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. The responsibilities of the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation are revised to allow clerks to submit certified reimbursement requests for specific 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. It also eliminates filing fees for petitions related to domestic violence and similar issues, enabling clerks to seek reimbursement for processing these petitions.

Moreover, the bill includes amendments to the verification process for dependent eligibility in state insurance programs, allowing sworn affidavits as acceptable documentation. It also introduces provisions for foreign-born subscribers who cannot obtain necessary documentation to provide sworn affidavits to confirm eligibility. The bill specifies documentation requirements for proving eligibility for disabled children aged 26 or older and reenacts a presumption of disability for emergency rescue or public safety workers suffering from certain communicable diseases, contingent upon the submission of a written affidavit. The act is scheduled 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