HB 485 Summary

• Regulates advertising by lawyer and medical referral services that target accident or injury victims, requiring compliance with specific content standards and prohibiting false, misleading, or deceptive communications.

• Requires lawyer referral services to comply with Florida Supreme Court Rules Regulating The Florida Bar, file advertisements with The Florida Bar with signed affidavits, and display a prominent disclaimer stating "This advertisement is by a lawyer referral service. Lawyers may pay this service for referrals..."

• Prohibits referral services from using law enforcement uniforms, badges, or imagery to falsely suggest connections to government agencies, and requires clear disclosure of counties where referred providers have offices.

• Mandates written disclosures of financial interests and relationships between referral services and referred health care providers or attorneys, maintained for 7 years and provided to referred persons within 15 days.

• Establishes civil penalties of $1,000 for first violation and $5,000 for subsequent violations, enforceable by the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services or private parties; makes knowing violations after court findings a second-degree misdemeanor.