| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to immigration; providing a short title; |
| 3 | amending s. 24.115, F.S.; requiring the Department of the |
| 4 | Lottery to verify the citizenship or legal presence in the |
| 5 | United States of certain prize winners; creating ss. |
| 6 | 125.01075 and 166.0447, F.S.; prohibiting counties and |
| 7 | municipalities from adopting ordinances relating to |
| 8 | persons illegally present in the United States; creating |
| 9 | s. 287.135, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring public |
| 10 | employers to participate in a specified federal program to |
| 11 | verify the work authorization status of newly hired |
| 12 | employees or to verify employee work authorization status |
| 13 | through documentation determined equivalent by the |
| 14 | Department of Management Services; authorizing the |
| 15 | department to adopt rules; amending s. 322.08, F.S.; |
| 16 | requiring driver's license applicants to present proof of |
| 17 | United States citizenship or lawful presence in the United |
| 18 | States; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to |
| 19 | establish a memorandum of understanding with the federal |
| 20 | Department of Homeland Security regarding illegal aliens |
| 21 | who are confined in county detention facilities; requiring |
| 22 | the Department of Law Enforcement to establish a |
| 23 | memorandum of understanding with the Department of |
| 24 | Corrections concerning temporary shelter and supervision |
| 25 | for individuals identified as illegal aliens; authorizing |
| 26 | the Department of Corrections to use current facilities |
| 27 | for detention facilities for illegal aliens; authorizing |
| 28 | the Department of Corrections to seek federal assistance |
| 29 | to reduce costs of detention of illegal aliens; requiring |
| 30 | the Secretary of Corrections to establish an advisory |
| 31 | workgroup to review sites for detention facilities and to |
| 32 | develop state standards for these sites; providing for |
| 33 | membership; requiring a report; creating s. 409.954, F.S.; |
| 34 | requiring verification of the lawful presence in the |
| 35 | United States of persons over a specified age applying for |
| 36 | certain public benefits; providing exceptions; requiring |
| 37 | execution of an affidavit of eligibility; providing for |
| 38 | verification of the affidavit under a specified federal |
| 39 | program; providing for penalties for false affidavits; |
| 40 | providing for variation of requirements; providing for |
| 41 | adjudication of unique individual circumstances due to |
| 42 | unusual hardship; prohibiting provision of public benefits |
| 43 | in violation of specified provisions; providing for |
| 44 | reports; creating pt. XVII of ch. 468, F.S.; providing |
| 45 | legislative findings and intent relating to immigration |
| 46 | assistance services; providing definitions; specifying |
| 47 | authorized and prohibited services; providing exemptions |
| 48 | from regulation; requiring written contracts meeting |
| 49 | specified requirements for the provision of immigration |
| 50 | assistance services; requiring the posting of specified |
| 51 | signage by immigration assistance service providers; |
| 52 | regulating advertising by immigration assistance services; |
| 53 | providing for applicability of other laws; requiring |
| 54 | licensure of immigration assistance service providers; |
| 55 | providing licensure requirements; providing for fees; |
| 56 | providing for temporary licenses in certain circumstances; |
| 57 | providing for license renewal; providing criminal |
| 58 | penalties for unlicensed practice; providing penalties for |
| 59 | violations by licensees; providing for rulemaking; |
| 60 | creating s. 877.28, F.S.; prohibiting specified actions |
| 61 | related to transporting or harboring illegal aliens; |
| 62 | providing criminal penalties; amending s. 903.046, F.S.; |
| 63 | including consideration of whether a defendant is legally |
| 64 | present in the United States as a factor in bail |
| 65 | proceedings; amending s. 905.34, F.S.; providing statewide |
| 66 | grand jury jurisdiction for violations of specified |
| 67 | provisions relating to transporting or harboring illegal |
| 68 | aliens; amending s. 943.03, F.S.; requiring the Department |
| 69 | of Law Enforcement to establish a hotline for the |
| 70 | reporting of immigration law violations and violations of |
| 71 | law by nonresidents; requiring verification of the |
| 72 | citizenship status of certain persons confined for felony |
| 73 | charges; authorizing the Department of Law Enforcement to |
| 74 | adopt rules; creating s. 1000.09, F.S.; providing that a |
| 75 | person may not attend certain public educational programs |
| 76 | or institutions in this state unless he or she is a |
| 77 | citizen of the United States or is lawfully present in the |
| 78 | United States; amending s. 1009.40, F.S.; requiring that a |
| 79 | student seeking certain financial aid present evidence |
| 80 | that he or she is a citizen of the United States or is |
| 81 | lawfully present in the United States; requiring the |
| 82 | executive director of the department to negotiate a |
| 83 | memorandum of understanding between this state and |
| 84 | specified federal agencies concerning enforcement of |
| 85 | specified federal laws; authorizing training of certain |
| 86 | law enforcement officers pursuant to the memorandum in |
| 87 | certain circumstances; authorizing trained officers to |
| 88 | enforce federal immigration and customs laws as part of |
| 89 | their duties; requiring the Department of Children and |
| 90 | Family Services to make a reasonable attempt to verify |
| 91 | citizenship before processing applications for specified |
| 92 | public benefits; specifying duties of the department if an |
| 93 | individual appears to have an illegal status; requiring |
| 94 | the Department of Health to establish citizenship of |
| 95 | applicants for specified benefits; specifying duties of |
| 96 | the department if an individual appears to have an illegal |
| 97 | status; requiring the Department of Children and Family |
| 98 | Services and the Department of Health to develop and |
| 99 | maintain a memorandum of understanding with the Department |
| 100 | of Law Enforcement for specified assistance; authorizing |
| 101 | the Commissioner of Agriculture to seek a memorandum of |
| 102 | understanding with the federal Department of Homeland |
