Bill Text: FL S0654 | 2022 | Regular Session | Comm Sub
NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Protective Injunctions
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-04 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 905 [S0654 Detail]
Download: Florida-2022-S0654-Comm_Sub.html
Bill Title: Protective Injunctions
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-03-04 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 905 [S0654 Detail]
Download: Florida-2022-S0654-Comm_Sub.html
Florida Senate - 2022 CS for SB 654 By the Committee on Judiciary; and Senators Cruz, Gibson, and Jones 590-02513-22 2022654c1 1 A bill to be entitled 2 An act relating to protective injunctions; amending s. 3 741.30, F.S.; deleting an obsolete date; specifying a 4 timeframe in which the clerk of the court must 5 transmit specified documents relating to an injunction 6 for protection against domestic violence to the 7 appropriate local sheriff or law enforcement agency; 8 providing for the electronic transmission of certain 9 documents rather than by facsimile; authorizing clerks 10 of the court to provide such documents by facsimile, 11 hand delivery, or certified or registered mail under 12 certain circumstances; providing that electronically 13 submitted copies of injunctions must be served in the 14 same manner as certified copies; making conforming and 15 technical changes; amending ss. 784.046 and 784.0485, 16 F.S.; specifying a timeframe in which the clerk of the 17 court must transmit specified documents relating to 18 injunctions for protection against repeat violence, 19 sexual violence, or dating violence and against 20 stalking, respectively, to the appropriate local 21 sheriff or law enforcement agency; providing for the 22 electronic transmission of certain documents rather 23 than by facsimile; authorizing clerks of the court to 24 provide such documents by facsimile, hand delivery, or 25 certified or registered mail under certain 26 circumstances; providing that electronically submitted 27 copies of injunctions must be served in the same 28 manner as certified copies; making conforming and 29 technical changes; providing an effective date. 30 31 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 32 33 Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) and subsection 34 (8) of section 741.30, Florida Statutes, are amended to read: 35 741.30 Domestic violence; injunction; powers and duties of 36 court and clerk; petition; notice and hearing; temporary 37 injunction; issuance of injunction; statewide verification 38 system; enforcement; public records exemption.— 39 (2)(a) Notwithstanding any otherprovision oflaw, the 40 assessment of a filing fee for a petition for protection against 41 domestic violence is prohibitedeffective October 1, 2002. 42 However, subject to legislative appropriation, the clerk of the 43 circuit court may, on a quarterly basis, submit to the Office of 44 the State Courts Administrator a certified request for 45 reimbursement for petitions for protection against domestic 46 violence issued by the court, at the rate of $40 per petition. 47 The request for reimbursement mustshallbe submitted in the 48 form and manner prescribed by the Office of the State Courts 49 Administrator. From this reimbursement, the clerk shall pay any 50 law enforcement agency serving the injunction the fee requested 51 by the law enforcement agency; however, this fee mayshallnot 52 exceed $20. 53 (8)(a)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an 54 injunction for protection against domestic violence, the clerk 55 of the court shall electronically transmitfurnisha copy of the 56 petition, financial affidavit, Uniform Child Custody 57 Jurisdiction and Enforcement Act affidavit, if any, notice of 58 hearing, and temporary injunction, if any, to the sheriff or a 59 law enforcement agency of the county where the respondent 60 resides or can be found, who shall serve it upon the respondent 61 as soon thereafter as possible on any day of the week and at any 62 time of the day or night. If there is an Internet outage or any 63 other significant disruption in network connectivity which would 64 delay service by more than 24 hours, the clerk of the court may 65 provide copies to the sheriff’s office or law enforcement agency 66 by facsimile, hand delivery, or certified or registered mail. An 67 electronicWhen requested by thesheriff, the clerk of the court68may transmit a facsimilecopy of an injunction must bethat has69beencertified by the clerk of the court, and the electronic 70this facsimilecopy mustmaybe served in the same manner as a 71 certified copy. Upon receiving an electronica facsimilecopy of 72 the injunction, the sheriff must verify receipt with the sender 73 before attempting to serve it upon the respondent. In addition, 74 if the sheriff is in possession of an injunction for protection 75 that has been certified by the clerk of the