Bill Text: FL S1152 | 2016 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

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Bill Title: Classified Advertisement Websites

Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill

Status: (Failed) 2016-03-11 - Died in Messages [S1152 Detail]

Download: Florida-2016-S1152-Comm_Sub.html

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       Florida Senate - 2016                             CS for SB 1152
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Community Affairs; and Senator Diaz de la
       Portilla
       
       578-03639-16                                          20161152c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to classified advertisement websites;
    3         creating s. 501.180, F.S.; defining the term “safe
    4         haven facility”; authorizing local governmental bodies
    5         to designate a specified number of safe-haven
    6         facilities in each county based upon population size;
    7         authorizing a local governmental body to approve the
    8         use of local government buildings to serve as safe
    9         haven facilities; limiting the liability of any local
   10         governmental entity that provides a safe-haven
   11         facility; limiting actions against the state or local
   12         government related to transactions taking place at a
   13         safe-haven facility; providing an effective date.
   14  
   15         WHEREAS, there have been a number of cases throughout this
   16  state in which people selling cellphones, computers, or other
   17  valuable goods through classified advertisement websites have
   18  been targeted by criminals who intended to rob them when they
   19  met to exchange goods for cash, and
   20         WHEREAS, even when the victims of these crimes select
   21  public and populated locations for the transactions that they
   22  feel are safe, such as shopping centers or parks, they still
   23  fall prey to these criminals, and
   24         WHEREAS, identifying locations to serve as safe havens for
   25  transactions related to classified advertisement websites will
   26  deter these crimes and provide greater safety throughout the
   27  state, NOW, THEREFORE,
   28  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   29  
   30         Section 1. Section 501.180, Florida Statutes, is created to
   31  read:
   32         501.180 Safe-haven facilities.—
   33         (1) As used in this section, the term “safe-haven facility”
   34  means a public local government building approved by the local
   35  governmental body to be used by the public for the purpose of
   36  conducting a sales transaction involving an item or a service
   37  that was offered for sale on a classified advertisement website.
   38         (2) Local governmental bodies may designate at least:
   39         (a) One safe-haven facility in each county with a
   40  population of less than 250,000 residents.
   41         (b) Two safe-haven facilities in each county with at least
   42  250,000 but less than 800,000 residents.
   43         (c) Four safe-haven facilities in each county with 800,000
   44  or more residents.
   45         (3) A safe-haven facility must be easily accessible so that
   46  an individual is not discouraged from using the location. A
   47  local governmental body may approve the use of a public local
   48  government building, such as a sheriff’s office or a county
   49  courthouse, to serve as a safe-haven facility.
   50         (4) A local governmental entity, or its officers,
   51  employees, or agents, that provides a safe-haven facility is not
   52  responsible for overseeing the sales transaction and is not
   53  otherwise liable for the actions of the parties involved in the
   54  transaction or nonparties present at the transaction.
   55         (5) An action may not be initiated on a claim against the
   56  state or local government or any of its agencies or subdivisions
   57  based on an incident that occurs during a sales transaction at a
   58  safe-haven facility involving an individual who is not an
   59  officer, employee, or agent of the state or local government or
   60  of its agencies or subdivisions.
   61         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2016.
   62