Bill Text: FL H0443 | 2011 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
Bill Title: Electronic Filing & Receipt/Court & Legal Document
Spectrum:
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2011-05-03 - Laid on Table, companion bill(s) passed, see CS/CS/SB 170 (Ch. [H0443 Detail]
Download: Florida-2011-H0443-Comm_Sub.html
CS/CS/HB 443 |
1 | |
2 | An act relating to electronic filing and receipt of court |
3 | and other legal documents; creating ss. 27.341 and |
4 | 27.5112, F.S.; requiring each state attorney and public |
5 | defender to electronically file court documents with the |
6 | clerk of the court and receive court documents from the |
7 | clerk of the court; defining the term "court documents"; |
8 | providing legislative expectations that the state |
9 | attorneys and public defenders consult with specified |
10 | entities; requiring the Florida Prosecuting Attorneys |
11 | Association and the Florida Public Defender Association |
12 | report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of |
13 | the House of Representatives by a specified date on the |
14 | progress made to use the Florida Courts E-Portal system or |
15 | the clerks' offices portals to electronically file and |
16 | receive court documents; amending ss. 440.192 and 440.25, |
17 | F.S.; providing for electronic procedures for filing |
18 | documents and resolving benefit disputes in workers' |
19 | compensation proceedings; requiring a response to a |
20 | petition for workers' compensation benefits to be filed by |
21 | approved electronic means; amending ss. 440.29 and 440.45, |
22 | F.S.; requiring that the practice and procedure before the |
23 | judges of compensation claims be governed by the Office of |
24 | the Judges of Compensation Claims instead of the Supreme |
25 | Court; authorizing the Office of the Judges of |
26 | Compensation Claims to adopt rules to implement electronic |
27 | procedures; amending s. 120.52, F.S.; requiring use of |
28 | electronic procedures by those represented by an attorney; |
29 | amending s. 120.54, F.S.; requiring a petitioner |
30 | requesting an administrative hearing to include the |
31 | petitioner's e-mail address; amending ss. 57.111, 120.56, |
32 | 120.569, 120.57, 552.40, 553.73, and 961.03, F.S.; |
33 | providing for electronic procedures in administrative |
34 | proceedings; providing an effective date. |
35 | |
36 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
37 | |
38 | Section 1. Section 27.341, Florida Statutes, is created to |
39 | read: |
40 | 27.341 Electronic filing and receipt of court documents.- |
41 | (1)(a) Each office of the state attorney shall |
42 | electronically file court documents with the clerk of the court |
43 | and receive court documents from the clerk of the court. It is |
44 | the expectation of the Legislature that the electronic filing |
45 | and receipt of court documents will reduce costs for the office |
46 | of the state attorney, the clerk of the court, and the |
47 | judiciary; will increase timeliness in the processing of cases; |
48 | and will provide the judiciary and the clerk of the court with |
49 | case-related information to allow for improved judicial case |
50 | management. |
51 | (b) As used in this section, the term "court documents" |
52 | includes, but is not limited to, pleadings, motions, briefs, and |
53 | their respective attachments, orders, judgments, opinions, |
54 | decrees, and transcripts. |
55 | (2) It is further the expectation of the Legislature that |
56 | each office of the state attorney consult with the office of the |
57 | public defender for the same circuit served by the office of the |
58 | state attorney, the clerks of court for the circuit, the Florida |
59 | Court Technology Commission, and any authority that governs the |
60 | operation of a statewide portal for the electronic filing and |
61 | receipt of court documents. |
62 | (3) The Florida Prosecuting Attorneys Association shall |
63 | file a report with the President of the Senate and the Speaker |
64 | of the House of Representatives by March 1, 2012, describing the |
65 | progress that each office of the state attorney has made to use |
66 | the Florida Courts E-Portal or, if the case type is not approved |
67 | for the Florida Courts E-Portal, separate clerks' offices |
68 | portals for purposes of electronic filing and documenting |
69 | receipt of court documents. For any office of the state attorney |
70 | that has not fully implemented an electronic filing and receipt |
71 | system by March 1, 2012, the report must also include a |
72 | description of the additional activities that are needed to |
73 | complete the system for that office and the projected time |
74 | necessary to complete the additional activities. |
75 | Section 2. Section 27.5112, Florida Statutes, is created |
76 | to read: |
77 | 27.5112 Electronic filing and receipt of court documents.- |
78 | (1)(a) Each office of the public defender shall |
79 | electronically file court documents with the clerk of the court |
80 | and receive court documents from the clerk of the court. It is |
81 | the expectation of the Legislature that the electronic filing |
