Bill > S1452

Introduced Session

An act relating to the Department of Financial Services; amending s. 215.422, F.S.; revising the Chief Financial Officer’s rulemaking authority; amending s. 215.5586, F.S.; defining terms; revising eligibility requirements for a hurricane mitigation inspection under the My Safe Florida Home Program; revising the circumstances under which applicants may submit a subsequent hurricane mitigation inspection; deleting the requirement that licensed inspectors must determine mitigation measures during initial inspections of eligible homes; deleting inspectors’ authorization to inspect townhouses; revising the criteria for eligibility for a hurricane mitigation grant; revising the grant’s applicant requirements; revising the improvements that grants may be used for; requiring that improvements be identified in the final hurricane mitigation inspection to receive grant funds; deleting a provision related to grants for townhouses; authorizing the program to accept a specified certification directly from applicants; requiring applicants who receive grants to finalize construction and request a final inspection within a specified timeframe; specifying that an application is deemed abandoned, rather than withdrawn, under certain circumstances; amending s. 215.96, F.S.; revising the composition of the coordinating council; deleting a requirement for the design and coordination staff; requiring minutes of meetings to be available to interested persons; revising the composition of ex officio members of the council; revising the duties, powers, and responsibilities of the council; amending s. 284.08, F.S.; authorizing the department to determine what property insurance coverage is necessary; authorizing the department to purchase certain insurance coverages; authorizing the department to contract with insurance or reinsurance brokers for certain purposes; amending s. 284.33, F.S.; authorizing the department to purchase certain insurance coverages; authorizing the department to contract with insurance or reinsurance brokers for certain purposes; amending s. 440.13, F.S.; revising the timeframe in which health care providers must petition the department to resolve utilization and reimbursement disputes; revising petition service requirements; revising the timeframe in which the panel determining the statewide schedule of maximum reimbursement allowances must submit certain recommendations to the Legislature; creating s. 497.1411, F.S.; defining the term “applicant”; specifying that certain applicants are permanently barred from licensure; specifying that certain applicants are subject to disqualifying periods; requiring the Board of Funeral, Cemetery, and Consumer Services to adopt rules; specifying requirements, authorizations, and prohibitions for such rules; specifying when a disqualifying period begins; specifying that the applicant has certain burdens to demonstrate that he or she is qualified for licensure; specifying that certain applicants who have been granted a pardon or restoration of civil rights are not barred or disqualified from licensure; specifying that such pardon or restoration does not require the board to award a license; authorizing the board to grant an exemption from disqualification under certain circumstances; specifying requirements for the applicant in order for the board to grant an exemption; specifying that the board has discretion to grant or deny an exemption; specifying that certain decisions are subject to ch. 120, F.S.; providing applicability and construction; amending s. 497.142, F.S.; prohibiting an application from being deemed complete under certain circumstances; revising the list of crimes to be disclosed on a license application; amending s. 626.0428, F.S.; conforming a provision to changes made by the act; amending s. 626.171, F.S.; deleting reinsurance intermediaries from certain application requirements; revising the list of persons from whom the department is required to accept uniform applications; making clarifying changes regarding the voluntary submission of cellular telephone numbers; revising the exemption from the application filing fee for members of the United States Armed Forces; amending s. 626.292, F.S.; revising applicant requirements for a license transfer; amending s. 626.611, F.S.; requiring the department to require license reexamination of certain persons, and suspend or revoke the eligibility to hold a license or appointment of such persons under certain circumstances; amending the grounds for suspension or revocation; amending 626.621, F.S.; authorizing the department to require a reexamination of certain persons; amending s. 626.731, F.S.; revising the qualifications for a general lines agent’s license; amending s. 626.785, F.S.; revising the qualifications for a life agent’s license; amending s. 626.831, F.S.; revising the qualifications for a health agent’s license; amending s. 626.8417, F.S.; revising the persons who are exempt from certain provisions relating to title insurance licensing and appointment requirements; amending s. 626.854, F.S.; requiring a public adjuster, public adjuster apprentice, or public adjusting firm to respond with specific information within a specified timeframe and document in the file the response or information provided; repealing s. 627.797, F.S., relating to agents exempt from title insurance licensing; amending s. 648.34, F.S.; revising requirements for bail bond agent applicants; amending s. 648.382, F.S.; requiring officers or officials of the appointing insurer to obtain, rather than submit, certain information; amending s. 717.001, F.S.; revising the short title; amending s. 717.101, F.S.; revising and adding definitions; amending s. 717.102, F.S.; providing that certain intangible property is presumed abandoned; deleting a provision relating to the presumption that certain intangible property is presumed unclaimed; specifying the dormancy period for property presumed abandoned; requiring that property be considered payable or distributable under certain circumstances; deleting a provision relating to when property is payable or distributable; revising a presumption; providing that property shall be presumed abandoned under certain circumstances; providing an exception; amending s. 717.103, F.S.; requiring that intangible property be subject to the custody of the department under certain circumstances; amending criteria for when intangible property is subject to the custody of the department; repealing s. 717.1035, F.S., relating to property originated or issued by this state, any political subdivision of this state, or any entity incorporated, organized, created, or otherwise located in the state; amending ss. 717.104, 717.1045, 717.105, 717.106, 717.107, 717.1071, 717.108, and 717.109, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.1101, F.S.; revising the timelines and conditions under which stock, other equity interests, or debt of a business association is considered abandoned; requiring the holder to attempt to confirm the apparent owner’s interest in the equity interest by sending an e-mail communication under certain