court, the sheriff 76 may electronically transmit afacsimilecopy of that injunction 77 to a law enforcement officer who shall serve it in the same 78 manner as a certified copy. The clerk of the court isshall be79 responsible for furnishing to the sheriff such information on 80 the respondent’s physical description and location as is 81 required by the department to comply with the verification 82 procedures set forth in this section. Notwithstanding any other 83provision oflaw to the contrary, the chief judge of each 84 circuit, in consultation with the appropriate sheriff, may 85 authorize a law enforcement agency within the jurisdiction to 86 effect service. A law enforcement agency serving injunctions 87 pursuant to this section mustshalluse service and verification 88 procedures consistent with those of the sheriff. 89 2. When an injunction is issued, if the petitioner requests 90 the assistance of a law enforcement agency, the court may order 91 that an officer from the appropriate law enforcement agency 92 accompany the petitioner and assist in placing the petitioner in 93 possession of the dwelling or residence, or otherwise assist in 94 the execution or service of the injunction. A law enforcement 95 officer mustshallaccept a copy of an injunction for protection 96 against domestic violence, certified by the clerk of the court, 97 from the petitioner and immediately serve it upon a respondent 98 who has been located but not yet served. 99 3. All orders issued, changed, continued, extended, or 100 vacated subsequent to the original service of documents 101 enumerated under subparagraph 1. must, shallbe certified by the 102 clerk of the court and delivered to the parties at the time of 103 the entry of the order. The parties may acknowledge receipt of 104 such order in writing on the face of the original order. In the 105 event a party fails or refuses to acknowledge the receipt of a 106 certified copy of an order, the clerk shall note on the original 107 order that service was effected. If delivery at the hearing is 108 not possible, the clerk shall mail certified copies of the order 109 to the parties at the last known address of each party. Service 110 by mail is complete upon mailing. When an order is served 111 pursuant to this subsection, the clerk shall prepare a written 112 certification to be placed in the court file specifying the 113 time, date, and method of service and shall notify the sheriff. 114 115 If the respondent has been served previously with the temporary 116 injunction and has failed to appear at the initial hearing on 117 the temporary injunction, any subsequent petition for injunction 118 seeking an extension of time may be served on the respondent by 119 the clerk of the court by certified mail in lieu of personal 120 service by a law enforcement officer. 121 (b)There shall be createdA Domestic and Repeat Violence 122 Injunction Statewide Verification System is created within the 123 Department of Law Enforcement. The department shall establish, 124 implement, and maintain a statewide communication system capable 125 of electronically transmitting information to and between 126 criminal justice agencies relating to domestic violence 127 injunctions and repeat violence injunctions issued by the courts 128 throughout the state. Such information must include, but is not 129 limited to, information as to the existence and status of any 130 injunction for verification purposes. 131 (c)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an injunction 132 for protection against domestic violence or changes, continues, 133 extends, or vacates an injunction for protection against 134 domestic violence, the clerk of the court must electronically 135 transmitforwarda certified copy of the injunction for service 136 to the sheriff with jurisdiction over the residence of the 137 petitioner. If there is an Internet outage or any other 138 significant disruption in network connectivity which would delay 139 service by more than 24 hours, the clerk of the court may 140 provide copies to the sheriff’s office by facsimile, hand 141 delivery, or certified or registered mail. The injunction must 142 be served in accordance with this subsection. 143 2. Within 24 hours after service of process of an 144 injunction for protection against domestic violence upon a 145 respondent, the law enforcement officer must electronically 146 transmitforwardthe written proof of service of process to the 147 sheriff with jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner. 148 3. Within 24 hours after the sheriff receives a certified 149 copy of the injunction for protection against domestic violence, 150 the sheriff must make information relating to the injunction 151 available to other law enforcement agencies by electronically 152 transmitting such information to the department. 