HB 735 Summary

• Amends section 2.01 to clarify that English common and statute laws apply only to the extent they do not conflict with U.S. and state law, and adds specific provisions regarding tort liability claims in judicial proceedings, abuse of process, malicious prosecution, and fraud upon the court where litigation privilege and judicial immunity are not valid defenses.

• Expands the list of recipients for the Florida Supreme Court's annual diversity report to include the Governor, President of the Senate, Speaker of the House, and relevant legislative committees; requires development of a civics promotion and judicial branch education plan with annual implementation reports submitted to the same recipients.

• Requires the Supreme Court to submit all final reports from assigned court committees dating from 2000 forward to state leadership and legislative committees for use in legislative interim projects.

• Mandates biennial full audit reviews of the state courts system and the Judicial Qualifications Commission by the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability, with reports due within one year to legislative leadership, the Governor, and the Chief Justice.

• Increases the Judicial Qualifications Commission membership from 13 to 15 members; requires hiring of separate staff for each commission panel including citizen committees to prepare suggestions and comments, which become public records; establishes special divisions of circuit courts for unified family courts, teen courts, and drug and mental health courts.