CS/HB 963 Summary

• Revises Florida's arbitration law by renaming it the "Revised Florida Arbitration Code" and comprehensively updating Chapter 682, Florida Statutes, effective July 1, 2012.

• Adds new provisions requiring arbitrators to disclose conflicts of interest, establishing immunity protections for arbitrators and arbitration organizations, and allowing courts to order provisional remedies before arbitration begins.

• Modifies arbitration procedures including notice requirements, consolidation of proceedings, discovery rules, and grounds for vacating or modifying awards to align with modern arbitration standards.

• Excludes disputes involving child custody, visitation, or child support from arbitration and removes references to binding arbitration in voluntary trial resolution statutes (s. 44.104).

• Updates cross-references in workers' compensation, construction recovery fund, and probate laws to reference the Revised Florida Arbitration Code and redesignates Chapter 44 as "Alternative Dispute Resolution."