153 4. Within 24 hours after the sheriff or other law 154 enforcement officer has made service upon the respondent and the 155 sheriff has been so notified, the sheriff must make information 156 relating to the service available to other law enforcement 157 agencies by electronically transmitting such information to the 158 department. 159 5. Subject to available funding, the Florida Association of 160 Court Clerks and Comptrollers shall develop an automated process 161 by which a petitioner may request notification of service of the 162 injunction for protection against domestic violence and other 163 court actions related to the injunction for protection. The 164 automated notice mustshallbe made within 12 hours after the 165 sheriff or other law enforcement officer serves the injunction 166 upon the respondent. The notification must include, at a 167 minimum, the date, time, and location where the injunction for 168 protection against domestic violence was served. The Florida 169 Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers may apply for any 170 available grants to fund the development of the automated 171 process. 172 6. Within 24 hours after an injunction for protection 173 against domestic violence is vacated, terminated, or otherwise 174 rendered no longer effective by ruling of the court, the clerk 175 of the court must notify the sheriff receiving original 176 notification of the injunction as provided in subparagraph 2. 177 That agency shall, within 24 hours after receiving such 178 notification from the clerk of the court, notify the department 179 of such action of the court. 180 Section 2. Subsection (8) of section 784.046, Florida 181 Statutes, is amended to read: 182 784.046 Action by victim of repeat violence, sexual 183 violence, or dating violence for protective injunction; dating 184 violence investigations, notice to victims, and reporting; 185 pretrial release violations; public records exemption.— 186 (8)(a)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an 187 injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual 188 violence, or dating violence, the clerk of the court shall 189 electronically transmitfurnisha copy of the petition, notice 190 of hearing, and temporary injunction, if any, to the sheriff or 191 a law enforcement agency of the county where the respondent 192 resides or can be found, who shall serve it upon the respondent 193 as soon thereafter as possible on any day of the week and at any 194 time of the day or night. If there is an Internet outage or any 195 other significant disruption in network connectivity which would 196 delay service by more than 24 hours, the clerk of the court may 197 furnish copies to the sheriff’s office or law enforcement agency 198 by facsimile, hand delivery, or certified or registered mail. An 199 electronicWhen requested by the sheriff, the clerk of the court200may transmit a facsimilecopy of an injunction must bethat has201beencertified by the clerk of the court, and the electronic 202this facsimilecopy mustmaybe served in the same manner as a 203 certified copy. Upon receiving an electronica facsimilecopy of 204 the injunction, the sheriff must verify receipt with the sender 205 before attempting to serve it upon the respondent. In addition, 206 if the sheriff is in possession of an injunction for protection 207 that has been certified by the clerk of the court, the sheriff 208 may electronically transmit afacsimilecopy of that injunction 209 to a law enforcement officer who shall serve it in the same 210 manner as a certified copy. The clerk of the court isshall be211 responsible for furnishing to the sheriff such information on 212 the respondent’s physical description and location as is 213 required by the department to comply with the verification 214 procedures set forth in this section. Notwithstanding any other 215provision oflaw to the contrary, the chief judge of each 216 circuit, in consultation with the appropriate sheriff, may 217 authorize a law enforcement agency within the chief judge’s 218 jurisdiction to effect this type of service and to receive a 219 portion of the service fee. ANoperson may notshall be220authorized or permitted toserve or execute an injunction issued 221 under this section unless the person is a law enforcement 222 officer as defined in chapter 943. 223 2. When an injunction is issued, if the petitioner requests 224 the assistance of a law enforcement agency, the court may order 225 that an officer from the appropriate law enforcement agency 226 accompany the petitioner and assist in the execution or service 227 of the injunction. A law enforcement officer mustshallaccept a 228 copy of an injunction for protection against repeat violence, 229 sexual violence, or dating violence, certified by the clerk of 230 the court, from the petitioner and immediately serve it upon a 231 respondent who has been located but not yet served. 