Rep. Melony Bell

Interstate Safety; Prohibits driver from operating motor vehicle in furthermost left-hand lane of certain roadways except under certain circumstances; provides penalty.

Maddy summaryThis bill designates a specific stretch of State Road A1A in twelve Florida counties as the "Jimmy Buffett Memorial Highway." To mark this change, the state Department of Transportation is required to install appropriate signage along the road by August 30, 2024. The legislation applies only to the named highway and does not alter any existing traffic rules or funding allocations.

Specialty License Plates; Exempts collegiate license plates from certain discontinuation & presale voucher requirements for specialty license plates; requires DHSMV to reauthorize previously discontinued collegiate license plates; renames & revises words appearing on certain plates; directs DHSMV to develop specified plates; provides for distribution & use of fees collected from sale of plates.

Maddy summaryThis bill creates a new section in Florida law that officially defines the term "antisemitism" using the working definition adopted by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance in 2016. The legislation provides specific contemporary examples of antisemitism, such as denying the Holocaust, holding Jewish people collectively responsible for actions by Israel, or applying double standards to the State of Israel compared to other nations. It explicitly states that criticizing Israel in a manner similar to how other countries are criticized does not count as antisemitism under this definition. The law aims to help monitor and report hate crimes while ensuring it does not infringe on First Amendment rights or conflict with existing antidiscrimination laws.

Rabies Vaccinations; Authorizes certain persons to administer rabies vaccinations to certain animals under indirect supervision of veterinarian; defines "indirect supervision."

Veterans; Revises provisions related to veterans including veterans' history program, Florida Is For Veterans, Inc., Veterans Employment & Training Services Program, grants, workforce training & recruitment, exemption from fees, advisory council on brain & spinal cord injuries, & required instruction on Veterans' Day & Memorial Day. APPROPRIATION: $91,207

Pub. Rec./Clerks of the Circuit Court, Deputy Clerks, and Clerk Personnel; Provides exemption from public records requirements for personal identifying & location information of current clerks of circuit court, deputy clerks of circuit court, & clerk of circuit court personnel & names & personal identifying & location information of spouses & children of such clerks, deputy clerks, & clerk personnel; provides for future legislative review & repeal of exemption; provides for retroactive application; provides statement of public necessity.

Background Screenings and Certifications; Provides qualifications for person seeking certification as person with lived experience; requires continuum of care lead agencies to submit certain information to DCF for purposes of background screening; expands certain background screening requirements to apply to all health care practitioners; revises licensure, registration, or certification requirements for acupuncturists; optometrists; pharmacists; dentists; midwives; speech-language pathologists & audiologists; nursing home administrators; occupational therapists; respiratory therapists; dietitian/nutritionists; practitioners of orthotics, prosthetics, or pedorthics; electrologists; clinical laboratory personnel; medical physicists; genetic counselors; opticians; physical therapists; psychologists & school psychologists; clinical social workers, marriage & family therapists, & mental health counselors. APPROPRIATION: $250,000

Safe Exchange of Minor Children; Provides requirements for parenting plan relating to exchange of child; requires court to order parties to parenting plan to exchange child at neutral safe exchange location or supervised visitation program; requires sheriffs to designate areas as neutral safe exchange locations; provides immunity from liability; revises forms for injunctions for protection against domestic violence; requires court-ordered injunctions for protection against domestic violence to designate locations for exchange of child of parties.

School Choice; Revises contributions & provisions for Florida Tax Credit Scholarship Program; revises provisions for Family Empowerment Scholarship Program, Hope Scholarship Program, virtual instruction program providers, private school requirements, & students in personalized education programs.