| 103 | Security for a bulk labor visa program; providing |
| 104 | requirements for such a program; providing for the |
| 105 | establishment of a workgroup for specified purposes; |
| 106 | providing effective dates. |
| 107 |
|
| 108 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 109 |
|
| 110 | Section 1. This act may be cited as the "Florida Illegal |
| 111 | Immigration Reform Act." |
| 112 | Section 2. Paragraph (h) is added to subsection (1) of |
| 113 | section 24.115, Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 114 | 24.115 Payment of prizes.- |
| 115 | (1) The department shall promulgate rules to establish a |
| 116 | system of verifying the validity of tickets claimed to win |
| 117 | prizes and to effect payment of such prizes; however: |
| 118 | (h) The department may not pay any prize, excluding prizes |
| 119 | for which payment by retailers has been authorized under |
| 120 | paragraph (e), until the department has verified that the winner |
| 121 | of that prize is a citizen of the United States or legally |
| 122 | present in the United States. |
| 123 | Section 3. Section 125.01075, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 124 | to read: |
| 125 | 125.01075 Ordinances relating to illegal aliens.-A county |
| 126 | may not adopt an ordinance relating to persons illegally present |
| 127 | in the United States. |
| 128 | Section 4. Section 166.0447, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 129 | to read: |
| 130 | 166.0447 Ordinances relating to illegal aliens.-A |
| 131 | municipality may not adopt an ordinance relating to persons |
| 132 | illegally present in the United States. |
| 133 | Section 5. Section 287.135, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 134 | to read: |
| 135 | 287.135 Verification of immigration status; public |
| 136 | employers.- |
| 137 | (1) As used in the section, the term: |
| 138 | (a) "Basic Pilot Program" means the electronic |
| 139 | verification of work authorization program of the Illegal |
| 140 | Immigration Reform and Immigrant Responsibility Act of 1996, |
| 141 | Pub. L. No. 104-208, Division C, Title IV, s. 403(a), as |
| 142 | amended, operated by the United States Department of Homeland |
| 143 | Security or any equivalent federal work authorization program |
| 144 | operated by the United States Department of Homeland Security or |
| 145 | any other designated federal agency authorized to verify the |
| 146 | work authorization status of newly hired employees pursuant to |
| 147 | the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986, Pub. L. No. 99- |
| 148 | 603. |
| 149 | (b) "Public employer" means any department, agency, or |
| 150 | instrumentality of the executive, legislative, or judicial |
| 151 | branch of state government. |
| 152 | (2) Every public employer shall register and participate |
| 153 | in the Basic Pilot Program to verify the work authorization |
| 154 | status of all new employees or otherwise verify the work |
| 155 | authorization status of employees through review of employee |
| 156 | documentation determined by the department to be equivalent. |
| 157 | (3) This section shall be enforced without regard to race, |
| 158 | religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin. |
| 159 | (4) The department may adopt rules pursuant to ss. |
| 160 | 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section. |
| 161 | Section 6. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section |
| 162 | 322.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 163 | 322.08 Application for license.- |
| 164 | (2) Each such application shall include the following |
| 165 | information regarding the applicant: |
| 166 | (c) Proof of identity and of United States citizenship or |
| 167 | lawful presence in the United States satisfactory to the |
| 168 | department. Such proof must include one of the following |
| 169 | documents issued to the applicant: |
| 170 | 1. A driver's license record or identification card record |
| 171 | from another jurisdiction that required the applicant to submit |
| 172 | a document for identification which is substantially similar to |
| 173 | a document required under subparagraph 2., subparagraph 3., |
| 174 | subparagraph 4., subparagraph 5., subparagraph 6., subparagraph |
| 175 | 7., or subparagraph 8.; |
| 176 | 2. A certified copy of a United States birth certificate; |
| 177 | 3. A valid, unexpired United States passport; |
| 178 | 4. A naturalization certificate issued by the United |
| 179 | States Department of Homeland Security; |
| 180 | 5. A valid, unexpired alien registration receipt card |
| 181 | (green card); |
| 182 | 6. A Consular Report of Birth Abroad provided by the |
| 183 | United States Department of State; |
| 184 | 7. An unexpired employment authorization card issued by |
| 185 | the United States Department of Homeland Security; or |
| 186 | 8. Proof of nonimmigrant classification provided by the |
| 187 | United States Department of Homeland Security, for an original |
| 188 | driver's license. In order to prove nonimmigrant classification, |
| 189 | an applicant may produce the following documents, including, but |
| 190 | not limited to: |
| 191 | a. A notice of hearing from an immigration court |
| 192 | scheduling a hearing on any proceeding. |
| 193 | b. A notice from the Board of Immigration Appeals |
| 194 | acknowledging pendency of an appeal. |
| 195 | c. A notice of the approval of an application for |
| 196 | adjustment of status issued by the United States Bureau of |
| 197 | Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
| 198 | d. Any official documentation confirming the filing of a |
| 199 | petition for asylum or refugee status or any other relief issued |
| 200 | by the United States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration |
| 201 | Services. |
| 202 | e. A notice of action transferring any pending matter from |
| 203 | another jurisdiction to this state issued by the United States |
| 204 | Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
| 205 | f. An order of an immigration judge or immigration officer |
| 206 | granting any relief that authorizes the alien to live and work |
| 207 | in the United States, including, but not limited to, asylum. |
| 208 | g. Evidence that an application is pending for adjustment |
| 209 | of status to that of an alien lawfully admitted for permanent |
| 210 | residence in the United States or conditional permanent resident |
