HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/CS/HB 577 Tenant Safety
SPONSOR(S): Commerce Committee, Judiciary Committee and Regulatory Reform Subcommittee,
Bartleman and others
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY
CHIEF
1) Regulatory Reform Subcommittee 16 Y, 0 N, As CS Wright Anstead
2) Judiciary Committee 20 Y, 0 N, As CS Brascomb Kramer
3) Commerce Committee 15 Y, 0 N, As CS Wright Hamon
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
The “Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” (Act) governs the relationship between landlords and
tenants under a residential rental agreement. The Act provides landlords with certain rights of entry to the
dwelling unit. For example, the landlord may enter a dwelling unit for purposes of repair to the premises, but
the landlord must first give “reasonable notice” of 12 hours to a tenant beforehand.
On September 24, 2021, Miya Marcano, a student at Valencia College, went missing from her apartment in
Orlando, Florida, where she also worked at the front office. She was later found dead miles from her
apartment. An investigation by the Orange County Sheriff’s Office indicated that Marcano was taken from her
apartment by a maintenance worker at the same apartment complex, who used a master key fob to enter her
apartment.
The bill, “Miya’s Law”:
Increases the time period that a landlord must give to a tenant prior to entering the dwelling unit from 12
hour to 24 hours, unless the tenant consents to a shorter time period.
Requires an operator of an apartment complex with 15 or more units to:
o Upon request, notify a tenant or prospective tenant in writing whether the operator requires any
employees or contractors to undergo a background screening.
o Upon request, provide a list to the tenant of every employee or contractor who has access to a
master key or fob or individual unit keys or fobs, and post such a list in a conspicuous place on
the apartment complex grounds or on the apartment’s website.
o Maintain a list accounting for all employees or contractors that have access to a master key or
fob or individual unit keys or fobs.
o Make such list accessible:
To law enforcement as needed in connection with the performance of their duties;
To a tenant; and
In discovery in a civil action related to an action involving a tenant or the apartment.
o Maintain such list for one year.
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government and does not have an impact on local
governments.
Except as otherwise provided, the bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act
Part II of ch. 83, F.S., known as the “Florida Residential Landlord and Tenant Act” (Act), governs the
relationship between landlords and tenants under a residential rental agreement. 1
The Act does not apply to:2
Residency or detention in a facility when it is incidental to the provision of medical, geriatric,
educational, counseling, religious, or similar services.
Occupancy under a contract of sale of a dwelling unit or property of which it is a part.
Transient occupancy in a public lodging establishment or a mobile home park.
Occupancy by a holder of a proprietary lease in a cooperative apartment.
Occupancy by an owner of a condominium unit.
Any right or duty declared in the Act is enforceable by civil action. A right or duty enforced by civil action
under the Act does not preclude prosecution for a criminal offense related to the lease or leased
property. If either the landlord or the tenant fails to comply with the requirements of the rental
agreement or the Act, the aggrieved party may recover the damages caused by the noncompliance. 3
Under certain circumstances, either party may take action to terminate the lease. 4
Covenant of Quiet Enjoyment
Generally, a tenant is entitled to the right of private, peaceful possession of the dwelling, which includes
limited access to the dwelling unit by the landlord.5 In the absence of inconsistent express covenants,
an ordinary lease includes an implied covenant of quiet enjoyment under Florida law, 6 and use of the
words "lease" or "demise" in a lease imports a covenant of quiet enjoyment. 7 Thus, a valid ordinary
lease of real estate raises an implied covenant of quiet and peaceful enjoyment of the leased premises
exercisable against the landlord.8
Landlord’s Obligation to Maintain Premises
At all times during a tenancy, the landlord must comply with the requirements of applicable building,
housing, and health codes. Where there are no applicable building, housing, or health codes, the
landlord must maintain the roofs, windows, screens, doors, floors, steps, porches, exterior walls,
foundations, and all other structural components in good repair and the plumbing in reasonable working
condition.9
Landlord’s Access to the Dwelling Unit
1 S. 83.41, F.S., provides that part II, ch. 83, F.S., applies to the rental of a dwelling unit.
2 S. 83.42, F.S.
3 S. 83.55, F.S.
4 S. 83.56, F.S.
5 The Florida Bar, Consumer Pamphlet: Rights and Duties of Tenants and Landlords,
https://www.floridabar.org/public/consumer/tip014/ (last visited Feb. 26, 2022).