232 (b)There shall be createdA Domestic, Dating, Sexual, and 233 Repeat Violence Injunction Statewide Verification System is 234 created within the Department of Law Enforcement. The department 235 shall establish, implement, and maintain a statewide 236 communication system capable of electronically transmitting 237 information to and between criminal justice agencies relating to 238 domestic violence injunctions, dating violence injunctions, 239 sexual violence injunctions, and repeat violence injunctions 240 issued by the courts throughout the state. Such information must 241 include, but is not limited to, information as to the existence 242 and status of any injunction for verification purposes. 243 (c)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an injunction 244 for protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or 245 dating violence or changes or vacates an injunction for 246 protection against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating 247 violence, the clerk of the court must electronically transmit 248forwarda copy of the injunction to the sheriff with 249 jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner. 250 2. Within 24 hours after service of process of an 251 injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual 252 violence, or dating violence upon a respondent, the law 253 enforcement officer must electronically transmitforwardthe 254 written proof of service of process to the sheriff with 255 jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner. 256 3. Within 24 hours after the sheriff receives a certified 257 copy of the injunction for protection against repeat violence, 258 sexual violence, or dating violence, the sheriff must make 259 information relating to the injunction available to other law 260 enforcement agencies by electronically transmitting such 261 information to the department. 262 4. Within 24 hours after the sheriff or other law 263 enforcement officer has made service upon the respondent and the 264 sheriff has been so notified, the sheriff must make information 265 relating to the service available to other law enforcement 266 agencies by electronically transmitting such information to the 267 department. 268 5. Subject to available funding, the Florida Association of 269 Court Clerks and Comptrollers shall develop an automated process 270 by which a petitioner may request notification of service of the 271 injunction for protection against repeat violence, sexual 272 violence, or dating violence and other court actions related to 273 the injunction for protection. The automated notice mustshall274 be made within 12 hours after the sheriff or other law 275 enforcement officer serves the injunction upon the respondent. 276 The notification must include, at a minimum, the date, time, and 277 location where the injunction for protection against repeat 278 violence, sexual violence, or dating violence was served. The 279 Florida Association of Court Clerks and Comptrollers may apply 280 for any available grants to fund the development of the 281 automated process. 282 6. Within 24 hours after an injunction for protection 283 against repeat violence, sexual violence, or dating violence is 284 lifted, terminated, or otherwise rendered no longer effective by 285 ruling of the court, the clerk of the court must notify the 286 sheriff or local law enforcement agency receiving original 287 notification of the injunction as provided in subparagraph 2. 288 That agency shall, within 24 hours after receiving such 289 notification from the clerk of the court, notify the department 290 of such action of the court. 291 Section 3. Subsection (8) of section 784.0485, Florida 292 Statutes, is amended to read: 293 784.0485 Stalking; injunction; powers and duties of court 294 and clerk; petition; notice and hearing; temporary injunction; 295 issuance of injunction; statewide verification system; 296 enforcement.— 297 (8)(a)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an 298 injunction for protection against stalking, the clerk of the 299 court shall electronically transmitfurnisha copy of the 300 petition, notice of hearing, and temporary injunction, if any, 301 to the sheriff or a law enforcement agency of the county where 302 the respondent resides or can be found, who shall serve it upon 303 the respondent as soon thereafter as possible on any day of the 304 week and at any time of the day or night. If there is an 305 Internet outage or any other significant disruption in network 306 connectivity which would delay service by more than 24 hours, 307 the clerk of the court may furnish copies to the sheriff’s 308 office or law enforcement agency by facsimile, hand delivery, or 309 certified or registered mail. An electronicWhenrequested by310the sheriff, the clerk of the court may transmit a facsimile311 copy of an injunction must bethat has beencertified by the 312 clerk of the court, and the electronicthis facsimilecopy must 313maybe served in the same manner as a certified copy. Upon 314 receiving an electronica facsimilecopy