circumstances; requiring the holder to attempt to contract the apparent owner by first-class United States mail under certain circumstances; specifying that equity interest is presumed abandoned under certain circumstances; revising when unmatured, unredeemed, matured, or redeemed debt is presumed abandoned; specifying that the applicable dormancy period ceases under certain circumstances; revising the timeframe that a sum held for or owing by a business association is presumed abandoned; amending ss. 717.111, 717.112, 717.1125, 717.113, 717.115, and 717.116, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.117, F.S.; specifying that property is presumed abandoned upon the expiration of the applicable dormancy periods; specifying that property is not deemed abandoned for certain purposes until the holder meets certain requirements; requiring holders of property presumed abandoned that has a specified value to use due diligence to locate and notify the apparent owner; requiring, before a specified timeframe, a holder in possession of presumed abandoned property to send a specified written notice to the apparent owner; specifying the method of delivery of such notice; requiring, before a specified timeframe, the holder to send a second written notice under certain circumstances; authorizing the reasonable cost for the notice to be deducted from the property; specifying that a signed return receipt constitutes an affirmative demonstration of continued interest; specifying requirements of the written notice; requiring holders of abandoned property to submit a specified report to the department; prohibiting certain balances, overpayments, deposits, and refunds from being reported as abandoned property; prohibiting certain securities from being included in the report; requiring the holder to report and deliver such securities under certain circumstances; requiring the report to be signed and verified and contain a specified statement; deleting certain provisions relating to the due diligence and notices to apparent owners; amending s. 717.118, F.S.; revising the state’s obligation to notify apparent owners that their abandoned property has been reported and remitted to the department; requiring the department to use a cost-effective means to make an attempt to notify certain apparent owners; specifying requirements for the notice; requiring the department to maintain a specified website; revising applicability; amending s. 717.119, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; revising requirements for firearms or ammunition found in an abandoned safe-deposit box or safekeeping repository; revising requirements if a will or trust instrument is included among the contents of an abandoned safe deposit box or safekeeping repository; amending ss. 717.1201 and 717.122, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.123, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; revising the name of a certain trust fund; revising the amount the department must retain from certain funds received; revising a required transfer of funds to the State School Fund; amending s. 717.1235, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.124, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; deleting provisions related to requirements of claimant’s representatives; specifying that the department is authorized to make a distribution of property or money in accordance with a specified agreement under certain circumstances; requiring shares of securities to be delivered directly to the claimant under certain circumstances; deleting a provision authorizing the department to develop a process by which a buyer of unclaimed property may electronically submit certain images and documents; deleting provisions relating to a buyer of unclaimed property’s filing of a claim; amending s. 717.12403, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.12404, F.S.; requiring claims on behalf of an active corporation to include a specified driver license; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. 717.12405 and 717.12406, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.1241, F.S.; defining the term “conflicting claim”; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; revising requirements for remitting property when conflicting claims have been received by the department; amending ss. 717.1242, 717.1243, 717.1244, 717.1245, 717.125, 717.126, 717.1261, 717.1262, 717.129, 717.1301, 717.1315, and 717.132, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.1322, F.S.; revising the acts that constitute grounds for administrative enforcement action by the department; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending ss. 717.133, 717.1333, and 717.1341, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.135, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; deleting applicability; creating s. 717.1356, F.S.; specifying that agreements for the purchase of abandoned property reported to the department are valid only under certain circumstances; authorizing the seller to cancel a purchase agreement without penalty or obligation within a specified timeframe; specifying that the agreement must contain certain language; requiring a copy of an executed Florida Abandoned Property Purchase Agreement be filed with the purchaser’s claim; prohibiting the department from approving the claim under certain circumstances; specifying that certain purchase agreements are enforceable only by the seller; amending s. 717.138, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; amending s. 717.1382, F.S.; conforming provisions to changes made by the act; conforming a cross reference; amending s. 717.139, F.S.; providing legislative findings; revising a statement of public policy; deleting a legislative declaration; providing legislative intent; prohibiting title to abandoned property from transferring to the state except under certain circumstances; amending s. 717.1400, F.S.; requiring an individual to meet certain requirements in order to file claims as a claimant representative; revising application requirements for registering as a claimant representative; requiring claimant representatives to file and obtain payment on a specified number of claims within a specified timeframe to maintain active registration; requiring the department to notify the claimant representative in writing and provide a certain timeframe to demonstrate compliance or good cause for noncompliance under certain circumstances; requiring the department to revoke a registration under certain circumstances; prohibiting a claimant representative from reapplying under certain circumstances; amending ss. 197.582 and 626.9541, F.S.; conforming cross-references; reenacting s. 772.13(6)(a), F.S., relating to postjudgment execution proceedings to enforce a judgment entered against a terrorist party, to incorporate the amendment made to s. 717.101, F.S., in a reference thereto; providing an effective date.

AI Summary

Committee Categories

Keith Truenow (R)*, 

Other Sponsors (1)

CS/CS by Appropriations Committee on Agriculture, Environment, and General Government; YEAS 8 NAYS 0 (on 02/25/2026)

Official Document