6 Fla. Jur. 2d Landlord and Tenant § 90. Stinson, Lyons, Gerlin & Bustamante, P.A. v. Brickell Bldg. 1 Holding Co., Inc., 923 F.2d 810
(11th Cir. 1991); Coral Wood Page, Inc. v. GRE Coral Wood, LP, 71 So. 3d 251 (Fla. 2d DCA 2011); Hankins v. Smith, 103 Fla. 892,
138 So. 494 (1931).
7 Fla. Jur. 2d Landlord and Tenant § 90; Hankins, 138 So. 494.
8 Fla. Jur. 2d Landlord and Tenant § 90; McClosky v. Martin, 56 So. 2d 916 (Fla. 1951); Hankins, 138 So. 494.
9 S. 83.51(1), F.S.
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The landlord is generally restricted to accessing the dwelling unit under certain scenarios. However,
they may enter the dwelling unit at any time for the protection or preservation of the premises. 10
The landlord may enter the dwelling unit upon reasonable notice to the tenant and at a reasonable time
for the purpose of repair of the premises. “Reasonable notice” for the purpose of repair is notice given
at least 12 hours prior to the entry, and reasonable time for the purpose of repair is between 7:30 a.m.
and 8:00 p.m.11
The tenant may not unreasonably withhold consent to the landlord to enter the dwelling unit from time
to time in order to inspect the premises; make necessary or agreed repairs, decorations, alterations, or
improvements; supply agreed services; or exhibit the dwelling unit to prospective or actual purchasers,
mortgagees, tenants, workers, or contractors.12 The landlord may enter the dwelling unit when
necessary for these purposes under any of the following circumstances: 13
With the consent of the tenant;
In case of emergency;
When the tenant unreasonably withholds consent; or
If the tenant is absent from the premises for a period of time equal to one-half the time for
periodic rental payments; but if the rent is current and the tenant notifies the landlord of an
intended absence, then the landlord may enter only with the consent of the tenant or for the
protection or preservation of the premises.
The landlord may not abuse the right of access or use it to harass the tenant. 14
Transient and Non-transient Apartments
“Public lodging establishments” includes transient and nontransient public lodging establishments.15
The principal difference between a transient and nontransient public lodging establishment is how
frequently the establishment is rented in a calendar year and the duration of the rental.
A “transient public lodging establishment” is:
Any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of
buildings which is rented to guests more than three times in a calendar year for periods of less
than 30 days or one calendar month, whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the
public as a place regularly rented to guests.16
A “nontransient public lodging establishment” is:
Any unit, group of units, dwelling, building, or group of buildings within a single complex of
buildings which is rented to guests for periods of at least 30 days or one calendar month,
whichever is less, or which is advertised or held out to the public as a place regularly rented to
guests for periods of at least 30 days or one calendar month. 17
Public lodging establishments are classified as a hotel, motel, vacation rental, nontransient apartment,
transient apartment, bed and breakfast inn, or timeshare project.18
A nontransient apartment is a building or complex of buildings in which 75 percent or more of the
units are available for rent to nontransient tenants. A transient apartment is a building or complex of
10 S. 83.53(2), F.S.
11 Id.
12 S. 83.53(1), F.S.
13 S. 83.53(2), F.S.
14 S. 83.53(3), F.S.
15 S. 509.013(4)(a), F.S.
16 S. 509.013(4)(a)1., F.S
17 S. 509.013(4)(a)2., F.S.
18 S. 509.242(1), F.S.
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buildings in which more than 25 percent of the units are advertised or held out to the public as available
for transient occupancy.19
The Division of Hotels and Restaurants (division) within the Department of Business and Professional
Regulation (DBPR) is the state agency charged with enforcing the provisions of ch. 509, F.S., relating
to the regulation of public lodging establishments and public food service establishments for the
purpose of protecting the public health, safety, and welfare.
The division licenses certain transient and non-transient apartments in the state with 5 or more units.20
DBPR’s regulation of public lodging establishments includes:
Sanitation standards;
Inspections; and
Personnel training.21
Both transient and non-transient apartments are inspected by the division at least annually. For
purposes of performing required inspections and the enforcement, the division has the right of entry
and access to public lodging establishments at any reasonable time. 22
If a public lodging establishment, including an apartment, operates in violation of ch. 509, F.S., or
division rules, the division may impose the following disciplinary actions:23
Fines not to exceed $1,000 per offense; and
The suspension, revocation, or refusal of a license.
