FL H7017

HB 7017 is a comprehensive reviser's bill amending over 130 sections of Florida Statutes to correct grammatical and typographical errors, update obsolete language, fix incorrect cross-references, and improve statutory clarity, taking effect on the 60th day after adjournment sine die.

Systematically updates terminology throughout the statutes, including renaming the "Guardian ad Litem Program" to the "Statewide Guardian ad Litem Office", correcting "antennae" to "antennas" for electronic equipment references, "phosphorous" to "phosphorus" in environmental standards, "video voyeurism" to "digital voyeurism", and "Containment" to "Contaminant" Level for drinking water violations.

Reenacts and amends s. 394.467 (involuntary mental health services) to resolve a drafting error in ch. 2024-245 that failed to properly publish stricken paragraphs, while correcting internal cross-references for involuntary outpatient services criteria requiring clear and convincing evidence and court orders of up to 6 months.

Reenacts s. 1012.315 (educator screening standards) to resolve conflicting amendments from ch. 2024-132 and ch. 2023-220, confirming disqualification criteria for educator certification including sex offender registry status, background investigation results under s. 435.04(2), and disqualifying criminal acts.

Reenacts s. 569.31 (nicotine product definitions) and s. 895.02(8) (racketeering activity definition) to confirm that provisions inadvertently omitted or affected by prior session laws were not intended to be repealed.

Removes dozens of obsolete provisions, including expired date references (e.g., fiscal years 1996–1998 for primary care challenge grants, initial 2012 reporting dates for the Mark Wandall Traffic Safety Program), and repeals s. 331.370 (space infrastructure improvements from a 2008 appropriation with no remaining funds).

Confirms Florida Retirement System employer contribution rates effective July 1, 2024, restoring percent signs inadvertently stricken by ch. 2024-92, including Regular Class at 4.84%, Special Risk Class at 12.07%, Senior Management at 23.90%, and elected officers ranging from 28.49% to 50.21%.

Corrects numerous erroneous cross-references across the statutes, including fixes in property tax exemption provisions (subsection 7 to subsection 8), vessel definitions (s. 713.78(1)(b) to (1)(h)), the Resiliency and Safe Structures Act (s. 553.79(26) to (25)), condominium official records penalties (s. 718.501(1)(d) to (1)(e)), and GATE Startup Grant Program reporting requirements.

Updates institutional names to reflect current designations, including "Pasco-Hernando Community College" to "Pasco-Hernando State College" and "Tallahassee Community College" to "Tallahassee State College", and adds "former" before "Department of Insurance" to reflect its successor agencies.

Makes editorial and formatting corrections throughout, including removing obsolete effective date language from school library media services (s. 1006.28), school grading components (s. 1008.34), Florida College System tuition provisions (s. 1009.23, with standard tuition at $71.98/credit hour), and the Open Door Grant Program (s. 1009.895), while correcting "automatic" to "automated" external defibrillator in athletic coach certification requirements.