Sen. Jason Brodeur

Defamation and Related Actions; Specifying that the professional journalist’s privilege does not apply to defamation or related actions; specifying that the publication of an altered or unaltered photograph, video, or audio recording may form the basis of a defamation action; specifying that a defamatory allegation is made with actual malice for purposes of a defamation action under certain circumstances; providing that the negligence standard applies in a defamation action in which the defendant does not identify the source for a defamatory statement, etc.

Fill Material for Reclamation Activities; Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection to approve reclamation and restoration activities on sovereignty submerged lands involving specified fill material, etc.

Statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force on County Realignment; Creating the Statewide Blue Ribbon Task Force on County Realignment within the Department of Economic Opportunity; requiring the task force to evaluate and consider specified items; requiring the department to provide administrative and technical support; requiring the task force to submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a certain date, etc.

Special Risk Class Retirement Date; Revising the definition of “normal retirement date”; decreasing the age and years of service needed to reach the normal retirement date for certain members; authorizing certain members of the Special Risk Class to apply to participate in the Deferred Retirement Option Program within a specified time period; providing a declaration of important state interest, etc.

Public Records/Pharmacy Benefit Managers; Providing an exemption from public records requirements for examination and investigation reports and work papers relating to pharmacy benefit managers; expanding a public records exemption for the books and records of administrators held by the Office of Insurance Regulation for purposes of examination, audit, and inspection to incorporate the inclusion of pharmacy benefit managers as administrators under the Florida Insurance Code; providing for future legislative review and repeal of the exemption; providing statements of public necessity, etc.

Prescription Drugs; Citing this act as the "Prescription Drug Reform Act"; specifying additional prohibited acts related to the Florida Drug and Cosmetic Act; requiring certain drug manufacturers to notify the Department of Business and Professional Regulation of reportable drug price increases on a specified form on the effective date of such increase; requiring the Division of Consumer Services of the Department of Financial Services to designate an employee as the primary contact for consumer complaints involving pharmacy benefit managers; providing a grandfathering provision for certain pharmacy benefit managers operating as administrators; requiring pharmacy benefits plans and programs, beginning on a specified date, to annually submit a certain attestation to the Office of Insurance Regulation, etc. APPROPRIATION: $1,127,525

Commercial Financing Transaction Brokers and Providers; Designating the "Florida Commercial Financing Disclosure Law"; requiring providers that consummate commercial financing transactions to provide specified written disclosures; authorizing providers to provide specified required disclosures when consummating a commercial financing facility based on an example of a transaction; prohibiting brokers from taking specified actions, etc.

Environmental Protection; Requiring the Department of Environmental Protection and water management districts to conduct a holistic review of certain permitting processes and programs; revising the required components of a local government comprehensive plan capital improvements element and general sanitary sewer, solid waste, drainage, potable water, and natural groundwater aquifer recharge element; requiring the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to submit an updated priority list for the acquisition of certain agricultural lands to the Acquisition and Restoration Council by a specified date; revising requirements for onsite sewage treatment and disposal system remediation plans for springs; prohibiting the installation of new onsite sewage treatment and disposal systems within specified areas under certain circumstances; increasing the estimated value threshold for the appraisal of specified conservation easement acquisitions, etc.

Controlled Substances; Revising the elements that constitute the capital offense of murder in the first degree; revising the elements that constitute the offense of murder in the third degree and constitute a felony of the second degree; providing criminal penalties for adults who unlawfully distribute specified substances or mixtures and an injury or overdose of the user results; providing enhanced criminal penalties for repeat offenders, etc.

Benefits, Training, and Employment for Veterans and their Spouses; Requiring the Economic Development Programs Evaluation to include a periodic analysis of the Veterans Employment and Training Services Program; revising the duties of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs and Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., respectively, to include the provision of certain assistance to veterans’ spouses; requiring the Department of Health to waive certain fees for veterans and their spouses under certain circumstances; establishing the Office of Veteran Licensure Services within the Division of Medical Quality Assurance, etc. APPROPRIATION: $399,565