Florida Senate - 2021                      CS for CS for SB 1040
       
       
        
       By the Committees on Appropriations; and Governmental Oversight
       and Accountability; and Senator Brodeur
       
       
       
       
       576-03051-21                                          20211040c2
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to duties of the Attorney General;
    3         repealing s. 16.10, F.S., relating to the receipt of
    4         Supreme Court decisions by the Attorney General;
    5         repealing s. 16.101, F.S., relating to the Supreme
    6         Court reporter; amending s. 163.503, F.S.; revising
    7         the definition of “department” to conform to changes
    8         made by the act; amending s. 163.504, F.S.; deleting
    9         provisions relating to the Safe Neighborhoods Program;
   10         amending ss. 163.5055, 163.506, 163.508, and 163.511,
   11         F.S.; relieving the Department of Legal Affairs from
   12         certain duties associated with specified neighborhood
   13         improvement districts; repealing s. 163.517, F.S.,
   14         relating to the Safe Neighborhoods Program; repealing
   15         s. 163.519, F.S., relating to the duties of the
   16         Department of Legal Affairs; repealing s. 163.521,
   17         F.S., relating to funding of neighborhood improvement
   18         districts inside enterprise zones; repealing s.
   19         163.5215, F.S., relating to the construction of the
   20         Safe Neighborhoods Act; repealing s. 163.522, F.S.,
   21         relating to state redevelopment programs; repealing s.
   22         163.523, F.S., relating to the cooperation and
   23         involvement of community organizations to create safe
   24         neighborhood districts; amending s. 163.524, F.S.;
   25         conforming a provision to changes made by the act;
   26         amending s. 376.84, F.S.; conforming a provision to
   27         changes made by the act; amending s. 402.181, F.S.;
   28         requiring certain claims for restitution to be filed
   29         with specified entities; removing the Department of
   30         Legal Affairs as an entity for such filings;
   31         authorizing the Department of Children and Families,
   32         the Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile
   33         Justice, the Department of Corrections, and the Agency
   34         for Persons with Disabilities to adopt rules to
   35         process specified claims; amending s. 501.160, F.S.;
   36         authorizing certain declarations during a state of
   37         emergency to be extended by executive order; amending
   38         s. 775.083, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes
   39         made by the act; amending s. 812.171, F.S.; revising a
   40         definition; amending ss. 812.173, 812.174, 812.175,
   41         and 812.176, F.S.; revising provisions to require that
   42         the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco,
   43         instead of the Attorney General, regulate convenience
   44         businesses; amending chapter 2019-127, Laws of
   45         Florida; extending the timeframe for the Attorney
   46         General to access records from the prescription drug
   47         monitoring program when ordered by a court under
   48         specified provisions; delaying the scheduled repeal of
   49         amendments until a specified date unless reviewed and
   50         saved from repeal through reenactment by the
   51         Legislature; providing an effective date.
   52          
   53  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   54  
   55         Section 1. Section 16.10, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   56         Section 2. Section 16.101, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
   57         Section 3. Subsection (3) of section 163.503, Florida
   58  Statutes, is amended to read:
   59         163.503 Definitions.—
   60         (3) “Department” means the Department of Economic
   61  Opportunity Legal Affairs.
   62         Section 4. Section 163.504, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   63  read:
   64         163.504 Safe neighborhood improvement districts; planning
   65  funds.—
   66         (1) The governing body of any municipality or county may
   67  authorize the formation of safe neighborhood improvement
   68  districts through the adoption of a planning ordinance which
   69  specifies that such districts may be created by one or more of
   70  the methods established in ss. 163.506, 163.508, 163.511, and
   71  163.512. No district may overlap the jurisdictional boundaries
   72  of a municipality and the unincorporated area of a county,
   73  except by interlocal agreement.
   74         (2)If the governing body of a municipality or county
   75  elects to create a safe neighborhood improvement district, it
   76  shall be eligible to request a grant from the Safe Neighborhoods
   77  Program, created pursuant to s. 163.517 and administered by the
   78  Department of Legal Affairs, to prepare a safe neighborhood
   79  improvement plan for the district.
   80         (3)Municipalities and counties may implement the
   81  provisions of this section without planning funds from the
   82  Department of Legal Affairs. However, nothing in this section
   83  shall be construed to exempt any district from the requirements
   84  of providing a safe neighborhood improvement plan pursuant to s.
