Last Updated: 12/21/2011 09:06 PM

NOTE: The 2012 FL Legislative Session will be two months early, beginning on January 10, 2012, ending on March 9, 2012.  The Bills listed below are for informational purposes only, and unless specifically noted are not Bills ABATE of Florida, Inc. officially has any opinion on.

Our Stiffer Penalties Bills are currently being written.

HJR 21 - Term Limits

JOINT RESOLUTION by Rep. Kriseman, Dist. 53 (parts of Pinellas)  

Proposes amendment of s. 15, Art. III & s. 4, Art VI & creation of provision in Art. XII of State Constitution to increase length of terms of state senators to 6 years & state representatives to 4 years & limit state senators & state representatives to 12 consecutive years in office.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Rep. Rooney (part of Palm Beach)

Prohibits picketing or engaging in other protest activities within specified distance of property line of location of funeral, burial, or memorial service for certain persons.

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Ahern Dist. 51 (parts of Pinellas)

Requires traffic control signals to maintain certain signal intervals & display durations based on approach speeds; provides that citation for specified violations shall be dismissed if traffic control signal does not meet specified requirements; provides dates for intersections to meet requirements.
 

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Julien Dist. 104 (parts of Miami-Dade)

Requires person cited for moving violation while using hand held mobile telecommunications device to appear before designated official; provides additional penalties; provides duties of law enforcement officers with respect to such citations.

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Smith Dist. 43 (Citrus & parts Hernando, Levy)

Requires certain Florida College System institutions & state universities to provide priority course registration for veterans; provides eligibility requirements; encourages certain independent post-secondary educational institutions to provide priority course registration.


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HM 57 - Sovereignty of the State

MEMORIAL BILL  Rep. Caldwell Dist. 73 (part of Lee)

Urges Congress to discontinue its practice of imposing federal mandates & legislation upon states which exceed scope of its constitutionally delegated powers under Tenth Amendment to U.S. Constitution & to repeal all existing compulsory federal legislation that directs states to comply or requires states to pass specific legislation in order not to lose federal funding.

Scribe's note – The above underlined part is HUGE for us, one way to implement a National Helmet Law is to withhold Federal funding to the States if they don't comply. The Feds could also require the States to have Motorcycle Only Check points or else lose funding.
 

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Rep. Boyd Dist. 68 (parts Hillsborough, Manatee)

Motor Vehicle Personal Injury Protection Insurance: Cites act as "Comprehensive Insurance Fraud Investigation and Prevention Act"; provides intent; revises provisions relating to crash reports; authorizes officer to testify at trial or provide affidavit; revises requirements relating to form submitted by providers; revises provisions relating to payment; provides that time for paying or denying claim is tolled during investigation of fraudulent act; specifies when benefits are not payable; provides that claimant violating certain provisions is not entitled to payment; authorizes recovery of payments; forbids those failing to comply with certain provisions from billing injured person or insured; provides that insurer has right to conduct reasonable investigations; revises reimbursement limitation; requires provider to ensure that insured understands services provided; revises discovery provisions; authorizes insurer to provide discount to insured selecting preferred provider; authorizes nonpayment for nonemergency services by nonpreferred provider in certain circumstances.
 

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Nelson Dist. 38 (parts of Orange)

Motor Vehicles: Creates "Highway Safety Act"; requires operator of motor vehicle to yield left lane when being overtaken on multilane highway; revises number of specified acts necessary to qualify as aggressive careless driver; requires DHSMV to provide information about Highway Safety Act in driver's license educational materials.

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Campbell Dist. 108 (part of Miami-Dade)

Revises penalties for knowingly driving while driver's license or driving privilege is canceled, suspended, or revoked; revises procedures for impoundment or immobilization of vehicle.

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Slosberg Dist. 90 (parts of Broward, Palm Beach)

Designates act "Minor Traffic Safety Act"; prohibits use of handheld cellular telephones & other electronic communications devices by drivers under 18 years of age & persons driving school buses; provides for voluntary checkoff on driver's license applications to permit contributions to AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety; requires DHSMV to issue distinctive placard when issuing or reissuing driver's license to person under certain age; requires such person to display placard at all times while operating motor vehicle; restricts number of certain passengers permitted in vehicle operated by person under certain age.

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Creates "Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law"; prohibits operation of motor vehicle while using wireless communications device for certain purposes; provides exceptions; specifies information that is admissible as evidence of violation; provides for enforcement as secondary action; provides for points to be assessed against driver's license for unlawful use of wireless communications device resulting in crash.

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Defines "special private gain or loss"; prohibits member of Legislature from voting upon or participating in legislation inuring to personal gain or loss of member or his or her relative; prohibits member from participating in legislation inuring to personal gain or loss of business associate, employer, board on which member sits, principal by whom member is retained, or parent corporation or subsidiary of such principal; requires that member disclose all such interests to applicable legislative body or committee before legislation is considered; requires disclosure by certain period & in specified manner; requires that member vote on GAA & disclose conflicts of interest with line-item appropriation.

Note from Scribe: Sen. Dockery has filed this Bill for the past FIVE years and it has never past. This Bill would prevent a Legislator who let's say is an....Owner of an Insurance Business from voting on an issue that would require motorcyclist from having to pay to get more insurance.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

Provides that otherwise qualified members & veterans of U.S. Armed Forces be issued concealed weapon or firearm license regardless of age or U.S. residency in certain circumstances; provides additional methods for taking of fingerprints from such license applicants; provides that members & veterans of U.S. Armed Forces be granted reciprocity regardless of age.

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Gaetz Dist. 4 (parts Okalossa and Santa Rosa)

Repealing the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act, to remove the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in this state include a percentage of ethanol, subject to specified exemptions, waivers, suspensions, extensions, enforcement, and reporting; conforming a cross-reference, etc.
 