| 211 | status in the United States, if a visa number is available |
| 212 | having a current priority date for processing by the United |
| 213 | States Bureau of Citizenship and Immigration Services. |
| 214 | h. On or after January 1, 2010, an unexpired foreign |
| 215 | passport with an unexpired United States Visa affixed, |
| 216 | accompanied by an approved I-94, documenting the most recent |
| 217 | admittance into the United States. |
| 218 |
|
| 219 | Presentation of any of the documents in subparagraph 7. or |
| 220 | subparagraph 8. entitles the applicant to a driver's license or |
| 221 | temporary permit for a period not to exceed the expiration date |
| 222 | of the document presented or 1 year, whichever occurs first. |
| 223 | Section 7. The Department of Law Enforcement shall |
| 224 | establish a memorandum of understanding with the federal |
| 225 | Department of Homeland Security regarding illegal aliens |
| 226 | confined in county detention facilities. The memorandum of |
| 227 | understanding must provide for reimbursement by the federal |
| 228 | Department of Homeland Security for the cost of care and custody |
| 229 | of such illegal aliens in county facilities and must provide |
| 230 | requirements pertaining to deportation. |
| 231 | Section 8. (1) The Department of Law Enforcement shall |
| 232 | establish a memorandum of understanding with the Department of |
| 233 | Corrections to provide temporary shelter and supervision for |
| 234 | individuals detained as undocumented individuals or as illegal |
| 235 | aliens. The memorandum of understanding shall include |
| 236 | requirements for sheltering and supervision in a minimum- |
| 237 | security arrangement and a method for collecting costs |
| 238 | associated with these detention facilities. |
| 239 | (2) The Department of Corrections, through its memorandum |
| 240 | of understanding with the Department of Law Enforcement, shall |
| 241 | seek federal assistance to provide temporary housing resources, |
| 242 | including portables and food assistance through the United |
| 243 | States Department of Agriculture grant programs, to help reduce |
| 244 | costs associated with detention of undocumented individuals or |
| 245 | individuals identified as illegal aliens. |
| 246 | (3) The Department of Corrections may use state-owned |
| 247 | property located on or near current correctional facilities to |
| 248 | house and supervise those individuals detained who are |
| 249 | undocumented or identified as illegal aliens. |
| 250 | Section 9. The Secretary of Corrections shall appoint an |
| 251 | advisory workgroup to review sites for detention facilities for |
| 252 | individuals detained who are undocumented or identified as |
| 253 | illegal aliens and to develop state standards for these sites. |
| 254 | The workgroup shall seek to use the current facilities and |
| 255 | resources available to Department of Corrections for detention |
| 256 | facilities for individuals detained who are undocumented or |
| 257 | identified as illegal aliens to the extent possible to minimize |
| 258 | the fiscal impact on state correctional budgets. The membership |
| 259 | of the workgroup must include representatives from the Police |
| 260 | Benevolent Association and the Fraternal Order of Police. The |
| 261 | workgroup may also include legislative staff appointed by the |
| 262 | presiding officers of their respective chambers. Members of the |
| 263 | workgroup shall serve without compensation for such service. The |
| 264 | workgroup shall submit a report with findings and |
| 265 | recommendations to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of |
| 266 | the House of Representatives, and the secretary by December 31, |
| 267 | 2010. |
| 268 | Section 10. Section 409.954, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 269 | to read: |
| 270 | 409.954 Verification of immigration status for public |
| 271 | benefits.- |
| 272 | (1) Except as provided in subsection (3) or where exempted |
| 273 | by federal law, each agency of the executive, legislative, or |
| 274 | judicial branch of state government shall verify the lawful |
| 275 | presence in the United States of any natural person 18 years of |
| 276 | age or older who has applied for state public benefits as |
| 277 | defined in 8 U.S.C. s. 1621 or for federal public benefits as |
| 278 | defined in 8 U.S.C. s. 1611 that are administered by that |
| 279 | agency. |
| 280 | (2) This section shall be enforced without regard to race, |
| 281 | religion, gender, ethnicity, or national origin. |
| 282 | (3) Verification of lawful presence in the United States |
| 283 | under this section is not required for: |
| 284 | (a) Any purpose for which lawful presence in the United |
| 285 | States is not restricted by law, ordinance, or regulation; |
| 286 | (b) Assistance for health care items and services that are |
| 287 | necessary for the treatment of an emergency medical condition, |
| 288 | as defined in 42 U.S.C. s. 1396b(v)(3), of the alien involved |
| 289 | and are not related to an organ transplant procedure; |
| 290 | (c) Short-term, noncash, in-kind emergency disaster |
| 291 | relief; |
| 292 | (d) Public health assistance for immunizations with |
| 293 | respect to diseases and for testing and treatment of symptoms of |
| 294 | communicable diseases, regardless of whether such symptoms are |
| 295 | caused by a communicable disease; or |
| 296 | (e) Programs, services, or assistance such as soup |
| 297 | kitchens, crisis counseling and intervention, and short-term |
| 298 | shelter specified by the United States Attorney General, in the |
| 299 | sole and unreviewable discretion of the United States Attorney |
| 300 | General after consultation with appropriate federal agencies and |
| 301 | departments, which: |
| 302 | 1. Deliver in-kind services at the community level, |
| 303 | including through public or private nonprofit agencies; |
| 304 | 2. Do not condition the provision of assistance, the |
| 305 | amount of assistance provided, or the cost of assistance |
| 306 | provided on the income or resources of the individual recipient; |
| 307 | and |
| 308 | 3. Are necessary for the protection of life or safety. |
| 309 | (4) Verification of lawful presence in the United States |
| 310 | by an agency required to make such verification shall require |
| 311 | that the applicant execute an affidavit under penalty of perjury |
| 312 | that the applicant is: |