   85  163.516.
   86         Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 163.5055, Florida
   87  Statutes, is amended to read:
   88         163.5055 Registration of district establishment; notice of
   89  dissolution.—
   90         (1)(a) Each neighborhood improvement district authorized
   91  and established under this part shall within 30 days thereof
   92  register with both the Department of Economic Opportunity and
   93  the Department of Legal Affairs by providing the department
   94  these departments with the district’s name, location, size, and
   95  type, and such other information as the department departments
   96  may require.
   97         (b) Each local governing body that authorizes the
   98  dissolution of a district shall notify both the Department of
   99  Economic Opportunity and the Department of Legal Affairs within
  100  30 days after the dissolution of the district.
  101         Section 6. Paragraph (h) of subsection (1) of section
  102  163.506, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  103         163.506 Local government neighborhood improvement
  104  districts; creation; advisory council; dissolution.—
  105         (1) After a local planning ordinance has been adopted
  106  authorizing the creation of local government neighborhood
  107  improvement districts, the local governing body of a
  108  municipality or county may create local government neighborhood
  109  improvement districts by the enactment of a separate ordinance
  110  for each district, which ordinance:
  111         (h) Requires the district to notify the Department of Legal
  112  Affairs and the Department of Economic Opportunity in writing of
  113  its establishment within 30 days thereof pursuant to s.
  114  163.5055.
  115         Section 7. Paragraph (g) of subsection (1) of section
  116  163.508, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  117         163.508 Property owners’ association neighborhood
  118  improvement districts; creation; powers and duties; duration.—
  119         (1) After a local planning ordinance has been adopted
  120  authorizing the creation of property owners’ association
  121  neighborhood improvement districts, the local governing body of
  122  a municipality or county may create property owners’ association
  123  neighborhood improvement districts by the enactment of a
  124  separate ordinance for each district, which ordinance:
  125         (g) Requires the district to notify the Department of Legal
  126  Affairs and the Department of Economic Opportunity in writing of
  127  its establishment within 30 days thereof pursuant to s.
  128  163.5055.
  129         Section 8. Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) of section
  130  163.511, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  131         163.511 Special neighborhood improvement districts;
  132  creation; referendum; board of directors; duration; extension.—
  133         (1) After a local planning ordinance has been adopted
  134  authorizing the creation of special neighborhood improvement
  135  districts, the governing body of a municipality or county may
  136  declare the need for and create special residential or business
  137  neighborhood improvement districts by the enactment of a
  138  separate ordinance for each district, which ordinance:
  139         (i) Requires the district to notify the Department of Legal
  140  Affairs and the Department of Economic Opportunity in writing of
  141  its establishment within 30 days thereof pursuant to s.
  142  163.5055.
  143         Section 9. Section 163.517, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  144         Section 10. Section 163.519, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  145         Section 11. Section 163.521, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  146         Section 12. Section 163.5215, Florida Statutes, is
  147  repealed.
  148         Section 13. Section 163.522, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  149         Section 14. Section 163.523, Florida Statutes, is repealed.
  150         Section 15. Subsection (5) of section 163.524, Florida
  151  Statutes, is amended to read:
  152         163.524 Neighborhood Preservation and Enhancement Program;
  153  participation; creation of Neighborhood Preservation and
  154  Enhancement Districts; creation of Neighborhood Councils and
  155  Neighborhood Enhancement Plans.—
  156         (5) The Neighborhood Council and local government planning
  157  agency shall be eligible to receive grants from the Safe
  158  Neighborhoods Program as provided in s. 163.517.
  159         Section 16. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
  160  376.84, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  161         376.84 Brownfield redevelopment economic incentives.—It is
  162  the intent of the Legislature that brownfield redevelopment
  163  activities be viewed as opportunities to significantly improve
  164  the utilization, general condition, and appearance of these
  165  sites. Different standards than those in place for new
  166  development, as allowed under current state and local laws,
  167  should be used to the fullest extent to encourage the
  168  redevelopment of a brownfield. State and local governments are
  169  encouraged to offer redevelopment incentives for this purpose,
  170  as an ongoing public investment in infrastructure and services,
  171  to help eliminate the public health and environmental hazards,
  172  and to promote the creation of jobs in these areas. Such
  173  incentives may include financial, regulatory, and technical
  174  assistance to persons and businesses involved in the
  175  redevelopment of the brownfield pursuant to this act.
