires corporation to establish certain fund; authorizes & requires deposit of certain moneys into fund; requires certain moneys to be used for certain purpose.

Weapons And Firearms; Requires background checks on all persons involved in firearm sales or other transfers; requires firearm sales or other transfers to be conducted through, & processed by, licensed dealer; revises requirements for safe storage of firearms; revises criminal penalties for violations; requires firearms to be sold by dealers with trigger locks or gun cases; provides exceptions; revises warnings to be posted in gun dealerships; requires certain materials to be given to gun purchasers; prohibits specified acts involving unfinished firearm frames or receivers; prohibits certain activities involving three-dimensional printer or CNC milling machine.

Insurance; Creates Property Insurance Commission; provides for election of Commissioner of Insurance Regulation; revises homeowners' eligibility criteria for mitigation grants; requires interests earned on insurance proceeds received by mortgagees & assignees to be paid to insureds; prohibits property insurers from claiming insolvency under certain circumstances; authorizes persons that engage in property insurance activities in other states to engage in insurance activities in this state only under certain circumstances; requires property insurers to cap premiums or to create sliding fee scales for premium rates; prohibits property insurers from using certain defenses as claims denials; revises requirements for risk assignment agreements; requires OPPAGA to conduct study of effectiveness of property insurance mediation program. APPROPRIATION: $300,000,000

Financial Accountability in Publicly Funded Education; Revises requirements for private school to participate in certain educational scholarship programs; requires DOE to suspend payment of funds to participating private schools; creates K-12 Education Funding Task Force within department; & provides requirements for such task force.

Eligibility for Medical Assistance and Related Services; Extends Medicaid eligibility to specified adults.

Safe Waterways Act; Requires DOH to adopt & enforce rules & to issue health advisories under certain circumstances; directs DOH to require closure of beach waters & public bathing places under certain circumstances; requires DOH to adopt health advisory sign & posted in specified manner; provides municipalities & counties are responsible for maintaining such signage; requires DOH and FWCC to coordinate to implement signage requirements; requires DOH to establish public statewide interagency database & coordinate with DEP to adopt certain rules & procedures for such database.

State Land Acquisition; Revises, creates, & repeals various provisions relating to the procedures & requirements for acquisition, retention, & disposal of state lands & prioritization of projects relating to such lands.