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, ensuring timely judicial responses. The responsibilities of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation are revised to allow clerks to submit certified reimbursement requests for certain petitions to the Justice Administrative Commission, rather than the Office of the State Courts Administrator. Additionally, the bill removes the per diem cap for arbitrators in nonbinding arbitration and introduces new provisions for judges to authenticate jurats and certificates of acknowledgment.

Moreover, the bill eliminates filing fees for petitions related to domestic violence, repeat violence, sexual violence, and stalking, enabling clerks to seek reimbursement for processing these petitions. It also amends laws regarding eligibility verification for benefits related to disabled children and public safety workers, allowing foreign-born subscribers to provide sworn affidavits if they cannot obtain necessary documentation. The bill reenacts a presumption of disability for emergency rescue or public safety workers suffering from specific communicable diseases, requiring a written affidavit to confirm non-exposure outside of employment. 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