The bill amends Section 559.72 of the Florida Statutes, which outlines prohibited practices for individuals attempting to collect consumer debt. A significant change is the clarification regarding communication methods, specifically allowing e-mail communication outside the previously restricted hours of 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m., provided that such communication complies with the section's other requirements. The language has been updated to state that "a person may not" engage in certain prohibited practices, replacing the previous phrasing of "no person shall." This amendment aims to modernize the law to reflect the prevalence of e-mail communication in debt collection practices.

Additionally, the bill reenacts several related statutes to ensure they incorporate the amendments made to Section 559.72. These include provisions related to enforcement actions against out-of-state debt collectors, consumer complaints, civil remedies, and definitions relevant to debt collection. The bill emphasizes that violations of the updated Section 559.72 will subject violators to the same sanctions as other consumer debt collectors, reinforcing the legal framework for consumer protection in debt collection practices. The act is set to take effect upon becoming law.

Statutes affected:
S 232 Filed: 559.72
S 232 c1: 559.72
S 232 c2: 559.72
S 232 er: 559.72