| 313 | (a) A United States citizen; or |
| 314 | (b) A qualified alien under the Immigration and |
| 315 | Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. ss. 1101 et seq., and is lawfully |
| 316 | present in the United States. |
| 317 | (5) For any applicant who has executed the affidavit |
| 318 | described in paragraph (4)(b), eligibility for benefits shall be |
| 319 | made through the Systematic Alien Verification of Entitlement |
| 320 | program operated by the United States Department of Homeland |
| 321 | Security or a successor program designated by that department. |
| 322 | Until such eligibility verification is made, the affidavit may |
| 323 | be presumed to be proof of lawful presence for the purposes of |
| 324 | this section. |
| 325 | (6) Any person who knowingly and willfully makes a false, |
| 326 | fictitious, or fraudulent statement or representation in an |
| 327 | affidavit executed pursuant to subsection (4) and any person who |
| 328 | aids or abets a person in knowingly and willfully making such a |
| 329 | statement or representation in an affidavit shall be subject to |
| 330 | criminal penalties applicable in this state for fraudulently |
| 331 | obtaining public assistance program benefits and must disgorge |
| 332 | any benefit received and make restitution to the agency that |
| 333 | administered the benefit or entitlement. If the affidavit |
| 334 | constitutes a false claim of United States citizenship under 18 |
| 335 | U.S.C. s. 911, a complaint shall be filed by the agency |
| 336 | requiring the affidavit with the appropriate United States |
| 337 | Attorney. |
| 338 | (7) An agency may adopt variations to the requirements of |
| 339 | this section that demonstrably improve the efficiency of or |
| 340 | reduce delay in the verification process, or to provide for |
| 341 | adjudication of unique individual circumstances where the |
| 342 | verification procedures in this section would impose unusual |
| 343 | hardship on a legal resident of this state. However, no |
| 344 | variation adopted under this subsection may have the effect of |
| 345 | eliminating the requirement for verification as provided in |
| 346 | subsection (1). |
| 347 | (8) An agency may not provide any state or federal |
| 348 | benefit, as defined in 8 U.S.C. s. 1611 or s. 1621, in violation |
| 349 | of this section. |
| 350 | (9) Each agency of the executive, legislative, or judicial |
| 351 | branch of state government that administers a program of state |
| 352 | public benefits shall provide an annual report to the Secretary |
| 353 | of Children and Family Services with respect to its compliance |
| 354 | with this section. Any and all incidents of noncompliance shall |
| 355 | be reported to the United States Department of Homeland Security |
| 356 | by the Secretary of Children and Family Services. |
| 357 | Section 11. Effective January 1, 2011, part XVII of |
| 358 | chapter 468, Florida Statutes, consisting of sections 468.85, |
| 359 | 468.851, 468.852, and 468.853, Florida Statutes, is created to |
| 360 | read: |
| 361 | PART XVII |
| 362 | IMMIGRATION ASSISTANCE SERVICES |
| 363 |
|
| 364 | 468.85 Immigration assistance services.- |
| 365 | (1) FINDINGS AND INTENT.-The Legislature finds and |
| 366 | declares that private individuals who assist persons with |
| 367 | immigration matters have a significant impact on the ability of |
| 368 | their clients to reside and work within the United States and to |
| 369 | establish and maintain stable families and business |
| 370 | relationships. The Legislature further finds that that |
| 371 | assistance and its impact also have a significant effect on the |
| 372 | cultural, social, and economic life of this state and thereby |
| 373 | substantially affect the public interest. It is the intent of |
| 374 | the Legislature to establish rules of practice and conduct for |
| 375 | those individuals to promote honesty and fair dealing with |
| 376 | residents and to preserve public confidence. |
| 377 | (2) DEFINITIONS.-As used in this part, the term: |
| 378 | (a) "Department" means the Department of Business and |
| 379 | Professional Regulation. |
| 380 | (b) "Immigration assistance services" means any |
| 381 | information or action provided or offered to customers or |
| 382 | prospective customers related to immigration matters. The term |
| 383 | excludes legal advice, recommendation of a specific course of |
| 384 | legal action, or provision of any other assistance that requires |
| 385 | legal analysis, legal judgment, or interpretation of the law. |
| 386 | (c) "Immigration matter" means any proceeding, filing, or |
| 387 | action affecting the nonimmigrant, immigrant, or citizenship |
| 388 | status of any person that arises under immigration and |
| 389 | naturalization law, executive order, or presidential |
| 390 | proclamation of the United States or any foreign country or that |
| 391 | arises under action of the United States Citizenship and |
| 392 | Immigration Services, the United States Department of Labor, or |
| 393 | the United States Department of State. |
| 394 | (3) AUTHORIZED SERVICES.-A person who provides or offers |
| 395 | to provide immigration assistance services may perform only the |
| 396 | following services: |
| 397 | (a) Completing a government agency form requested by the |
| 398 | customer and appropriate to the customer's needs, provided that |
| 399 | the completion of that form does not involve a legal judgment |
| 400 | for that particular matter. |
| 401 | (b) Transcribing responses to a government agency form |
| 402 | that is related to an immigration matter; however, the person |
| 403 | mat not advise a customer as to the substance of his or her |
| 404 | answers on such a form. |
| 405 | (c) Translating information on forms to a customer and |
| 406 | translating the customer's answers to questions posed on those |
| 407 | forms. |
| 408 | (d) Securing for the customer supporting documents |
| 409 | currently in existence, such as birth and marriage certificates, |
| 410 | that may be required to be submitted with government agency |
| 411 | forms. |
| 412 | (e) Translating documents from a foreign language into |
| 413 | English. |
| 414 | (f) Notarizing signatures on government agency forms, |
| 415 | provided that the person performing the service is a notary |
| 416 | public commissioned in this state and is lawfully present in the |
| 417 | United States. |
