House Bill 285 amends Florida Statutes to enhance protections for victims of domestic violence by expanding the definition of violence in the context of injunctions to include "serious violence" alongside "repeat violence." This change allows for a broader scope of protective measures, enabling individuals to seek injunctions for serious violence, which is defined by specific criteria such as incidents of violence or stalking that result in bodily injury or death threats. The bill also eliminates filing fees for those seeking injunctions and mandates that courts provide necessary forms and assistance to unrepresented individuals. Additionally, it establishes a Domestic and Repeat or Serious Violence Injunction Statewide Verification System to improve communication among law enforcement agencies regarding the status of injunctions.

The bill further stipulates that individuals subject to injunctions related to domestic violence or serious violence will have their firearm licenses suspended, and it updates the criteria for criminal history checks to include such injunctions. It emphasizes the importance of victim safety in bail determinations and outlines penalties for violations of protective injunctions. Moreover, the bill modifies existing legal language to ensure that information identifying petitioners or respondents remains confidential until the respondent is served. Overall, HB 285 aims to strengthen the legal framework surrounding domestic violence injunctions, improve support for victims, and enhance the enforcement of protective measures.

Statutes affected:
H 285 Filed: 784.046, 44.407, 61.1825, 119.0714, 394.4597, 394.4598, 741.313, 784.047, 784.048, 790.065, 934.03, 943.05