The bill amends various sections of the Florida Statutes to improve the efficiency and accessibility of the state court system. It requires that at least one circuit judge in each circuit be available for hearings on short notice, particularly for domestic violence cases, to ensure timely judicial responses. Additionally, the responsibilities of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation are revised, mandating that budget requests be submitted to the Justice Administrative Commission instead of the Office of the State Courts Administrator. The bill also eliminates the per diem cap for arbitrators in court-ordered, nonbinding arbitration, allowing for more flexible compensation arrangements. New provisions are introduced for judges to authenticate legal documents by signing and printing their name, title, and court, which streamlines the process for oaths, affidavits, and acknowledgments.

Moreover, the bill modifies eligibility verification for benefits related to disabled children and public safety workers. It allows foreign-born subscribers to provide a sworn affidavit if they cannot obtain necessary documentation within the specified timeframe. The bill also establishes a presumption of disability for emergency rescue or public safety workers exposed to specific communicable diseases, requiring them to submit a written affidavit confirming no exposure outside of their employment. It reenacts subsection (2) of section 112.181, detailing the conditions for public safety workers to claim this presumption. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 538 Filed: 26.20, 44.103, 92.50
S 538 c1: 26.20, 28.35, 44.103, 92.50, 741.30, 784.046, 784.0485, 825.1035
S 538 er: 26.20, 28.35, 44.103, 92.50, 741.30, 784.046, 784.0485, 825.1035