82 | and receipt of court documents will reduce costs for the office |
83 | of the public defender, the clerk of the court, and the |
84 | judiciary; will increase timeliness in the processing of cases; |
85 | and will provide the judiciary and the clerk of the court with |
86 | case-related information to allow for improved judicial case |
87 | management. |
88 | (b) As used in this section, the term "court documents" |
89 | includes, but is not limited to, pleadings, motions, briefs, and |
90 | their respective attachments, orders, judgments, opinions, |
91 | decrees, and transcripts. |
92 | (2) It is further the expectation of the Legislature that, |
93 | in developing the capability and implementing the process, each |
94 | office of the public defender consult with the office of the |
95 | state attorney for the same circuit served by the office of the |
96 | public defender, the clerks of court for the circuit, the |
97 | Florida Court Technology Commission, and any authority that |
98 | governs the operation of a statewide portal for the electronic |
99 | filing and receipt of court documents. |
100 | (3) The Florida Public Defender Association shall file a |
101 | report with the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the |
102 | House of Representatives by March 1, 2012, describing the |
103 | progress that each office of the public defender has made to use |
104 | the Florida Courts E-Portal or, if the case type is not approved |
105 | for the Florida Courts E-Portal, separate clerks' offices |
106 | portals for purposes of electronic filing and documenting |
107 | receipt of court documents. For any office of the public |
108 | defender that has not fully implemented an electronic filing and |
109 | receipt system by March 1, 2012, the report must also include a |
110 | description of the additional activities that are needed to |
111 | complete the system for that office and the projected time |
112 | necessary to complete the additional activities. |
113 | Section 3. Subsections (1) and (8) of section 440.192, |
114 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
115 | 440.192 Procedure for resolving benefit disputes.- |
116 | (1) Any employee may, for any benefit that is ripe, due, |
117 | and owing, file |
118 | |
119 | Judges of Compensation Claims a petition for benefits which |
120 | meets the requirements of this section and the definition of |
121 | specificity in s. 440.02. An employee represented by an attorney |
122 | shall file by electronic means approved by the Deputy Chief |
123 | Judge. An employee not represented by an attorney may file by |
124 | certified mail or by electronic means approved by the Deputy |
125 | Chief Judge. The department shall inform employees of the |
126 | location of the Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims and |
127 | the office's website address for purposes of filing a petition |
128 | for benefits. The employee shall also serve copies of the |
129 | petition for benefits by certified mail, or by electronic means |
130 | approved by the Deputy Chief Judge, upon the employer and the |
131 | employer's carrier. The Deputy Chief Judge shall refer the |
132 | petitions to the judges of compensation claims. |
133 | (8) Within 14 days after receipt of a petition for |
134 | benefits by certified mail or by approved electronic means, the |
135 | carrier must either pay the requested benefits without prejudice |
136 | to its right to deny within 120 days from receipt of the |
137 | petition or file a response to petition with the Office of the |
138 | Judges of Compensation Claims. The response shall be filed by |
139 | electronic means approved by the Deputy Chief Judge. The carrier |
140 | must list all benefits requested but not paid and explain its |
141 | justification for nonpayment in the response to petition. A |
142 | carrier that does not deny compensability in accordance with s. |
143 | 440.20(4) is deemed to have accepted the employee's injuries as |
144 | compensable, unless it can establish material facts relevant to |
145 | the issue of compensability that could not have been discovered |
146 | through reasonable investigation within the 120-day period. The |
147 | carrier shall provide copies of the response to the filing |
148 | party, employer, and claimant by certified mail or by electronic |
149 | means approved by the Deputy Chief Judge. |
150 | Section 4. Subsection (1) and paragraphs (a), (c), and (e) |
151 | of subsection (4) of section 440.25, Florida Statutes, are |
152 | amended to read: |
153 | 440.25 Procedures for mediation and hearings.- |
154 | (1) Forty days after a petition for benefits is filed |
155 | under s. 440.192, the judge of compensation claims shall notify |
156 | the interested parties by order that a mediation conference |
157 | concerning such petition has been scheduled unless the parties |
158 | have notified the judge of compensation claims that a private |
159 | mediation has been held or is scheduled to be held. A mediation, |
160 | whether private or public, shall be held within 130 days after |
161 | the filing of the petition. Such order must give the date the |
162 | mediation conference is to be held. Such order may be served |