  176         (1) Financial incentives and local incentives for
  177  redevelopment may include, but not be limited to:
  178         (c) Safe neighborhood improvement districts as provided in
  179  ss. 163.501-163.516 ss. 163.501-163.523.
  180         Section 17. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 402.181,
  181  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  182         402.181 State Institutions Claims Program.—
  183         (2) Claims for restitution may be filed with the Department
  184  of Children and Families, the Department of Health, the
  185  Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of Corrections,
  186  or the Agency for Persons with Disabilities. The claim must be
  187  filed with the department or agency responsible for monitoring
  188  the person who caused the medical injury or the property damage
  189  Legal Affairs at its office in accordance with regulations
  190  prescribed by the Department of Legal Affairs. The departments
  191  and agencies Department of Legal Affairs shall have the full
  192  power and authority to approve or deny hear, investigate, and
  193  determine all questions in respect to such claims and may is
  194  authorized, within the limits of current appropriations, to pay
  195  individual claims up to $1,000 or, with respect to children in
  196  foster care and their families, individual claims up to $1,500.
  197  Claims in excess of these amounts shall continue to require
  198  legislative approval.
  199         (3)(a)The Department of Children and Families, the
  200  Department of Health, the Department of Juvenile Justice, the
  201  Department of Corrections, and the Agency for Persons with
  202  Disabilities shall adopt rules to process claims and to ensure
  203  that eligible claimants receive restitution within a reasonable
  204  timeframe The Department of Legal Affairs shall make or cause to
  205  be made such investigations as it considers necessary in respect
  206  to such claims. Hearings shall be held in accordance with
  207  chapter 120.
  208         (b)The Department of Legal Affairs shall work with the
  209  Department of Children and Families, the Department of Health,
  210  the Department of Juvenile Justice, the Department of
  211  Corrections, and the Agency for Persons with Disabilities to
  212  streamline the process of investigations, hearings, and
  213  determinations with respect to claims under this section, to
  214  ensure that eligible claimants receive restitution within a
  215  reasonable time.
  216         Section 18. Subsections (2) and (3) of section 501.160,
  217  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  218         501.160 Rental or sale of essential commodities during a
  219  declared state of emergency; prohibition against unconscionable
  220  prices.—
  221         (2) Upon a declaration of a state of emergency by the
  222  Governor, it is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for a
  223  person or her or his agent or employee to rent or sell or offer
  224  to rent or sell at an unconscionable price within the area for
  225  which the state of emergency is declared:,
  226         (a) Any essential commodity including, but not limited to,
  227  supplies, services, provisions, or equipment that is necessary
  228  for consumption or use as a direct result of the emergency.
  229         (b)Any dwelling unit or self-storage facility that is
  230  necessary for habitation or use as a direct result of the
  231  emergency.
  232  
  233  This prohibition is effective not to exceed 60 days under the
  234  initial declared state of emergency as defined in s. 252.36(2)
  235  and may be extended by an executive order issued by the Governor
  236  specifically referencing this section shall be renewed by
  237  statement in any subsequent renewals of the declared state of
  238  emergency by the Governor.
  239         (3)It is unlawful and a violation of s. 501.204 for any
  240  person to impose unconscionable prices for the rental or lease
  241  of any dwelling unit or self-storage facility during a period of
  242  declared state of emergency.
  243         Section 19. Subsection (2) of section 775.083, Florida
  244  Statutes, is amended to read:
  245         775.083 Fines.—
  246         (2) In addition to the fines set forth in subsection (1),
  247  court costs shall be assessed and collected in each instance a
  248  defendant pleads nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, or
  249  adjudicated delinquent for, a felony, a misdemeanor, or a
  250  criminal traffic offense under state law, or a violation of any
  251  municipal or county ordinance if the violation constitutes a
  252  misdemeanor under state law. The court costs imposed by this
  253  section shall be $50 for a felony and $20 for any other offense
  254  and shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into an
  255  appropriate county account for disbursement for the purposes
  256  provided in this subsection. A county shall account for the
  257  funds separately from other county funds as crime prevention
  258  funds. The county, in consultation with the sheriff, must expend
  259  such funds for crime prevention programs in the county,
  260  including safe neighborhood programs under ss. 163.501-163.523.
