Bill > H1617

Introduced Session

An act relating to public emergencies and assistance; creating s. 11.137, F.S.; requiring each house of the Legislature to provide by rule procedures authorizing the use of remote technology systems for remote participation in committee meetings and floor proceedings by members; specifying requirements for and limitations on the use of remote technology systems; specifying that a member's use of a remote technology system is subject to approval by the presiding officer of the applicable house; authorizing the Legislature to provide procedures by joint rule governing the use of remote technology systems in certain bicameral meetings; creating s. 83.5616, F.S.; tolling specified time periods for certain evictions during a declared state of emergency; requiring a court to stay certain eviction proceedings under certain circumstances; providing a definition; authorizing the Governor or governing body of a political subdivision to extend certain time periods under a certain condition; prohibiting certain actions during a specified state of emergency; authorizing a civil action against a landlord under certain circumstances; requiring attorney fees and costs for the prevailing party of such action; authorizing a hb1617-00 HB 1617 landlord to negotiate new rental agreements; requiring landlords to offer payment plans to tenants to pay past due rent; requiring such rent be paid within a specified time; amending s. 83.62, F.S.; prohibiting a sheriff from serving or executing a writ of possession until a specified time on certain premises that are under a declared state of emergency; providing a definition; tolling the notice period for a writ of possession issued on certain premises that are under a declared state of emergency; creating s. 220.198, F.S.; creating a legal aid organizations tax credit program for certain businesses; providing criteria for receiving tax credits; authorizing the Department of Revenue to adopt rules; requiring the department to identify eligible not-for-profit legal aid organizations that meet specified criteria; specifying a carryforward period; specifying a time period during which businesses may apply for such tax credit; creating s. 220.1985, F.S.; creating a social services agencies and homeless shelters tax credit program for certain businesses; providing criteria for receiving tax credits; authorizing the Department of Revenue to adopt rules; requiring the department to identify eligible nonprofit socials services agencies and nonprofit homeless shelters that meet specified hb1617-00 HB 1617 criteria; specifying a carryforward period; specifying a time period during which businesses may apply for such tax credit; creating s. 220.1987, F.S.; creating an edible crops tax credit program for certain farmers; requiring such farmers to apply to the Department of Revenue; specifying the maximum amount of the tax credit; authorizing the Department of Revenue to adopt specified rules; requiring the department to identify eligible nonprofit charities that meet specified criteria; specifying a carryforward period; specifying a time period during which farmers may apply for such tax credit; creating s. 286.31, F.S.; authorizing a local governmental entity to use remote technology systems to conduct public business; requiring a local governmental entity to preapprove remote technology systems for use in certain circumstances; specifying requirements for the use of remote technology systems; providing that a public official participating in a meeting or proceeding remotely is considered present and counts toward certain requirements; requiring the head of a local governmental agency to make certain determinations; amending s. 288.001, F.S.; requiring the Department of Economic Opportunity to complete a user-friendly application process for the Florida hb1617-00 HB 1617 Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program; amending s. 381.0031, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to publish a certain report during certain public health emergencies; providing requirements for such reports; specifying that such reports are public records; providing construction; creating s. 381.00316, F.S.; requiring the state to reimburse local governments for certain expenses incurred as the result of a public health emergency; requiring each local government to submit its reimbursement request to the Department of Health and the Division of Emergency Management for approval within a specified timeframe; requiring the department and division to jointly review and approve such request within a specified timeframe; providing that the request is deemed approved if no action is taken by the department and division; authorizing the department and division to request additional time for the review of requests; authorizing the department to adopt rules; creating s. 381.00317, F.S.; requiring the Department of Health to develop certain guidelines and procedures; authorizing the department to adopt rules; requiring the division to allow certain individuals to make appointments for vaccinations at the division's vaccination sites; requiring the division to develop a hb1617-00 HB 1617 process for health care professionals to request vaccination allocations for certain individuals or groups of individuals; providing that certain school personnel are eligible for vaccination at certain vaccination sites; requiring that such personnel be prioritized for vaccination; authorizing the division to consult and coordinate with other state agencies; requiring that vaccination doses and allocation be distributed equitably based on certain federal guidance; prohibiting discrimination relating to vaccination distribution against communities or individuals based on certain factors; creating s. 395.1057, F.S.; providing definitions; requiring certain facilities to develop infectious and contagious disease preparedness plans; providing minimum requirements for such plans; authorizing the State Surgeon General to require additional information to be included in such plans; requiring each facility to submit its plan to the department by a specified date annually; authorizing the department to adopt rules; amending s. 409.904, F.S.; restoring retroactive eligibility for certain nonpregnant adults for a specified period; extending Medicaid eligibility to specified individuals; requiring the Agency for Health Care Administration, in coordination with the hb1617-00 HB 1617 Department of Children and Families, to direct qualified Medicaid providers to immediately enroll certain individuals for coverage; providing presumptive eligibility for such individuals; requiring the agency to notify the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services regarding the restoration of the retroactive eligibility period for Medicaid coverage; creating s. 440.095, F.S.; providing a presumption for specified