163 | personally upon the interested parties or may be sent to the |
164 | interested parties by mail or by electronic means approved by |
165 | the Deputy Chief Judge. If multiple petitions are pending, or if |
166 | additional petitions are filed after the scheduling of a |
167 | mediation, the judge of compensation claims shall consolidate |
168 | all petitions into one mediation. The claimant or the adjuster |
169 | of the employer or carrier may, at the mediator's discretion, |
170 | attend the mediation conference by telephone or, if agreed to by |
171 | the parties, other electronic means. A continuance may be |
172 | granted upon the agreement of the parties or if the requesting |
173 | party demonstrates to the judge of compensation claims that the |
174 | reason for requesting the continuance arises from circumstances |
175 | beyond the party's control. Any order granting a continuance |
176 | must set forth the date of the rescheduled mediation conference. |
177 | A mediation conference may not be used solely for the purpose of |
178 | mediating attorney's fees. |
179 | (4)(a) If the parties fail to agree to written submission |
180 | of pretrial stipulations, the judge of compensation claims shall |
181 | conduct a live pretrial hearing. The judge of compensation |
182 | claims shall give the interested parties at least 14 days' |
183 | advance notice of the pretrial hearing by mail or by electronic |
184 | means approved by the Deputy Chief Judge. |
185 | (c) The judge of compensation claims shall give the |
186 | interested parties at least 14 days' advance notice of the final |
187 | hearing, served upon the interested parties by mail or by |
188 | electronic means approved by the Deputy Chief Judge. |
189 | (e) The order making an award or rejecting the claim, |
190 | referred to in this chapter as a "compensation order," shall set |
191 | forth the findings of ultimate facts and the mandate; and the |
192 | order need not include any other reason or justification for |
193 | such mandate. The compensation order shall be filed in the |
194 | Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims at Tallahassee. A |
195 | copy of such compensation order shall be sent by mail or by |
196 | electronic means approved by the Deputy Chief Judge to the |
197 | |
198 | by an attorney at the last known address of each, with the date |
199 | of mailing noted thereon. |
200 | Section 5. Subsection (3) of section 440.29, Florida |
201 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
202 | 440.29 Procedure before the judge of compensation claims.- |
203 | (3) The practice and procedure before the judges of |
204 | compensation claims shall be governed by rules adopted by the |
205 | Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims |
206 | except to the extent that such rules conflict with the |
207 | provisions of this chapter. |
208 | Section 6. Subsection (4) of section 440.45, Florida |
209 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
210 | 440.45 Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims.- |
211 | (4) The Office of the Judges of Compensation Claims shall |
212 | adopt rules to carry out |
213 | Such rules must |
214 | workers' compensation claim resolution, including rules |
215 | requiring electronic filing and service where deemed appropriate |
216 | by the Deputy Chief Judge, and uniform criteria for measuring |
217 | the performance of the office, including, but not limited to, |
218 | the number of cases assigned and resolved |
219 | pending and resolved |
220 | |
221 | necessary for the judicial nominating commission to review the |
222 | performance of judges as required in paragraph (2)(c). |
223 | |
224 | |
225 | |
226 | |
227 | Section 7. Subsection (5) of section 120.52, Florida |
228 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
229 | 120.52 Definitions.-As used in this act: |
230 | (5) "Division" means the Division of Administrative |
231 | Hearings. Any document filed with the division by a party |
232 | represented by an attorney shall be filed by electronic means |
233 | through the division's website. Any document filed with the |
234 | division by a party not represented by an attorney shall, |
235 | whenever possible, be filed by electronic means through the |
236 | division's website. |
237 | Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section |
238 | 120.54, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
239 | 120.54 Rulemaking.- |
240 | (5) UNIFORM RULES.- |
241 | (b) The uniform rules of procedure adopted by the |
242 | commission pursuant to this subsection shall include, but are |
243 | not limited to: |
244 | 1. Uniform rules for the scheduling of public meetings, |
245 | hearings, and workshops. |
246 | 2. Uniform rules for use by each state agency that provide |
247 | procedures for conducting public meetings, hearings, and |
248 | workshops, and for taking evidence, testimony, and argument at |
249 | such public meetings, hearings, and workshops, in person and by |
250 | means of communications media technology. The rules shall |
251 | provide that all evidence, testimony, and argument presented |
