CS/HB 1197 - Courts

• Removes requirement that Supreme Court and district court of appeal clerks physically maintain books, records, and materials in their offices; clarifies records must be maintained under clerk control.

• Requires circuit court clerks to collaborate with state courts through Florida Courts Technology Commission to develop a statewide electronic solution for identifying statutory-mandated assessments, with plan due to Legislature by January 1, 2022.

• Establishes automatic inflationary adjustment of county court monetary jurisdictional limit beginning July 1, 2030, with $50,000 base adjusted every 10 years by Consumer Price Index changes and rounded to nearest $5,000.

• Authorizes electronic capture of fingerprints for petit theft, felony, and chapter 796 offense convictions in lieu of in-court manual taking; allows certification by court officers or criminal justice agency employees rather than judges only.

• Extends jury service postponement period to 12 months during declared public health emergencies or states of emergency; effective July 1, 2021.