Rep. Christopher Benjamin

Professional Licensing Requirements for Barbers and Cosmetologists; Provides period of time when conviction, or any other adjudication, for crime may not be grounds for denial of licensure as barber or cosmetologist; requires applicable board to approve educational program credits offered to inmates in institutions or facilities for purposes of satisfying training requirements for licensure as barber or cosmetologist.

Tax Exemption for Diapers and Incontinence Products; Exempts sale for human use of diapers, incontinence undergarments, incontinence pads, & incontinence liners from sales & use tax.

Homestead Exemptions for Persons Age 65 and Older; Increases just value limit of real estate eligible for homestead tax exemption that may be adopted by counties or municipalities for certain persons age 65 & older; requires local government entities to amend or adopt ordinances to comply with this act; provides ordinances are null & void after certain date; provides that recipients of homestead exemptions do not need to submit additional application.

Pregnant Women in the Criminal Justice System; Requires each female arrested & detained in specified detention facilities to be informed of right to request pregnancy test in certain circumstances; requires administration of test within specified time & timely notification of results; authorizes pregnant woman who is before court for felony offense to petition court to defer incarcerative portion of her sentence for specified period; requires woman to provide verification; provides factors court must take into account; requires special condition of probation; authorizes court to revoke probation or impose sanctions if pregnant woman granted deferred sentence is arrested for new offense or violates conditions of probation; requires DOC to collect specified information relating to births & health of pregnant inmates & submit annual report.

Everglades Protection Area; Requires comprehensive plans & plan amendments that apply to certain lands within or near Everglades Protection Area to follow state coordinated review process; requires DEP to make determinations, consult, & coordinate with specified entities regarding such plans & amendments; provides additional limitation for compliance determination of such plans & plan amendments; prohibits & provides requirements for adoption of certain development amendments within Everglades Protection Area.

Noncoverage-related Regulation of Insurance; Revises minimum coursework qualification for licensure as life agent; provides that certain restrictions against unfair discrimination or unlawful rebates do not include value-added products or services offered or provided by life or health insurers or their agents if certain conditions are met; provides requirements for & restrictions on life or health insurers or their agents offering or providing such products or services; authorizes life or health insurers or their agents to provide such products or services as part of pilot or testing program; prohibits life or health insurers or their agents, or representatives of such insurers or agents, from offering or providing insurance as inducement to purchase of another policy or from using certain words in advertisement.

Education; Revises provisions relating to Office of Reimagining Education and Career Help, workforce education, Office of Economic and Demographic Research, specified tax credits, Florida Endowment Foundation for the Division of Vocational Rehabilitation within DOE, Master Credentials List, K-12 education, educator credentials and certifications, Florida Center for Nursing, CAPE Industry Certification Funding List, & Money-back Guarantee Program, Open Door Grant Program.

Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Pilot Program; Establishes Step into Success Workforce Education and Internship Pilot Program within DCF for eligible foster youth; specifies purpose & structure of program; requires DCF to establish & administer workforce training program for eligible foster youth; revises duties of Office of Continuing Care to include establishing & operating such program.

Public Nuisances; Prohibits person from distributing onto private property any material for purpose of intimidating or threatening owner, resident, or invitee; prohibits person from willfully & maliciously harassing, threatening, or intimidating another person based on person's wearing or displaying of any indicia relating to any religious or ethnic heritage; requires violations be reported as hate crimes; prohibits display or projection of images onto building, structure, or property without permission; prohibits person who willfully enters campus of state university or Florida College System institution for purpose of threatening or intimidating another person from remaining on such campus after being warned to depart.

Task Force on the Monitoring of Children in Out-of-Home Care; Creates Task Force on Monitoring of Children in Out-of-Home Care; provides for membership; requires task force to convene by specified date; authorizes task force to conduct meetings through teleconference or other electronic means; provides duties of task force; requires Florida Institute for Child Welfare to conduct focus groups or individual interviews & submit its findings to task force; requires DCF to submit certain monthly reports to task force; requires task force to submit report to Governor & Legislature; provides for repeal of task force; provides appropriation.