252 | shall be afforded equal consideration, regardless of the method |
253 | of communication. If a public meeting, hearing, or workshop is |
254 | to be conducted by means of communications media technology, or |
255 | if attendance may be provided by such means, the notice shall so |
256 | state. The notice for public meetings, hearings, and workshops |
257 | utilizing communications media technology shall state how |
258 | persons interested in attending may do so and shall name |
259 | locations, if any, where communications media technology |
260 | facilities will be available. Nothing in this paragraph shall be |
261 | construed to diminish the right to inspect public records under |
262 | chapter 119. Limiting points of access to public meetings, |
263 | hearings, and workshops subject to the provisions of s. 286.011 |
264 | to places not normally open to the public shall be presumed to |
265 | violate the right of access of the public, and any official |
266 | action taken under such circumstances is void and of no effect. |
267 | Other laws relating to public meetings, hearings, and workshops, |
268 | including penal and remedial provisions, shall apply to public |
269 | meetings, hearings, and workshops conducted by means of |
270 | communications media technology, and shall be liberally |
271 | construed in their application to such public meetings, |
272 | hearings, and workshops. As used in this subparagraph, |
273 | "communications media technology" means the electronic |
274 | transmission of printed matter, audio, full-motion video, |
275 | freeze-frame video, compressed video, and digital video by any |
276 | method available. |
277 | 3. Uniform rules of procedure for the filing of notice of |
278 | protests and formal written protests. The Administration |
279 | Commission may prescribe the form and substantive provisions of |
280 | a required bond. |
281 | 4. Uniform rules of procedure for the filing of petitions |
282 | for administrative hearings pursuant to s. 120.569 or s. 120.57. |
283 | Such rules shall require the petition to include: |
284 | a. The identification of the petitioner, including the |
285 | petitioner's e-mail address, if any, for the transmittal of |
286 | subsequent documents by electronic means. |
287 | b. A statement of when and how the petitioner received |
288 | notice of the agency's action or proposed action. |
289 | c. An explanation of how the petitioner's substantial |
290 | interests are or will be affected by the action or proposed |
291 | action. |
292 | d. A statement of all material facts disputed by the |
293 | petitioner or a statement that there are no disputed facts. |
294 | e. A statement of the ultimate facts alleged, including a |
295 | statement of the specific facts the petitioner contends warrant |
296 | reversal or modification of the agency's proposed action. |
297 | f. A statement of the specific rules or statutes that the |
298 | petitioner contends require reversal or modification of the |
299 | agency's proposed action, including an explanation of how the |
300 | alleged facts relate to the specific rules or statutes. |
301 | g. A statement of the relief sought by the petitioner, |
302 | stating precisely the action petitioner wishes the agency to |
303 | take with respect to the proposed action. |
304 | 5. Uniform rules for the filing of request for |
305 | administrative hearing by a respondent in agency enforcement and |
306 | disciplinary actions. Such rules shall require a request to |
307 | include: |
308 | a. The name, address, e-mail address, and telephone number |
309 | of the party making the request and the name, address, and |
310 | telephone number of the party's counsel or qualified |
311 | representative upon whom service of pleadings and other papers |
312 | shall be made; |
313 | b. A statement that the respondent is requesting an |
314 | administrative hearing and disputes the material facts alleged |
315 | by the petitioner, in which case the respondent shall identify |
316 | those material facts that are in dispute, or that the respondent |
317 | is requesting an administrative hearing and does not dispute the |
318 | material facts alleged by the petitioner; and |
319 | c. A reference by file number to the administrative |
320 | complaint that the party has received from the agency and the |
321 | date on which the agency pleading was received. |
322 | |
323 | The agency may provide an election-of-rights form for the |
324 | respondent's use in requesting a hearing, so long as any form |
325 | provided by the agency calls for the information in sub- |
326 | subparagraphs a. through c. and does not impose any additional |
327 | requirements on a respondent in order to request a hearing, |
328 | unless such requirements are specifically authorized by law. |
329 | 6. Uniform rules of procedure for the filing and prompt |
330 | disposition of petitions for declaratory statements. The rules |
331 | shall also describe the contents of the notices that must be |
332 | published in the Florida Administrative Weekly under s. 120.565, |
333 | including any applicable time limit for the filing of petitions |
334 | to intervene or petitions for administrative hearing by persons |