employees that an impairment of health caused by COVID-19 occurred during the course and scope of employment; amending s. 443.111, F.S.; increasing the minimum and maximum weekly and yearly benefit amounts for reemployment assistance; increasing the duration of such benefits; amending s. 443.131, F.S.; prohibiting the Department of Revenue from raising or adjusting upwards an employer's contribution rate under specified circumstances; providing a tax credit for contributions made by employers who meet certain criteria; defining the term "increased contribution" for certain purposes; specifying application of the tax credits; specifying the years within which the tax credits apply; creating s. 443.1318, F.S.; providing exceptions to reemployment assistance requirements during a declared state of emergency or public health hb1617-00 HB 1617 emergency; reenacting ss. 443.041(2)(b) and 443.1116(7) and (8)(a), F.S., relating to attorney fees and short-time compensation, respectively, to incorporate the amendments made to s. 443.111, F.S., in references thereto; amending s. 448.102, F.S.; prohibiting an employer from taking retaliatory personnel action against an employee testing positive for, exhibiting symptoms of, or ordered to quarantine due to COVID-19 under specified circumstances; providing a definition; creating s. 455.41, F.S.; requiring a licensed business to require a face mask to be worn by all persons while inside a building under certain circumstances; providing definitions; requiring a person older than the age of 2 to wear a face mask at all times while inside a building; requiring an employee who works directly with food prepared for consumption by the general public to wear a face mask and gloves at all times; authorizing a business to choose not to serve a person who refuses to wear a face mask; providing protection from litigation; authorizing a physician to provide a letter of exemption; requiring such letter to be presented before entering a business; providing applicability; amending s. 624.11, F.S.; requiring the Office of Insurance Regulation to issue an emergency hb1617-00 HB 1617 rule waiving certain costs for mental health services provided to frontline health care workers for a specified time period; providing retroactive applicability; requiring health care providers to reimburse frontline health care workers for specified costs previously paid within a specified time period; creating s. 627.4144, F.S.; providing that compliance with a specified governmental order constitutes a business interruption for purposes of a certain policy; creating s. 768.38, F.S.; providing legislative findings and intent; defining terms; providing requirements for a civil action based on a COVID-19-related claim; providing a presumption for persons in specified professions that they contracted COVID-19 during the course and scope of their employment; providing a statute of limitations; providing retroactive applicability; providing an exception; creating s. 768.381, F.S.; authorizing people who contracted COVID-19 as a result of being exposed to a virus-infected person to bring a COVID- 19-related tort claim if certain criteria are met; specifying allocation of compensatory damages and attorney fees and costs under specified circumstances; specifying the time period within which an action must be filed; providing definitions; providing qualifying hb1617-00 HB 1617 reasons for which employers must provide paid sick leave or paid expanded family and medical leave to eligible employees; providing when eligible employees may take paid sick leave; providing how much paid sick leave and paid expanded family and medical leave eligible employees may take; specifying the amount employers must pay eligible employees taking paid sick leave or paid expanded family and medical leave; providing calculations for determining rate of pay; authorizing a combination of paid sick leave and paid expanded family and medical leave; providing an exemption for certain employers; requiring employers to provide certain notice; requiring certain documentation before eligible employees take specified leave; prohibiting certain acts by employers; providing for enforcement; creating the Pandemic and Infectious and Contagious Disease Advisory Council within the Executive Office of the Governor; providing for purpose, membership, meetings, and duties of the council; creating the Public Health Task Force within the Legislature for a specified purpose; requiring the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Governmental Accountability to provide research services to the task force; providing for membership, meetings, and duties of the task force; requiring the task force to hb1617-00 HB 1617 submit a report to the Governor and the Legislature by a specified date; providing for expiration of the task force; creating s. 1001.231, F.S.; providing that the Department of Education is responsible for annually preparing a certain plan; requiring such plan be submitted to specified parties; requiring the department to adopt standards and requirements for certain school district plans; providing requirements of such plans; requiring the department to assist in the distribution of a vaccination for COVID-19 to specified persons; requiring the department to coordinate with a specified agency to establish vaccination sites; requiring the department to provide access to certain information and certain direction to school districts; requiring the department to develop a certain plan by a specified date; requiring such plan to be given to specified parties; requiring rulemaking; amending s. 1001.42, F.S.; requiring district school boards to create a certain plan; amending s. 1008.34, F.S.; providing that school grades, school improvement ratings, and student performance results for the 2020-2021 school year must meet certain requirements; providing for future repeal; providing for an award of gain-time to certain inmates who are at risk due to COVID-19; providing an hb1617-00 HB 1617 exception to a certain minimum sentence requirement; providing exceptions; providing a directive to the Department of Children and Families, the Department of Economic Opportunity, the Department of Health, the Agency for Health Care Administration, and the Florida Healthy Kids Corporation; providing severability; providing a directive to the Division of Law Revision; providing an effective date.

Committee Categories

Evan Jenne (D)*,  Andrew Learned (D)*,  Ramon Alexander (D),  Kristen Arrington (D),  Robin Bartleman (D),  Tracie Davis (D),  Fentrice Driskell (D),  Joseph Geller (D),  Joy Goff-Marcil (D),  Dotie Joseph (D),  Michele Rayner (D),  Felicia Robinson (D),  Allison Tant (D),  Susan L. Valdés (R),  Marie Woodson (D), 

Died in Pandemics & Public Emergencies Committee; companion bill(s) passed, see CS/SB 72 (Ch. 2021-1), SB 2518 (Ch. 2021-41) (on 04/30/2021)

Official Document