HB 379 Summary

• Increases judicial nominating commission membership from 9 to 13 members: four Florida Bar members (increased from three), five Governor appointees (increased from three), and three public members (unchanged).

• Terminates all current commission members' terms effective July 1, 2021, with new members appointed to staggered terms ending July 1, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

• Limits commission members to serving no more than two full terms on the same commission.

• Requires appointing authorities to consider diversity factors including ethnicity, race, disability, veteran status, gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation when making appointments, and mandates annual collection and public release of demographic data through anonymous surveys.

• Requires each new member to complete an educational course within 6 months covering commission procedures and implicit bias to promote an unbiased nominating process.