335 | whose substantial interests may be affected. |
336 | 7. Provision of a method by which each agency head shall |
337 | provide a description of the agency's organization and general |
338 | course of its operations. The rules shall require that the |
339 | statement concerning the agency's organization and operations be |
340 | published on the agency's website. |
341 | 8. Uniform rules establishing procedures for granting or |
342 | denying petitions for variances and waivers pursuant to s. |
343 | 120.542. |
344 | Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section |
345 | 57.111, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
346 | 57.111 Civil actions and administrative proceedings |
347 | initiated by state agencies; attorneys' fees and costs.- |
348 | (4) |
349 | (b)1. To apply for an award under this section, the |
350 | attorney for the prevailing small business party must submit an |
351 | itemized affidavit to the court which first conducted the |
352 | adversarial proceeding in the underlying action, or by |
353 | electronic means through the division's website to the Division |
354 | of Administrative Hearings which shall assign an administrative |
355 | law judge, in the case of a proceeding pursuant to chapter 120, |
356 | which affidavit shall reveal the nature and extent of the |
357 | services rendered by the attorney as well as the costs incurred |
358 | in preparations, motions, hearings, and appeals in the |
359 | proceeding. |
360 | 2. The application for an award of attorney's fees must be |
361 | made within 60 days after the date that the small business party |
362 | becomes a prevailing small business party. |
363 | Section 10. Paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1) of |
364 | section 120.56, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
365 | 120.56 Challenges to rules.- |
366 | (1) GENERAL PROCEDURES FOR CHALLENGING THE VALIDITY OF A |
367 | RULE OR A PROPOSED RULE.- |
368 | (c) The petition shall be filed by electronic means with |
369 | the division which shall, immediately upon filing, forward by |
370 | electronic means copies to the agency whose rule is challenged, |
371 | the Department of State, and the committee. Within 10 days after |
372 | receiving the petition, the division director shall, if the |
373 | petition complies with the requirements of paragraph (b), assign |
374 | an administrative law judge who shall conduct a hearing within |
375 | 30 days thereafter, unless the petition is withdrawn or a |
376 | continuance is granted by agreement of the parties or for good |
377 | cause shown. Evidence of good cause includes, but is not limited |
378 | to, written notice of an agency's decision to modify or withdraw |
379 | the proposed rule or a written notice from the chair of the |
380 | committee stating that the committee will consider an objection |
381 | to the rule at its next scheduled meeting. The failure of an |
382 | agency to follow the applicable rulemaking procedures or |
383 | requirements set forth in this chapter shall be presumed to be |
384 | material; however, the agency may rebut this presumption by |
385 | showing that the substantial interests of the petitioner and the |
386 | fairness of the proceedings have not been impaired. |
387 | (d) Within 30 days after the hearing, the administrative |
388 | law judge shall render a decision and state the reasons therefor |
389 | in writing. The division shall forthwith transmit by electronic |
390 | means copies of the administrative law judge's decision to the |
391 | agency, the Department of State, and the committee. |
392 | Section 11. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section |
393 | 120.569, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
394 | 120.569 Decisions which affect substantial interests.- |
395 | (2)(a) Except for any proceeding conducted as prescribed |
396 | in s. 120.56, a petition or request for a hearing under this |
397 | section shall be filed with the agency. If the agency requests |
398 | an administrative law judge from the division, it shall so |
399 | notify the division by electronic means through the division's |
400 | website within 15 days after receipt of the petition or request. |
401 | A request for a hearing shall be granted or denied within 15 |
402 | days after receipt. On the request of any agency, the division |
403 | shall assign an administrative law judge with due regard to the |
404 | expertise required for the particular matter. The referring |
405 | agency shall take no further action with respect to a proceeding |
406 | under s. 120.57(1), except as a party litigant, as long as the |
407 | division has jurisdiction over the proceeding under s. |
408 | 120.57(1). Any party may request the disqualification of the |
409 | administrative law judge by filing an affidavit with the |
410 | division prior to the taking of evidence at a hearing, stating |
411 | the grounds with particularity. |
412 | Section 12. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section |
413 | 120.57, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
414 | 120.57 Additional procedures for particular cases.- |
415 | (3) ADDITIONAL PROCEDURES APPLICABLE TO PROTESTS TO |