of the injunction, the 315 sheriff must verify receipt with the sender before attempting to 316 serve it on the respondent. In addition, if the sheriff is in 317 possession of an injunction for protection that has been 318 certified by the clerk of the court, the sheriff may 319 electronically transmit afacsimilecopy of that injunction to a 320 law enforcement officer who shall serve it in the same manner as 321 a certified copy. The clerk of the court shall furnish to the 322 sheriff such information concerning the respondent’s physical 323 description and location as is required by the Department of Law 324 Enforcement to comply with the verification procedures set forth 325 in this section. Notwithstanding any other law, the chief judge 326 of each circuit, in consultation with the appropriate sheriff, 327 may authorize a law enforcement agency within the jurisdiction 328 to effect service. A law enforcement agency serving injunctions 329 pursuant to this section mustshalluse service and verification 330 procedures consistent with those of the sheriff. 331 2. If an injunction is issued and the petitioner requests 332 the assistance of a law enforcement agency, the court may order 333 that an officer from the appropriate law enforcement agency 334 accompany the petitioner to assist in the execution or service 335 of the injunction. A law enforcement officer mustshallaccept a 336 copy of an injunction for protection against stalking, certified 337 by the clerk of the court, from the petitioner and immediately 338 serve it upon a respondent who has been located but not yet 339 served. 340 3. An order issued, changed, continued, extended, or 341 vacated subsequent to the original service of documents 342 enumerated under subparagraph 1. mustshallbe certified by the 343 clerk of the court and delivered to the parties at the time of 344 the entry of the order. The parties may acknowledge receipt of 345 such order in writing on the face of the original order. If a 346 party fails or refuses to acknowledge the receipt of a certified 347 copy of an order, the clerk shall note on the original order 348 that service was effected. If delivery at the hearing is not 349 possible, the clerk shall mail certified copies of the order to 350 the parties at the last known address of each party. Service by 351 mail is complete upon mailing. When an order is served pursuant 352 to this subsection, the clerk shall prepare a written 353 certification to be placed in the court file specifying the 354 time, date, and method of service and shall notify the sheriff. 355 4. If the respondent has been served previously with a 356 temporary injunction and has failed to appear at the initial 357 hearing on the temporary injunction, any subsequent petition for 358 injunction seeking an extension of time may be served on the 359 respondent by the clerk of the court by certified mail in lieu 360 of personal service by a law enforcement officer. 361 (b)1. Within 24 hours after the court issues an injunction 362 for protection against stalking or changes, continues, extends, 363 or vacates an injunction for protection against stalking, the 364 clerk of the court must electronically transmitforwarda 365 certified copy of the injunction for service to the sheriff 366 having jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner. The 367 injunction must be served in accordance with this subsection. 368 2. Within 24 hours after service of process of an 369 injunction for protection against stalking upon a respondent, 370 the law enforcement officer must electronically transmitforward371 the written proof of service of process to the sheriff having 372 jurisdiction over the residence of the petitioner. 373 3. Within 24 hours after the sheriff receives a certified 374 copy of the injunction for protection against stalking, the 375 sheriff must make information relating to the injunction 376 available to other law enforcement agencies by electronically 377 transmitting such information to the Department of Law 378 Enforcement. 379 4. Within 24 hours after the sheriff or other law 380 enforcement officer has made service upon the respondent and the 381 sheriff has been so notified, the sheriff must make information 382 relating to the service available to other law enforcement 383 agencies by electronically transmitting such information to the 384 Department of Law Enforcement. 385 5. Within 24 hours after an injunction for protection 386 against stalking is vacated, terminated, or otherwise rendered 387 no longer effective by ruling of the court, the clerk of the 388 court must notify the sheriff receiving original notification of 389 the injunction as provided in subparagraph 2. That agency shall, 390 within 24 hours after receiving such notification from the clerk 391 of the court, notify the Department of Law Enforcement of such 392 action of the court. 393 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022.