The bill amends section 760.11 of the Florida Statutes to establish specific timeframes for commencing civil actions related to discriminatory practices. It stipulates that such actions must be initiated within one year following the determination of reasonable cause by the commission or the issuance of a Notice of Right to Sue by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, whichever occurs first. If neither of these actions takes place within 180 days of filing a complaint, the civil action must be commenced within 18 months of the original complaint. Additionally, the bill clarifies that the commencement of a civil action will divest the commission of jurisdiction over the complaint, although the commission retains the right to intervene in the action.

The bill also includes provisions regarding damages, stating that punitive damages cannot be awarded against the state and its agencies, with total recovery against them limited as specified in section 768.28(5). Furthermore, it modifies the language concerning attorney fees, ensuring that the prevailing party may be awarded reasonable attorney fees as part of the costs, and emphasizes that this provision should align with federal case law related to Title VII actions. The effective date for this act is set for July 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
H 1407 Filed: 760.11