Safety Regulations
Section 509.211, F.S., provides safety regulations of public lodging establishments. Current law
requires every bedroom or apartment in a public lodging establishment to be equipped with an
approved locking device on each door opening to the outside, to an adjoining room or apartment, or to
a hallway.24 Every public lodging establishment that is three or more stories in height must have safe
and secure railings on all balconies, platforms, and stairways, and all such railings must be properly
maintained and repaired.25
Employee Background Screenings
Generally, criminal background screenings used for employment are generated by searching various
databases for criminal history, including misdemeanor and felony convictions and pending cases. 26
There is no requirement in Florida law that apartments must perform a background check on
employees or potential employees nor does it requires landlords or apartments to exclude potential
employees due to their criminal history.
The law also does not prevent an apartment from performing a criminal background check on potential
employees on its own accord, but the employer must follow federal standards under Title VII of the Civil
Rights Act of 1964, as it relates to employment discrimination, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act
(FCRA) as it relates to requirements for how a background check is conducted and applied to
employment.
19 Id.
20 S. 509.013 (4) (b), F.S. Any non-transient apartment renting four units or less or any apartment building inspected by the United
States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) or other entity acting on its behalf that is designated primarily as housing
for tenants at least 62 years of age is exempt from division licensure .
21 S. 509.032 (2) (a), F.S.
22 S. 509.032 (2) (b), F.S.
23 S. 509.261(1), F.S.
24 S. 509.211 (1) F.S.
25 S. 509.211 (3) F.S.
26 GoodHire, Criminal Background Check For Employment, https://www.goodhire.com/screening/criminal-background-check/ (last
visited Feb. 26, 2022).
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Florida law provides employers that conduct a background investigation with the legal presumption that
they were not negligent in hiring. As long as the background check didn't uncover any information that
reasonably demonstrates that the employee was unfit for the job or employment in general, the
employer is entitled to a presumption that it did not act negligently. 27
Third Party Background Screening
There are hundreds of companies engaged in employment and tenant background screening across
the United States.28 These companies are defined as “consumer reporting agencies” (CRAs), pursuant
to the FCRA and are regulated by both the Federal Trade Commission and Consumer Financial
Protection Bureau.29 The FCRA promotes the accuracy, fairness, and privacy of information that
consumer reporting agencies and their related entities collect. 30 The FCRA governs the acts of CRAs,
entities that furnish information to CRAs (furnishers), and individuals who use credit reports issued by
CRAs. Specifically, CRAs and their furnishers must adopt methods to ensure the information they
collect and report is accurate.
Individuals can review the information a CRA has collected on them to ensure that it is accurate, and
may dispute its accuracy—which triggers a CRA’s and furnisher’s duty to reinvestigate the information.
Individuals may also request to review the information a CRA has in his or her file, the sources of the
information, and the identity of those to whom the information was disclosed.
A CRA cannot provide information in a consumer report to anyone who does not have a specified
purpose in the FCRA.31
Statutory Background Screenings
Florida provides standard procedures for screening a prospective employee where the Legislature has
determined it is necessary to conduct a criminal history background check to protect vulnerable
persons.32 The state mandates background screenings for all state employees 33 and many professions
that interact with vulnerable persons.34
Such criminal history check must include a Florida criminal history provided by the Florida Department
of Law Enforcement (FDLE). The information may be provided by a private vendor only if that
information is directly obtained from the FDLE for each request. 35
A Level 1 screening is a name-based demographic screening that includes a statewide criminal record
check through the FDLE.36 A Level 1 background screening involves a name-based search of Florida
records, including employment history, state and local criminal history check, and a search of the
National Sex Offender Public Website.37
27
S. 768.096, F.S.; Lisa Guerin, Florida Laws on Employer Use of Arrest and Conviction Records, Nolo.com,
https://www.nolo.com/legal-encyclopedia/florida-laws-employer-use-arrest-conviction-records.html (last visited Feb. 26, 2022).
28 Professional Background Screening Association (PBSA), Ab out PBSA, availab le at https://thepbsa.org/about-us/about-pbsa/ (last
visited Feb. 26, 2022.)
29 Id.
30
Consumer Finance Bureau, A Summary of Your Rights Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (Sept. 18, 2018), 12 CFR 1022, availab le
at https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/pdf-0096-fair-credit-reporting-act.pdf (last visited Feb. 26, 2022). See also, Federal Trade
Commission, Fair Credit Reporting Act, https://www.ftc.gov/enforcement/statutes/fair-credit-reporting-act (last visited Feb. 26, 2022).
31 Permissible purposes include employment, insurance underwriting that involves the consumer, ev