  261         Section 20. Section 812.171, Florida Statutes, is amended
  262  to read:
  263         812.171 Definition.—As used in this act, the term
  264  “convenience business” means any place of business that is
  265  primarily engaged in the retail sale of groceries, or both
  266  groceries and gasoline, and that is open for business at any
  267  time between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m., and that is
  268  licensed by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  269  within the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
  270  pursuant to chapter 210, chapter 561, chapter 562, chapter 563,
  271  chapter 564, chapter 565, or chapter 569, as applicable. The
  272  term “convenience business” does not include:
  273         (1) A business that is solely or primarily a restaurant.
  274         (2) A business that always has at least five employees on
  275  the premises after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m.
  276         (3) A business that has at least 10,000 square feet of
  277  retail floor space.
  278         (4)A The term “convenience business” does not include any
  279  business in which the owner or members of his or her family work
  280  between the hours of 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
  281         Section 21. Subsections (3), (4), and (5) of section
  282  812.173, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (6) is
  283  added to that section, to read:
  284         812.173 Convenience business security.—
  285         (3) Every convenience business shall be equipped with a
  286  silent alarm to law enforcement or a private security agency,
  287  unless an application for an exemption, adopted by rule by the
  288  Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco, is made to and
  289  granted by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  290  Attorney General. An application for exemption must be in
  291  writing and must be accompanied by an administrative fee of $25
  292  for each store for which an exemption would apply.
  293         (4) If a murder, robbery, sexual battery, aggravated
  294  assault, aggravated battery, or kidnapping or false
  295  imprisonment, as those crimes are identified and defined by
  296  Florida Statutes, occurs or has occurred at a convenience
  297  business since July 1, 1989, and arises out of the operation of
  298  the convenience business, that convenience business shall notify
  299  the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco in writing and
  300  shall implement at least one of the following security measures
  301  within 30 days after a judicial determination that one or more
  302  of the aforementioned identified crimes occurred at the
  303  convenience business:
  304         (a) Provide at least two employees on the premises at all
  305  times after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m.;
  306         (b) Install for use by employees at all times after 11 p.m.
  307  and before 5 a.m. a secured safety enclosure of transparent
  308  polycarbonate or other material that meets at least one of the
  309  following minimum standards:
  310         1. American Society for Testing and Materials Standard
  311  D3935 (classification PC110 B 3 0800700) and that has a
  312  thickness of at least 0.375 inches and has an impact strength of
  313  at least 200 foot pounds; or
  314         2. Underwriters Laboratory Standard UL 752 for medium power
  315  small arms (level one), Bullet Resisting Equipment;
  316         (c) Provide a security guard on the premises at all times
  317  after 11 p.m. and before 5 a.m.;
  318         (d) Lock the business premises throughout the hours of 11
  319  p.m. to 5 a.m., and only transact business through an indirect
  320  pass-through trough, trapdoor, or window; or
  321         (e) Close the business at all times after 11 p.m. and
  322  before 5 a.m.
  323         (5) For purposes of this section, any convenience business
  324  that by law implemented any of the security measures set forth
  325  in paragraphs (4)(a)-(e) and has maintained said measures as
  326  required by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  327  Department of Legal Affairs without any occurrence or incidence
  328  of the crimes identified by subsection (4) for a period of no
  329  less than 24 months immediately preceding the filing of a notice
  330  of exemption, may file with the department a notice of exemption
  331  from these enhanced security measures. In no event shall this
  332  exemption be interpreted to preclude full compliance with the
  333  security measures set forth in subsection (4) should any
  334  occurrence or incidence of the crimes identified by subsection
  335  (4) cause subsection (4) to be statutorily applicable. As of
  336  July 1, 2021, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  337  the date this act becomes law, the Department of Legal Affairs
  338  will provide notice to any convenience business to which a
  339  subsection (4) incident has previously occurred between July 1,
  340  2019, and July 1, 2021. In no event shall the state or the
  341  Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Department of Legal
  342  Affairs incur any liability for the regulation and enforcement
  343  of this act.
  344         (6)The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco has the
  345  authority to investigate the premises and records of any
  346  licensee in order to determine whether the licensee is a
  347  convenience business and subject to this act.
