Rep. Christopher Benjamin

Litigation Financing Consumer Protection; Requires litigation financiers to register with DOS & file surety bond; provides requirements for litigation financing contracts; provides for assignment of contingent rights to civil action or claim proceeds; specifies priority of liens; authorizes litigation financiers to assess specified interest, fees, & charges; provides violations are deceptive & unfair trade practices.

Transmission and Screening of HIV and Sexually Transmissible Diseases; Removes offenses relating to prostitution from offenses under which certain offenders must undergo HIV testing; reduces criminal penalties for commission of criminal transmission of HIV; removes requirements relating to screening, treatment, & counseling for sexually transmissible diseases of certain offenders.

Florida Kidcare Program Eligibility; Increases income eligibility threshold for coverage under Florida Kidcare program; requires applicant seeking coverage under program to provide specified documentation under certain circumstances; requires AHCA to examine graduated family contribution rates for newly qualifying families under program; requires agency to increase income eligibility threshold for coverage under program each fiscal year until meeting specified income threshold; authorizes agency to seek federal waiver approval or submit state plan amendments as necessary.

Unlicensed Contracting; Revises criminal penalties for persons who engage in contracting without proper registration or certification.

North Miami Beach - NE 153rd Street Roadway Improvement; Provides an appropriation for the North Miami Beach - NE 153rd Street Roadway Improvement. APPROPRIATION: $495,000

Adult Use Marijuana Legalization; Renames Division of Alcoholic Beverages & Tobacco of DBPR to Division of Alcoholic Beverages, Marijuana, & Tobacco; creates ch. 566, F.S., relating to recreational marijuana; exempts certain activities involving marijuana from use & possession offenses; authorizes persons 21 years of age & over to engage in certain activities involving personal use, possession, transport, & cultivation of marijuana in limited amounts; preempts regulation to state; provides for licensing & regulation of marijuana establishments.

Citizen Review Boards; Requires law enforcement agencies that employ law enforcement officers being investigated for use of force by citizen review board to include member of citizen review board as part of law enforcement agency's investigative team; requires county commission or other governing body of each county to establish citizen review board with authority & ability to independently investigate law enforcement agencies within that county; provides requirements for citizen review boards.

Educational Opportunities for Disabled Veterans; Provides disabled veterans receiving certain federal educational assistance benefits are eligible to receive waiver for remaining cost of tuition & fees at certain institutions; requires institutions to submit annual report to Board of Governors & State Board of Education.

Taxes and Fees Related to Marijuana Sales and Use; Imposes excise tax on recreational marijuana; requires DBPR to annually calculate & publish an adjusted excise tax rate; authorizes counties & municipalities to establish additional excise taxes & limits excise tax rate; requires applicants for marijuana establishment license to pay specified application fee; imposes excise tax on recreational marijuana; provides for inflation adjustments to tax rate; provides for collection of tax; provides for distribution of tax revenues; requires annual report; authorizes application fee for marijuana establishments; requires applicants for certificate of eligibility of expunction for certain criminal history records to pay specified fee to FDLE.

Visiting County and Municipal Detention Facilities; Authorizes specified persons to visit county & municipal detention facilities.