HB 477 Summary

• Increases Florida Bar-appointed members from 3 to 4 and Governor-appointed members from 3 to 5 on judicial nominating commissions, with requirement that at least 2 Governor appointees be attorneys

• Terminates all commission members' terms effective July 1, 2018, and establishes staggered 4-year terms with initial appointments ending July 1, 2019, 2020, and 2021

• Limits commission members to serving no more than 2 full terms and prohibits members from holding elective or appointive political office while serving

• Requires appointing authorities to consider diversity attributes including ethnicity, race, disability, veteran status, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation when making appointments, and mandates annual collection and release of demographic data on members and applicants

• Requires all new commission members to complete an educational course within 6 months covering procedural rules and implicit bias training, and establishes conflict-of-interest voting restrictions for members with personal or business relationships to applicants