FL S0220

Defines "minor" as a person younger than 16 years of age for purposes of firearm storage requirements.

Requires persons storing or leaving loaded firearms on premises under their control to keep them in a securely locked box or container or secured with a trigger lock if a minor is likely to gain unsupervised access without parental permission.

Removes previous exemption allowing firearms to be kept within close proximity to a person's body instead of locked storage.

Changes violation from conditional offense (only when minor gains access and possesses firearm) to strict liability misdemeanor of the second degree for any violation of safe storage requirements.

Requires child-placing agencies to provide prospective adoptive applicants with written acknowledgment of receipt of the firearm safe storage law (s. 790.174) verbatim during home studies.

Effective date: July 1, 2022.