The bill amends section 539.001 of the Florida Statutes, which pertains to the Florida Pawnbroking Act, to allow pawnbroker transaction forms to be completed in either digital or printed formats. It specifies that the forms must be designed and approved by the agency, with printed forms sized at 8 1/2 inches by 11 inches and digital forms requiring a font size of at least 12 points. The pawnbroker is authorized to use either format for recordkeeping, and the bill outlines the necessary information that must be included on the transaction forms, such as details about the pledged or purchased goods, the pledgor or seller's information, and specific terms related to the pawn or purchase transaction.

Additionally, the bill revises recordkeeping requirements, stating that pawnbrokers must maintain copies of completed transaction forms for at least one year and submit these forms to law enforcement officials at the end of each business day. If a pawnbroker uses electronic images for identification, they must maintain these images to meet the same recordkeeping standards as for printed forms. The bill also includes provisions for electronically transferring pawn transactions and stipulates that if law enforcement requests an original printed transaction form that has been electronically transferred, the pawnbroker must provide it within 24 hours. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 678 Filed: 539.001