This bill amends Section 784.046 of the Florida Statutes to broaden the legal framework for obtaining injunctions for protection against violence by replacing the term "repeat violence" with "repeat or serious violence." It defines "repeat or serious violence" to encompass two incidents of violence or stalking, one resulting in bodily injury, or a death threat made by the respondent. The legislation creates a specific cause of action for injunctions related to repeat or serious violence, revises existing language throughout the statute, and ensures that victims or their guardians can file petitions for protection. Additionally, the bill streamlines the petition filing process by eliminating fees and bond requirements, mandates clerical assistance for unrepresented petitioners, and allows for temporary injunctions to be granted in ex parte hearings when immediate danger is present.

Moreover, the bill establishes a Domestic, Dating, Sexual, and Repeat or Serious Violence Injunction Statewide Verification System to facilitate electronic communication regarding domestic violence injunctions among criminal justice agencies. It requires court clerks to transmit injunctions to the sheriff within 24 hours and mandates law enforcement to notify the sheriff upon serving these injunctions. The bill also introduces amendments for enforcing injunction violations, requires law enforcement to assist victims of dating violence, and ensures confidentiality for certain records related to injunctions. Additionally, it clarifies the conditions under which consent for tracking devices can be revoked, particularly in cases of marital dissolution or protective injunctions, with the provisions set to take effect on July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 32 Filed: 784.046, 44.407, 61.1825, 119.0714, 394.4597, 394.4598, 741.2901, 741.313, 784.047, 784.048, 790.065, 934.03, 943.05