| 418 | (g) Making a referral, without compensation from the |
| 419 | attorney, to an attorney who could undertake legal |
| 420 | representation for a person in an immigration matter. |
| 421 | (h) Preparing or arranging for the preparation of |
| 422 | photographs and fingerprints or other biometric identification. |
| 423 | (i) Arranging for the performance of medical testing, |
| 424 | including X-rays and AIDS tests, and the obtaining of reports of |
| 425 | such test results. |
| 426 | (j) Conducting English language and civics courses |
| 427 | necessary for the immigration process. |
| 428 | (4) PROHIBITED SERVICES.-A person who provides or offers |
| 429 | to provide immigration assistance services may not: |
| 430 | (a) Give any legal advice concerning an immigration matter |
| 431 | or perform an act constituting the practice of immigration law |
| 432 | as defined in 8 C.F.R. s. 1.1(i), (j), (k), or (m). |
| 433 | (b) Represent, hold out, or advertise, in connection with |
| 434 | the provision of assistance in immigration matters in any |
| 435 | language that he or she possesses any title or credential, |
| 436 | including, but not limited to, "notary public" or "immigration |
| 437 | consultant," that could cause a customer to believe that the |
| 438 | person possesses special professional skills or is authorized to |
| 439 | provide advice on an immigration matter. |
| 440 | (c) Make any misrepresentation or false statement, |
| 441 | directly or indirectly, to influence, persuade, or induce |
| 442 | patronage. |
| 443 | (d) Retain any compensation for service not performed. |
| 444 | (e) Refuse to return documents supplied by, prepared on |
| 445 | behalf of, or paid for by the customer upon the request of the |
| 446 | customer even if subject to a fee dispute. |
| 447 | (5) EXEMPTIONS.-This part does not apply to: |
| 448 | (a) An attorney licensed to practice law in any state or |
| 449 | territory of the United States, or in any foreign country when |
| 450 | authorized to practice in this state by the Florida Supreme |
| 451 | Court, to the extent the attorney provides immigration |
| 452 | assistance services in the course of practicing as an attorney. |
| 453 | (b) A nonlawyer assistant employed by and under the direct |
| 454 | supervision of a licensed attorney described in paragraph (a) |
| 455 | and providing immigration assistance services in the course of |
| 456 | the assistant's employment. |
| 457 | (c) A not-for-profit organization recognized by the Board |
| 458 | of Immigration Appeals under 8 C.F.R. s. 292.2(a), employees of |
| 459 | those organizations accredited under 8 C.F.R. s. 292.2(d), and |
| 460 | designated entities as defined in 8 C.F.R. s. 245a.1. |
| 461 | (d) An organization employing or desiring to employ an |
| 462 | alien or nonimmigrant alien, which organization, its employees, |
| 463 | or its agents provide advice or assistance in immigration |
| 464 | matters to alien or nonimmigrant alien employees or potential |
| 465 | employees without compensation from the individuals to whom the |
| 466 | advice or assistance is provided. |
| 467 | (6) CONTRACT.- |
| 468 | (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, |
| 469 | before providing any assistance in an immigration matter, a |
| 470 | person shall provide the customer with a written contract that |
| 471 | includes the following: |
| 472 | 1. An explanation of the services to be performed. |
| 473 | 2. Identification of all compensation and costs to be |
| 474 | charged to the customer for the services to be performed. |
| 475 | 3. A statement that documents submitted in support of an |
| 476 | application for nonimmigrant, immigrant, or naturalization |
| 477 | status may not be retained by the person for any purpose, |
| 478 | including payment of compensation or costs. |
| 479 | (b) The written contract shall be in both English and in |
| 480 | the language of the customer. |
| 481 | (c) This subsection does not apply to a not-for-profit |
| 482 | organization that provides advice or assistance in immigration |
| 483 | matters to clients without charge beyond a reasonable fee to |
| 484 | reimburse the organization's reasonable costs relating to |
| 485 | providing immigration assistance services to that client. |
| 486 | (7) SIGNAGE.-Any person who provides or offers to provide |
| 487 | immigration assistance services and is not exempted from this |
| 488 | part shall post signs at his or her place of business setting |
| 489 | forth information in English and in every other language in |
| 490 | which the person provides or offers to provide immigration |
| 491 | assistance services. Each language shall be on a separate sign. |
| 492 | Signs shall be posted in a location where the signs will be |
| 493 | visible to customers, and no text on the sign shall be in a font |
| 494 | size less than one-half of the size of the largest font used |
| 495 | elsewhere on the sign. Each sign shall be at least 11 inches by |
| 496 | 17 inches and shall contain the following: |
| 497 | (a) In a font size no less than three-quarters of the |
| 498 | largest font size used elsewhere on the sign, the statement: "I |
| 499 | AM NOT AN ATTORNEY LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW AND MAY NOT GIVE |
| 500 | LEGAL ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE." |
| 501 | (b) In a font size no less than three-quarters of the |
| 502 | largest font size used elsewhere on the sign, the statement: "I |
| 503 | AM NOT ACCREDITED TO REPRESENT YOU BEFORE UNITED STATES |
| 504 | CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION SERVICES AND THE BOARD OF |
| 505 | IMMIGRATION APPEALS." |
| 506 | (c) The fee schedule. |
| 507 | (d) The statement: "You may cancel any contract within 3 |
| 508 | working days and get your money back for services not |
| 509 | performed." |
| 510 | (e) A statement that a copy of the contract shall be |
| 511 | provided to the customer upon the customer's execution of the |
| 512 | contract. |
| 513 | (f) A statement that any documents of the type identified |
| 514 | in subparagraph (6)(a)3. shall be returned upon demand of the |
| 515 | customer. |
| 516 | (g) A statement that the customer has the right to rescind |
| 517 | a contract within 72 hours after his or her signing of the |
| 518 | contract. |
| 519 | (h) Any additional information the department may require |
| 520 | by rule. |
| 521 | (8) ADVERTISING.- |
| 522 | (a) Every person providing immigration assistance services |
