FL S0988

Establishes a Protective Injunction Electronic Filing Pilot Program within the Office of the State Courts Administrator, effective December 31, 2016, operating in three counties of varying sizes selected in consultation with the Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Permits domestic violence victims to electronically file petitions for protective injunctions from remote locations including domestic violence centers, shelters, legal aid organizations, hospitals, and police departments.

Allows petitioners to testify at final injunction hearings via secure video teleconference from remote locations instead of appearing in person at the courthouse.

Requires each pilot program county's clerk of the court to establish electronic filing systems, provide user-friendly software with encryption, train staff, designate remote filing locations, and set up secure video conferencing capabilities.

Mandates annual reports from each county clerk and a comprehensive evaluation report from the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability by December 31, 2019; pilot program expires June 30, 2020.