  348         Section 22. Section 812.174, Florida Statutes, is amended
  349  to read:
  350         812.174 Training of employees.—The owner or principal
  351  operator of a convenience business or convenience businesses
  352  shall provide proper robbery deterrence and safety training by
  353  an approved curriculum to its retail employees within 60 days of
  354  employment. Existing retail employees shall receive training
  355  within 6 months of April 8, 1992. A proposed curriculum shall be
  356  submitted in writing to the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and
  357  Tobacco Attorney General with an administrative fee not to
  358  exceed $100. The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  359  Attorney General shall review and approve or disapprove the
  360  curriculum in writing within 60 days after receipt. The state
  361  shall have no liability for approving or disapproving a training
  362  curriculum under this section. Approval shall be given to a
  363  curriculum which trains and familiarizes retail employees with
  364  the security principles, devices, and measures required by s.
  365  812.173. Disapproval of a curriculum shall be subject to the
  366  provisions of chapter 120. No person shall be liable for
  367  ordinary negligence due to implementing an approved curriculum
  368  if the training was actually provided. A curriculum must shall
  369  be submitted for reapproval biennially on or before the date
  370  established by rule by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and
  371  Tobacco and must be accompanied by with an administrative fee
  372  not to exceed $100. Any curriculum approved by the Attorney
  373  General since September 1990 shall be subject to reapproval 2
  374  years from the anniversary of initial approval and biennially
  375  thereafter.
  376         Section 23.  Section 812.175, Florida Statutes, is amended
  377  to read:
  378         812.175 Enforcement; civil fine.—
  379         (1) The violation of any provision of this act by any owner
  380  or principal operator of a convenience business shall result in
  381  a notice of violation from the Division of Alcoholic Beverages
  382  and Tobacco Attorney General. Violators shall have 30 days after
  383  receipt of the notice to provide proof of compliance to the
  384  Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Attorney General’s
  385  office. If the violation continues after the 30-day period, the
  386  Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Attorney General may
  387  impose a civil fine not to exceed $5,000. The Division of
  388  Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Attorney General has the
  389  authority to investigate any alleged violation and may
  390  compromise any alleged violation by accepting from the owner or
  391  principal operator an amount not to exceed $5,000. The Division
  392  of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Attorney General may suspend
  393  the imposition of any fine conditioned upon terms the Division
  394  of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco Attorney General’s office in
  395  its discretion deems appropriate. Notices of violation and civil
  396  fines are shall be subject to the provisions of chapter 120.
  397         (2) Moneys received by the Division of Alcoholic Beverages
  398  and Tobacco Attorney General pursuant to this act must shall be
  399  deposited in the General Revenue Fund.
  400         (3) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  401  Attorney General is given full power and authority to petition
  402  for an injunction when it is determined that the health, safety,
  403  and public welfare is threatened by continued operation of a
  404  convenience business in violation of this act. In any action for
  405  injunction, the Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  406  Attorney General may seek a civil penalty not to exceed $5,000
  407  per violation, plus attorney’s fees and costs.
  408         (4) The Division of Alcoholic Beverages and Tobacco
  409  Attorney General may enter into agreements with local
  410  governments to assist in the enforcement of ss. 812.1701
  411  812.175. Such agreements may include provision for reimbursement
  412  of investigative and enforcement costs incurred by such local
  413  governments.
  414         Section 24. Section 812.176, Florida Statutes, is amended
  415  to read:
  416         812.176 Rulemaking authority.—The Division of Alcoholic
  417  Beverages and Tobacco Department of Legal Affairs shall have the
  418  power to adopt rules pursuant to chapter 120 as necessary to
  419  implement the provisions of the Convenience Business Security
  420  Act. The security measures and training provisions of ss.
  421  812.173 and 812.174 shall meet the requirements of the
  422  department as set forth by rule.
  423         Section 25. Section 3 of chapter 2019-127, Laws of Florida,
  424  is amended to read:
  425         Section 3. The amendments to ss. 893.055 and 893.0551,
  426  Florida Statutes, made by this act shall stand repealed on June
  427  30, 2023 June 30, 2021, unless reviewed and saved from repeal
  428  through reenactment by the Legislature. If such amendments are
  429  not saved from repeal, the text of ss. 893.055 and 893.0551,
  430  Florida Statutes, shall revert to that in existence on June 30,
  431  2019, except that any amendments to such text other than by this
  432  act shall be preserved and continue to operate to the extent
  433  that such amendments are not dependent upon the portions of text
  434  which expire pursuant to this section.
  435         Section 26. This act shall take effect June 30, 2021.