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New Year, New Laws In Effect In Florida
January 3, 2018
Six bills from the 2017 legislative session became effective with the arrival of the New Year.
The changes range from eliminating a public-transit commission to streamlining how unmarried and divorced parents agree to time-sharing arrangements for children.
Also with the start of 2018, Florida’s minimum wage increased Monday by 15 cents, to $8.25 an hour. That, however, was not tied to legislation. Voters in 2004 passed a constitutional amendment that requires the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity to annually calculate the rate based on changes in a federal consumer price index.
The laws taking effect this week were among 234 bills approved in 2017 by the Legislature and signed by Gov. Rick Scott. Most new laws went into effect July 1, the start of the state’s fiscal year.
Here are the laws that just hit the books:
— HB 647, a local bill that dissolved on Dec. 31 the Hillsborough County Public Transportation Commission, an independent special district. The commission was created to regulate such things as taxis, limousines and wrecker services.
The measure was considered a victory for rideshare companies such as Uber and Lyft. Lawmakers during the 2017 session also passed a measure that created statewide regulations for rideshare companies, something the fast-growing industry sought so it wouldn’t have to operate under a variety of rules imposed by local governments. The commission’s breakup date coincided with the expiration of an agreement with rideshare companies operating in Hillsborough County.
— SB 590, a bill that makes changes in how Florida handles child time-sharing arrangements between unmarried or divorced parents.
— HB 435, a bill that revises rules regarding international banking corporations, including issues related to licensure and record-keeping.
— HB 437, a bill that is tied to HB 435 and creates public-records exemptions involving the Office of Financial Regulation. The exemptions deal with new entities known as “international trust entities” and “qualified limited service affiliates.” It prohibits the Office of Financial Regulation from releasing such things as personal identifying information of customers or shareholders.
— SB 800, a bill that requires health insurers and health maintenance organizations to offer “medication synchronization” to customers at least once a year. Under medication synchronization, customers are able to align refill dates of prescriptions.
— HB 911, a bill that makes a series of changes related to rules and licensure for public insurance adjusters.
Lawmakers had approved a seventh bill slated to go into effect with the New Year. That bill would have required warning labels on state Lottery games. But Scott vetoed the measure (HB 937) for imposing “burdensome regulations” on the games and retailers. The bill was one of 11 Scott vetoed last year.
by Jim Turner, The News Service of Florida
Comments
6 Responses to “New Year, New Laws In Effect In Florida”
re:Cindy, How would you enforce those rules on the poor and disabled who get public assistance? Btw, when you are wanting to take Liberties and Freedoms away from these folks, ultimately to enforce those controls the Liberties and Freedoms of everyone’s would need to be sacrificed to some degree. Which Liberties and Freedoms are you prepared to lose when we increase the size and scope of government to regulate the lives of the poor who have not committed a crime other than being poor, since you consider being poor to be a crime?
I don’t think you have considered all the different poor people in society that your disdain for would affect or the different reasons for the predicaments that lead to becoming poor that include physical, social and economic challenges. Also, if you do believe in Free Market Capitalism, you should be less in favor of any regulations on anyone IMO. I think Capitalism and Socialism need a balance as two sides of the same coin that is America. Where that balance lies is a real discussion to have but I don’t think that discussion has any place when it comes to restricting the Freedoms or Liberties of People because they are poor.
Amen Cindy.
@Cindy
GREATLY STATED.
I have worked since I was 15 years old, that’s some 43 years now …I wonder how much of my tax dollars go for those unnecessary items. I don’t smoke nor do I drink and I don’t buy lottery tickets very often but when I do it’s with my EXTRA money.
It’s impossible to legislate common sense. There shouldn’t have to be a warning label stating “if you gamble, you may lose”……look up the word “gamble” in the dictionary. While I’m on this soapbox….here’s something that should be a law….if a person is on government assistance, it should be illegal for said person to buy lottery tickets or gamble in any establishment. In fact, it should also be illegal for that person to buy tobacco & adult beverages. When the person no longer receives government assistance, then that person can spend THEIR money however they wish. As a working taxpayer, paying for their assistance, I do not want to support their gambling, smoking and boozing habits. Check your priorities, people!
@ Big Bill 1961 …. “Scott vetoed the measure (HB 937) for imposing “burdensome regulations” on the games and retailers.”
Life is all about making right choices and no one twist their arms to gamble. Adults should not be told what to do with their money that they work hard for.
“Scott vetoed the measure (HB 937) for imposing “burdensome regulations” on the games and retailers.”
Really? Rick Scott will never know what it’s like living paycheck to paycheck. I haven’t played the lottery in years, but I’ve seen what it does to families. The promise of that big payout is so tempting that people will spend money they shouldn’t. Money for bills, for food, for clothing, etc. The lottery’s biggest benefit was supposed to be supporting education in Florida, and we’ve all seen how well THAT’S worked out. But we have a slew of highly overpaid lottery officials, who now have our governor telling them “we won’t burden you with a regulation designed with the middle class and the working poor in mind.” What an absolute joke.