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GENERAL BILL by Rep. Kriseman Dist. 53 (parts of Pinellas)

Repeals provisions relating to medical privacy concerning firearms; deletes provisions providing that unless information is relevant to patient's medical care or safety, or safety of others, inquiries regarding firearm ownership or possession should not be made by licensed health care providers or health care facilities, that patient may decline to provide information regarding ownership or possession of firearms, clarifying that physician's authority to choose his or her patients is not altered by act, prohibiting discrimination by licensed health care providers or health care facilities based solely upon patient's firearm ownership or possession, & prohibiting harassment of patient regarding firearm ownership during an examination by licensed health care provider or health care facility.
 

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GENERAL BILL Rep. Workman Dist. 30 (part of Brevard) 

Repeals provisions prohibiting beverage licensees maintaining, owning, or operating certain commercial establishments from allowing exploitation of persons with dwarfism.

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Repeals requirement that applicants for benefits under Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program be subjected to drug screening.

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Companion Senate Bill SB 284: CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

JOINT RESOLUTION by Sen. Bennett Dist. 21 (parts of Charlotte, Desoto, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota)

Proposing amendments to the State Constitution to revise the terms and term limits that apply to state senators and state representatives, etc.

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GENERAL BILL by Sen. Evers Dist. 2 (almost all of western panhandle)

Repealing the Florida Renewable Fuel Standard Act, to remove the requirement that all gasoline offered for sale in this state include a percentage of ethanol, subject to specified exemptions, waivers, suspensions, extensions, enforcement, and reporting; conforming a cross-reference, etc.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Sen. Bennett Dist. 21 (parts of Charlotte, Desoto, Lee, Manatee, Sarasota)

Cites this act as the "Highway Safety Act;" providing legislative intent relating to road rage and aggressive careless driving; requiring an operator of a motor vehicle to yield the left lane when being overtaken on a multilane highway; revising the number of specified acts necessary to qualify as an aggressive careless driver; providing specified punishments for aggressive careless driving, including imposition of an increased fine; providing that a second or subsequent infraction as an aggressive careless driver requires attendance at a mandatory hearing; requiring the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to provide information about the Highway Safety Act in driver’s license educational materials, etc.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Sen. Braynon Dist. 33 (part of Miami-Dade)

Repealing provisions relating to medical privacy concerning firearms; deleting provisions providing that unless the information is relevant to the patient's medical care or safety, or the safety of others, inquiries regarding firearm ownership or possession should not be made by licensed health care providers or health care facilities, providing that a patient may decline to provide information regarding the ownership or possession of firearms, clarifying that a physician's authority to choose his or her patients is not altered by the act, prohibiting discrimination by licensed health care providers or health care facilities based solely upon a patient's firearm ownership or possession, and prohibiting harassment of a patient regarding firearm ownership during an examination by a licensed health care provider or health care facility, etc.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Sen. Joyner Dist. 18 (parts of Hillsborough, Manatee, Pinellas)

Repealing provisions relating to requirements that applicants for benefits under the Temporary Assistance for Needy Families program be subjected to drug screening, etc.

 

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GENERAL BILL by Sen. Fasano Dist. 11 (parts of Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas)

Increasing from a third-degree felony to a second-degree felony the penalty imposed for willfully failing to remain at the scene of a crash involving personal injury; conforming provisions of the offense severity ranking chart of the Criminal Punishment Code, etc.

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GENERAL BILL by Sen. Detert Dist. 23 (parts of Charlotte, Manatee, Sarasota)

Creating the “Florida Ban on Texting While Driving Law”; prohibiting the operation of a motor vehicle while using a wireless communications device for certain purposes; specifying information that is admissible as evidence of a violation; providing penalties; providing for enforcement as a secondary action; providing for points to be assessed against a driver’s license for the unlawful use of a wireless communications device resulting in a crash, etc.

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GENERAL BILL by Dockery

Ethics; Defining the term “special private gain or loss”; prohibiting a member of the Legislature from voting upon or participating in any legislation inuring to the personal gain or loss of the member or his or her relative; prohibiting a member of the Legislature from participating in any legislation inuring to the personal gain or loss of a business associate, employer, board on which the member sits, principal by whom the member is retained, or parent corporation or subsidiary of such principal; requiring that members of the Legislature vote on the General Appropriations Act and disclose conflicts of interest with any line-item appropriation, etc.

CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS

GENERAL BILL by Benacquisto

Funerals, Burials, and Memorial Services; Prohibiting picketing or engaging in other protest activities within a specified distance of the property line of the location of a funeral, burial, or memorial service for certain persons; providing criminal penalties, etc.

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GENERAL BILL by Negron Dist. 28 (Martin & parts Indian River, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, And St. Lucie)

Urging Congress to propose to the states an amendment to the Constitution of the United States that would limit the consecutive terms of office which a member of the United States Senate or the United States House of Representatives may serve.


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GENERAL BILL by Fasano Dist. 11 (parts Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas)

Requiring an applicant for or recipient of certain specified government welfare benefits to submit to the Department of Children and Family Services the name of each adult, if any, living in the home of the applicant or recipient or who has regular care or custody of a child of the applicant or recipient; requiring each recipient, applicant, or other named person to undergo level 2 background screening; requiring each recipient, applicant, or other named person who has a criminal history for any type of violent behavior to enroll and complete a state-approved parenting and anger management course before any welfare benefit is paid to the applicant or recipient; requiring the recipient or applicant to sign an affidavit containing certain specified information; providing criminal and civil penalties, etc


CLICK HERE FOR CURRENT STATUS