| 523 | who is not an attorney and who advertises immigration assistance |
| 524 | services in a language other than English: |
| 525 | 1. In any written form or medium containing writing, with |
| 526 | the exception of a single desk plaque, shall include in the |
| 527 | advertisement the following notice in English and any other |
| 528 | language in which writing appears: "I AM NOT AN ATTORNEY |
| 529 | LICENSED TO PRACTICE LAW IN FLORIDA AND MAY NOT GIVE LEGAL |
| 530 | ADVICE OR ACCEPT FEES FOR LEGAL ADVICE." This notice shall be of |
| 531 | a conspicuous size. |
| 532 | 2. Through radio, television, or any other audio or video |
| 533 | medium, shall include substantially the same message as provided |
| 534 | in subparagraph 1. in English and in any other language used in |
| 535 | the advertisement. |
| 536 | (b) Any person who provides or offers to provide |
| 537 | immigration assistance services and is not exempted from this |
| 538 | part may not, in any document, advertisement, stationery, |
| 539 | letterhead, business card, or other comparable written material, |
| 540 | literally translate from English into another language terms or |
| 541 | titles including, but not limited to, notary public, notary, |
| 542 | licensed, attorney, lawyer, or any other term that implies the |
| 543 | person is an attorney. |
| 544 | (9) OTHER LAWS.-This part does not regulate any business |
| 545 | to the extent that such regulation is prohibited or preempted by |
| 546 | state or federal law. |
| 547 | 468.851 Licensure.- |
| 548 | (1) Any person who provides immigration assistance |
| 549 | services in this state must be licensed pursuant to this part. |
| 550 | (2) The department shall issue a license to provide |
| 551 | immigration services to any person who meets the following |
| 552 | requirements: |
| 553 | (a) Is at least 18 years of age. |
| 554 | (b) Is of good moral character. |
| 555 | (c) Has completed the application form and remitted an |
| 556 | application fee and all other applicable fees provided for in |
| 557 | this part or chapter 455. The department, by rule, shall |
| 558 | establish biennial fees for initial licensure, renewal of |
| 559 | licensure, and reinstatement of licensure, none of which fees |
| 560 | may exceed $400. The department shall also charge each applicant |
| 561 | the actual cost for fingerprint analysis in addition to the |
| 562 | application fee. The department may, by rule, establish a |
| 563 | delinquency fee of no more than $50. The fees shall be adequate |
| 564 | to proportionately fund the expenses of the department that are |
| 565 | allocated to the regulation of providers of immigration |
| 566 | assistance services under this part and shall be based on the |
| 567 | department's estimate of the revenue required to administer this |
| 568 | part. |
| 569 | (d) Has submitted to the department a fingerprint card for |
| 570 | a criminal history records check. The fingerprint card shall be |
| 571 | forwarded to the Division of Criminal Justice Information |
| 572 | Systems within the Department of Law Enforcement for purposes of |
| 573 | processing the fingerprint card to determine whether the |
| 574 | applicant has a criminal history record. The fingerprint card |
| 575 | shall also be forwarded to the Federal Bureau of Investigation |
| 576 | for purposes of processing the fingerprint card to determine |
| 577 | whether the applicant has a criminal history record. The |
| 578 | information obtained by the processing of the fingerprint card |
| 579 | by the Department of Law Enforcement and the Federal Bureau of |
| 580 | Investigation shall be sent to the department for the purpose of |
| 581 | determining whether the applicant is statutorily qualified for |
| 582 | licensure. |
| 583 | (e) Has not in any jurisdiction, within the preceding 5 |
| 584 | years, been convicted or found guilty of or entered a plea of |
| 585 | nolo contendere for, regardless of adjudication, a crime that |
| 586 | relates to the applicant's provision of or offer to provide |
| 587 | immigration assistance services. |
| 588 | (3) A license issued under this section is not |
| 589 | transferable. |
| 590 | (4) The department may issue a temporary license while an |
| 591 | application for licensure is pending. If the department issues a |
| 592 | notice of intent to deny the license application, the initial |
| 593 | temporary license expires and may not be extended during any |
| 594 | proceeding or administrative or judicial review. |
| 595 | (5) The department shall renew a license pursuant to |
| 596 | procedures provided for in s. 455.203. |
| 597 | 468.852 Violations.- |
| 598 | (1) A person, unless exempt under s. 468.85, may not |
| 599 | provide immigration assistance services unless the person holds |
| 600 | an active license pursuant to this part. A person who violates |
| 601 | this subsection commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, |
| 602 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
| 603 | (2) When the department finds a licensee guilty of any |
| 604 | violation of s. 468.85, the department may enter an order |
| 605 | imposing one or more of the penalties provided in s. 455.227 and |
| 606 | an administrative fine not to exceed $25,000 for each separate |
| 607 | offense. |
| 608 | 468.853 Rulemaking authority.-The department may adopt |
| 609 | rules pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 necessary to |
| 610 | administer and enforce this part. |
| 611 | Section 12. Section 877.28, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 612 | to read: |
| 613 | 877.28 Offenses concerning illegal aliens.- |
| 614 | (1) It is unlawful for any person to: |
| 615 | (a) Transport, move, or attempt to transport or move |
| 616 | within the United States any alien while knowing or in reckless |
| 617 | disregard of the fact that the alien has come to, entered, or |
| 618 | remained in the United States in violation of law in furtherance |
| 619 | of the illegal presence of the alien in the United States. |
| 620 | (b) Conceal, harbor, or shelter from detection any alien |
| 621 | in any place, including any building or means of transportation, |
| 622 | while knowing or in reckless disregard of the fact that the |
| 623 | alien has come to, entered, or remained in the United States in |
| 624 | violation of law in furtherance of the illegal presence of the |
| 625 | alien in the United States. |