416 | CONTRACT SOLICITATION OR AWARD.-Agencies subject to this chapter |
417 | shall use the uniform rules of procedure, which provide |
418 | procedures for the resolution of protests arising from the |
419 | contract solicitation or award process. Such rules shall at |
420 | least provide that: |
421 | (d)1. The agency shall provide an opportunity to resolve |
422 | the protest by mutual agreement between the parties within 7 |
423 | days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state holidays, after |
424 | receipt of a formal written protest. |
425 | 2. If the subject of a protest is not resolved by mutual |
426 | agreement within 7 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state |
427 | holidays, after receipt of the formal written protest, and if |
428 | there is no disputed issue of material fact, an informal |
429 | proceeding shall be conducted pursuant to subsection (2) and |
430 | applicable agency rules before a person whose qualifications |
431 | have been prescribed by rules of the agency. |
432 | 3. If the subject of a protest is not resolved by mutual |
433 | agreement within 7 days, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and state |
434 | holidays, after receipt of the formal written protest, and if |
435 | there is a disputed issue of material fact, the agency shall |
436 | refer the protest to the division by electronic means through |
437 | the division's website for proceedings under subsection (1). |
438 | Section 13. Subsection (1) of section 552.40, Florida |
439 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
440 | 552.40 Administrative remedy for alleged damage due to the |
441 | use of explosives in connection with construction materials |
442 | mining activities.- |
443 | (1) A person may initiate an administrative proceeding to |
444 | recover damages resulting from the use of explosives in |
445 | connection with construction materials mining activities by |
446 | filing a petition with the Division of Administrative Hearings |
447 | by electronic means through the division's website on a form |
448 | provided by it and accompanied by a filing fee of $100 within |
449 | 180 days after the occurrence of the alleged damage. If the |
450 | petitioner submits an affidavit stating that the petitioner's |
451 | annual income is less than 150 percent of the applicable federal |
452 | poverty guideline published in the Federal Register by the |
453 | United States Department of Health and Human Services, the $100 |
454 | filing fee must be waived. |
455 | Section 14. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section |
456 | 553.73, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
457 | 553.73 Florida Building Code.- |
458 | (4) |
459 | (b) Local governments may, subject to the limitations of |
460 | this section, adopt amendments to the technical provisions of |
461 | the Florida Building Code which apply solely within the |
462 | jurisdiction of such government and which provide for more |
463 | stringent requirements than those specified in the Florida |
464 | Building Code, not more than once every 6 months. A local |
465 | government may adopt technical amendments that address local |
466 | needs if: |
467 | 1. The local governing body determines, following a public |
468 | hearing which has been advertised in a newspaper of general |
469 | circulation at least 10 days before the hearing, that there is a |
470 | need to strengthen the requirements of the Florida Building |
471 | Code. The determination must be based upon a review of local |
472 | conditions by the local governing body, which review |
473 | demonstrates by evidence or data that the geographical |
474 | jurisdiction governed by the local governing body exhibits a |
475 | local need to strengthen the Florida Building Code beyond the |
476 | needs or regional variation addressed by the Florida Building |
477 | Code, that the local need is addressed by the proposed local |
478 | amendment, and that the amendment is no more stringent than |
479 | necessary to address the local need. |
480 | 2. Such additional requirements are not discriminatory |
481 | against materials, products, or construction techniques of |
482 | demonstrated capabilities. |
483 | 3. Such additional requirements may not introduce a new |
484 | subject not addressed in the Florida Building Code. |
485 | 4. The enforcing agency shall make readily available, in a |
486 | usable format, all amendments adopted pursuant to this section. |
487 | 5. Any amendment to the Florida Building Code shall be |
488 | transmitted within 30 days by the adopting local government to |
489 | the commission. The commission shall maintain copies of all such |
490 | amendments in a format that is usable and obtainable by the |
491 | public. Local technical amendments shall not become effective |
492 | until 30 days after the amendment has been received and |
493 | published by the commission. |
494 | 6. Any amendment to the Florida Building Code adopted by a |
495 | local government pursuant to this paragraph shall be effective |
496 | only until the adoption by the commission of the new edition of |
