Rep. Susan Valdés

Pub. Rec./Public Officers; Exempts from public records requirements the partial home addresses & telephone numbers of current congressional members & public officers & their spouses & adult children & names, home addresses, telephone numbers, & dates of birth of, & names & locations of schools & day care facilities attended by, minor children of such congressional members & public officers; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemptions; provides methods for maintenance of exemption; provides for retroactive application of exemptions; provides statement of public necessity.

Veterans' Benefits Assistance; Prohibits person from receiving compensation for referring individual to another person for advising, assisting, or consulting on veterans' benefits matters; authorizes compensation for services rendered during specified period only; requires that persons who advise, assist, or consult on veterans' benefits matters for compensation provide specified disclosures before entering into business relationship with client; prohibits providers who advise, assist, or consult on veterans' benefits matters from charging certain fees; prohibits charging of interest on payment plans; provides requirements in event of death of veteran claimant; provides security requirements for handling of veteran's personal & account information; requires provider to successfully complete specified background screening; provides that violation is deceptive & unfair trade practice which may be subject to specified penalties.

Civil Actions; Provides conditions for cause of action against certain former phosphate mine sites; provides for certain notice of former phosphate mines for purposes of civil liability; requires DOH to conduct surveys of former phosphate land parcels for purposes of civil liability upon petition; revises applicability of offer of judgment & demand for judgment provisions to civil actions involving an insurance contract; requires award of prevailing party attorney fees in certain civil actions involving insurers; provides specified circumstance under which settlement offer is not good faith settlement offer; specifies applicability of offer of judgment & demand for judgment provisions if prevailing party attorney fees apply; provides evidence that is admissible to demonstrate past & future medical expenses in personal injury & wrongful death actions.

Maddy summaryHR 8097 is a commemorative resolution that honors Celia Cruz on what would be her 100th birthday.

Pet Insurance and Wellness Programs; Requires pet insurers to make certain disclosures to pet insurance applicants & policyholders, including summary of their bases or formulas for determination of claim payments under pet insurance policy; requires pet insurers to disclose certain requirements for required medical examinations of pet; authorizes pet insurance applicants & policyholders to examine & return insurance policies & riders within certain timeframe; authorizes pet insurers to issue policies that exclude coverage on basis of preexisting conditions; provides that pet insurer has specified burden of proof with regard to such exclusions; authorizes pet insurers to issue new policies that impose waiting period for specified illnesses, diseases, or conditions; prohibits pet insurers from issuing policies imposing waiting period for accidents; authorizes pet insurers to require examination after purchase of policy; prohibits pet insurer from requiring medical examination to renew policy; prohibits insurance applicants' eligibility from being based on participation or lack of participation in wellness programs.

State-administered Retirement System; Revises participation in Elected Officers' Class; requires certain holders of elective office to participate in Senior Management Service Class; provides exception; revises required employer retirement contribution rates for each membership class & subclass of Florida Retirement System.

Continuing Education for Building Code Administrators and Inspectors; Provides that exemption from certain continuing education requirements does not apply to building code administrators & inspectors.

Professional Licensing Requirements for Barbers and Cosmetologists; Provides period of time when convictions, or any other adjudication, for crimes may not be grounds for denial of licensure as barber or cosmetologist; providing exception; requires applicable board to approve certain educational program credits; repeals provision prohibiting employment of certain individuals by licensed vendor.

Sampling of Beach Waters and Public Bathing Spaces; Revises provisions related to bacteriological sampling of beach waters & public bathing places, including rule adoption & enforcement; issuance of health advisories; closure of beach waters & public bathing places; & notification & signage requirements.

Alternative Mobility Funding Systems and Impact Fees; Authorizes local governments to adopt alternative mobility plan & fee system; provides requirements for application of adopted alternative system; prohibits alternative system from imposing responsibility for funding existing transportation deficiency upon new development; prohibits local governments that do not issue building permits from charging for transportation impacts associated with development; requires local governments that issue building permits to collect for extrajurisdictional impacts; prohibits local governments from assessing multiple charges for same transportation impact; revises requirements for calculation of impact fees by local governments & special districts.