| 626 | (2) Any person who violates this section commits a |
| 627 | misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. |
| 628 | 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
| 629 | Section 13. Paragraphs (k) and (l) of subsection (2) of |
| 630 | section 903.046, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as |
| 631 | paragraphs (l) and (m), respectively, and a new paragraph (k) is |
| 632 | added to that subsection to read: |
| 633 | 903.046 Purpose of and criteria for bail determination.- |
| 634 | (2) When determining whether to release a defendant on |
| 635 | bail or other conditions, and what that bail or those conditions |
| 636 | may be, the court shall consider: |
| 637 | (k) Whether the defendant is an alien who has come to, |
| 638 | entered, or remained in the United States in violation of law. |
| 639 | Section 14. Subsections (11) and (12) of section 905.34, |
| 640 | Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (13) is added to |
| 641 | that section, to read: |
| 642 | 905.34 Powers and duties; law applicable.-The jurisdiction |
| 643 | of a statewide grand jury impaneled under this chapter shall |
| 644 | extend throughout the state. The subject matter jurisdiction of |
| 645 | the statewide grand jury shall be limited to the offenses of: |
| 646 | (11) Any criminal violation of the Florida Money |
| 647 | Laundering Act; or |
| 648 | (12) Any criminal violation of the Florida Securities and |
| 649 | Investor Protection Act; or |
| 650 | (13) Any criminal violation of s. 877.28; |
| 651 |
|
| 652 | or any attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy to commit any |
| 653 | violation of the crimes specifically enumerated above, when any |
| 654 | such offense is occurring, or has occurred, in two or more |
| 655 | judicial circuits as part of a related transaction or when any |
| 656 | such offense is connected with an organized criminal conspiracy |
| 657 | affecting two or more judicial circuits. The statewide grand |
| 658 | jury may return indictments and presentments irrespective of the |
| 659 | county or judicial circuit where the offense is committed or |
| 660 | triable. If an indictment is returned, it shall be certified and |
| 661 | transferred for trial to the county where the offense was |
| 662 | committed. The powers and duties of, and law applicable to, |
| 663 | county grand juries shall apply to a statewide grand jury except |
| 664 | when such powers, duties, and law are inconsistent with the |
| 665 | provisions of ss. 905.31-905.40. |
| 666 | Section 15. Subsection (15) is added to section 943.03, |
| 667 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
| 668 | 943.03 Department of Law Enforcement.- |
| 669 | (15) The department shall establish a hotline for |
| 670 | reporting any allegations of immigration law violations and |
| 671 | violations of law by nonresidents. |
| 672 | Section 16. (1) When a person charged with a felony |
| 673 | violation is confined for any period in a jail or detention |
| 674 | facility, a reasonable effort shall be made to determine the |
| 675 | citizenship status of that person. |
| 676 | (2) If the prisoner is a foreign national, the entity |
| 677 | holding the person shall make a reasonable effort to verify that |
| 678 | the prisoner has been lawfully admitted to the United States |
| 679 | and, if lawfully admitted, that such lawful status has not |
| 680 | expired. If verification of lawful status cannot be made from |
| 681 | documents in the possession of the prisoner, verification shall |
| 682 | be made within 48 hours after the beginning of the confinement |
| 683 | in subsection (1) through a query to the United States |
| 684 | Department of Homeland Security. If the prisoner is determined |
| 685 | not to be lawfully admitted to the United States, the entity |
| 686 | holding the person shall notify the United States Department of |
| 687 | Homeland Security. |
| 688 | (3) For the purpose of determining the grant or issuance |
| 689 | of bond, a person who pursuant to subsection (2) has been |
| 690 | determined to be a foreign national who has not been lawfully |
| 691 | admitted to the United States shall be deemed to be a risk of |
| 692 | flight. |
| 693 | (4) The Department of Law Enforcement may adopt rules |
| 694 | pursuant to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54, Florida Statutes, to |
| 695 | implement this section. |
| 696 | Section 17. Effective July 1, 2010, section 1000.09, |
| 697 | Florida Statutes, is created to read: |
| 698 | 1000.09 Citizenship or legal residency requirement.-A |
| 699 | person may not attend a public prekindergarten or public K-20 |
| 700 | school, charter school, or educational institution in this state |
| 701 | unless he or she is a citizen of the United States or is |
| 702 | lawfully present in the United States. |
| 703 | Section 18. Effective July 1, 2010, paragraph (a) of |
| 704 | subsection (1) of section 1009.40, Florida Statutes, is amended |
| 705 | to read: |
| 706 | 1009.40 General requirements for student eligibility for |
| 707 | state financial aid awards and tuition assistance grants.- |
| 708 | (1)(a) The general requirements for eligibility of |
| 709 | students for state financial aid awards and tuition assistance |
| 710 | grants consist of the following: |
| 711 | 1. Achievement of the academic requirements of and |
| 712 | acceptance at a state university or community college; a nursing |
| 713 | diploma school approved by the Florida Board of Nursing; a |
| 714 | Florida college, university, or community college which is |
| 715 | accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the State |
| 716 | Board of Education; any Florida institution the credits of which |
| 717 | are acceptable for transfer to state universities; any career |
| 718 | center; or any private career institution accredited by an |
| 719 | accrediting agency recognized by the State Board of Education. |
| 720 | 2. Residency in this state for no less than 1 year |
| 721 | preceding the award of aid or a tuition assistance grant for a |
| 722 | program established pursuant to s. 1009.50, s. 1009.505, s. |
| 723 | 1009.51, s. 1009.52, s. 1009.53, s. 1009.54, s. 1009.56, s. |
| 724 | 1009.57, s. 1009.60, s. 1009.62, s. 1009.63, s. 1009.68, s. |
| 725 | 1009.72, s. 1009.73, s. 1009.77, s. 1009.89, or s. 1009.891. |
| 726 | Residency in this state must be for purposes other than to |
| 727 | obtain an education. Resident status for purposes of receiving |