497 | the Florida Building Code every third year. At such time, the |
498 | commission shall review such amendment for consistency with the |
499 | criteria in paragraph (9)(a) and adopt such amendment as part of |
500 | the Florida Building Code or rescind the amendment. The |
501 | commission shall immediately notify the respective local |
502 | government of the rescission of any amendment. After receiving |
503 | such notice, the respective local government may readopt the |
504 | rescinded amendment pursuant to the provisions of this |
505 | paragraph. |
506 | 7. Each county and municipality desiring to make local |
507 | technical amendments to the Florida Building Code shall by |
508 | interlocal agreement establish a countywide compliance review |
509 | board to review any amendment to the Florida Building Code, |
510 | adopted by a local government within the county pursuant to this |
511 | paragraph, that is challenged by any substantially affected |
512 | party for purposes of determining the amendment's compliance |
513 | with this paragraph. If challenged, the local technical |
514 | amendments shall not become effective until time for filing an |
515 | appeal pursuant to subparagraph 8. has expired or, if there is |
516 | an appeal, until the commission issues its final order |
517 | determining the adopted amendment is in compliance with this |
518 | subsection. |
519 | 8. If the compliance review board determines such |
520 | amendment is not in compliance with this paragraph, the |
521 | compliance review board shall notify such local government of |
522 | the noncompliance and that the amendment is invalid and |
523 | unenforceable until the local government corrects the amendment |
524 | to bring it into compliance. The local government may appeal the |
525 | decision of the compliance review board to the commission. If |
526 | the compliance review board determines such amendment to be in |
527 | compliance with this paragraph, any substantially affected party |
528 | may appeal such determination to the commission. Any such appeal |
529 | shall be filed with the commission within 14 days of the board's |
530 | written determination. The commission shall promptly refer the |
531 | appeal to the Division of Administrative Hearings by electronic |
532 | means through the division's website for the assignment of an |
533 | administrative law judge. The administrative law judge shall |
534 | conduct the required hearing within 30 days, and shall enter a |
535 | recommended order within 30 days of the conclusion of such |
536 | hearing. The commission shall enter a final order within 30 days |
537 | thereafter. The provisions of chapter 120 and the uniform rules |
538 | of procedure shall apply to such proceedings. The local |
539 | government adopting the amendment that is subject to challenge |
540 | has the burden of proving that the amendment complies with this |
541 | paragraph in proceedings before the compliance review board and |
542 | the commission, as applicable. Actions of the commission are |
543 | subject to judicial review pursuant to s. 120.68. The compliance |
544 | review board shall determine whether its decisions apply to a |
545 | respective local jurisdiction or apply countywide. |
546 | 9. An amendment adopted under this paragraph shall include |
547 | a fiscal impact statement which documents the costs and benefits |
548 | of the proposed amendment. Criteria for the fiscal impact |
549 | statement shall include the impact to local government relative |
550 | to enforcement, the impact to property and building owners, as |
551 | well as to industry, relative to the cost of compliance. The |
552 | fiscal impact statement may not be used as a basis for |
553 | challenging the amendment for compliance. |
554 | 10. In addition to subparagraphs 7. and 9., the commission |
555 | may review any amendments adopted pursuant to this subsection |
556 | and make nonbinding recommendations related to compliance of |
557 | such amendments with this subsection. |
558 | Section 15. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section |
559 | 961.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: |
560 | 961.03 Determination of status as a wrongfully |
561 | incarcerated person; determination of eligibility for |
562 | compensation.- |
563 | (4) |
564 | (b) If the prosecuting authority responds as set forth in |
565 | paragraph (2)(b), and the court determines that the petitioner |
566 | is eligible under the provisions of s. 961.04, but the |
567 | prosecuting authority contests the nature, significance or |
568 | effect of the evidence of actual innocence, or the facts related |
569 | to the petitioner's alleged wrongful incarceration, the court |
570 | shall set forth its findings and transfer the petition by |
571 | electronic means through the division's website to the division |
572 | for findings of fact and a recommended determination of whether |
573 | the petitioner has established that he or she is a wrongfully |
574 | incarcerated person who is eligible for compensation under this |
575 | act. |
576 | Section 16. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |
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