The Domestic Emergency and Batterers Reform and Accountability Act seeks to strengthen Florida's response to domestic violence and related offenses through a series of comprehensive measures. The bill mandates the creation of a statewide emergency communications plan that flags addresses linked to domestic violence incidents, ensuring this information is accessible to all emergency services. It also requires counties to implement this system according to their resources and establishes training requirements for emergency medical personnel on domestic violence issues. Additionally, the bill revises the definition of domestic violence to cover a wider range of offenses and introduces electronic monitoring for individuals involved in such cases, allowing courts to impose this measure under specific conditions.

Moreover, the legislation enhances penalties for violations of domestic violence injunctions and mandates law enforcement to provide victims with crucial information regarding their rights and available support services. It establishes a Domestic, Dating, Sexual, and Repeat Violence Injunction Statewide Verification System and emphasizes the importance of assessing imminent danger based on the respondent's history of violence. The bill also raises the maximum relocation assistance for victims from $1,500 to $5,000, with a lifetime cap of $10,000, and requires law enforcement to conduct lethality assessments and follow-up support for victims. Overall, the bill aims to improve victim protection, enhance accountability for offenders, and ensure a more effective response to domestic violence incidents.

Statutes affected:
S 682 Filed: 365.171, 741.281, 741.283, 784.047, 960.198, 921.0024, 943.0584, 943.171