| 728 | state financial aid awards shall be determined in the same |
| 729 | manner as resident status for tuition purposes pursuant to s. |
| 730 | 1009.21. |
| 731 | 3. Submission of certification attesting to the accuracy, |
| 732 | completeness, and correctness of information provided to |
| 733 | demonstrate a student's eligibility to receive state financial |
| 734 | aid awards or tuition assistance grants. Falsification of such |
| 735 | information shall result in the denial of any pending |
| 736 | application and revocation of any award or grant currently held |
| 737 | to the extent that no further payments shall be made. |
| 738 | Additionally, students who knowingly make false statements in |
| 739 | order to receive state financial aid awards or tuition |
| 740 | assistance grants commit a misdemeanor of the second degree |
| 741 | subject to the provisions of s. 837.06 and shall be required to |
| 742 | return all state financial aid awards or tuition assistance |
| 743 | grants wrongfully obtained. |
| 744 | 4. Submission of evidence that the student is a citizen of |
| 745 | the United States or is lawfully present in the United States. |
| 746 | Section 19. (1) The executive director of the Department |
| 747 | of Law Enforcement shall negotiate the terms of a memorandum of |
| 748 | understanding between this state and the United States |
| 749 | Department of Justice or the United States Department of |
| 750 | Homeland Security concerning the enforcement of federal |
| 751 | immigration and customs laws, detentions and removals, and |
| 752 | investigations in this state. The memorandum of understanding |
| 753 | shall be signed on behalf of this state by the executive |
| 754 | director of the Department of Law Enforcement and the Governor |
| 755 | or as otherwise required by the appropriate federal agency. |
| 756 | (2) The executive director of the Department of Law |
| 757 | Enforcement may designate appropriate law enforcement officers |
| 758 | to be trained pursuant to the memorandum of understanding; |
| 759 | however, no training shall take place until funding is secured. |
| 760 | The Secretary of Corrections, a county sheriff, or the governing |
| 761 | body of a municipality that maintains a police force may enter |
| 762 | into the memorandum as a party and provide officers to be |
| 763 | trained. Any such officer certified as trained in accordance |
| 764 | with the memorandum may enforce federal immigration and customs |
| 765 | laws while performing within the scope of his or her duties. |
| 766 | Section 20. (1) The Department of Children and Family |
| 767 | Services shall make a reasonable attempt to verify an |
| 768 | applicant's citizenship before processing an application for |
| 769 | state food stamp benefits, determining eligibility for Medicaid |
| 770 | services, or processing any other application for financial |
| 771 | assistance. During a periodic review of eligibility for |
| 772 | benefits, the Department of Children and Family Services shall |
| 773 | make every effort to confirm citizenship and report any changes |
| 774 | to the Department of Law Enforcement's statewide hotline |
| 775 | operated under s. 943.03(15), Florida Statutes, as created by |
| 776 | this act. |
| 777 | (2) Upon detection of an individual who appears to have an |
| 778 | illegal status, the Department of Children and Family Services |
| 779 | shall report the individual to the Department of Law |
| 780 | Enforcement's statewide hotline operated under s. 943.03(15), |
| 781 | Florida Statutes, as created by this act, to ensure proper |
| 782 | reporting of such individuals. If children are involved, the |
| 783 | Department of Children and Family Services shall also contact |
| 784 | the child abuse hotline to ensure the safety and protection of |
| 785 | such children. |
| 786 | Section 21. The Department of Health, for the purpose of |
| 787 | determining eligibility for department services or funding |
| 788 | related to Social Security or health benefits, shall establish |
| 789 | policies and procedures to ensure that the citizenship of an |
| 790 | applicant is established. The Department of Health shall report |
| 791 | any individual suspected of being an illegal alien or not |
| 792 | meeting citizenship requirements to the Department of Law |
| 793 | Enforcement's statewide hotline operated under s. 943.03(15), |
| 794 | Florida Statutes, as created by this act. |
| 795 | Section 22. The Department of Children and Family Services |
| 796 | and the Department of Health shall develop and maintain a |
| 797 | memorandum of understanding with the Department of Law |
| 798 | Enforcement for its assistance in identifying and reducing the |
| 799 | provision of state-funded services to individuals residing |
| 800 | illegally in the United States. |
| 801 | Section 23. (1) The Commissioner of Agriculture may seek |
| 802 | a memorandum of understanding with the federal Department of |
| 803 | Homeland Security to establish requirements and standards for a |
| 804 | bulk labor visa program for agriculture in this state. Such |
| 805 | requirements and standards shall include, but are not limited |
| 806 | to: |
| 807 | (a) Provision for written agreements between farming |
| 808 | communities and the Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
| 809 | Services to allow a certified farmer to apply for a bulk labor |
| 810 | visa in order to import guest workers for the specific purpose |
| 811 | of harvesting and processing crops and performing any other |
| 812 | duties identified by the Commissioner of Agriculture as critical |
| 813 | to the success of agriculture in this state. |
| 814 | (b) Specification of responsibilities of a holder of a |
| 815 | bulk labor visa, including housing imported guest workers, |
| 816 | supervising their whereabouts while in the United States, |
| 817 | ensuring that their health and safety are adequately addressed, |
| 818 | and assisting them in returning to their home countries when |
| 819 | they desire to do so or upon expiration of the bulk labor visa. |
| 820 | (2) The Commissioner of Agriculture shall establish an |
| 821 | advisory workgroup to help establish standards and ensure the |
| 822 | proper oversight and management of guest workers temporarily in |
| 823 | the state under the bulk visa program. |
| 824 | Section 24. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
| 825 | act, this act shall take effect October 1, 2010. |