FL S0988

Adds and revises numerous definitions in Florida's securities law, including "branch manager," "corporation," "director," "general partner," "limited liability company," "limited partner," "partnership," and "trust" to clarify terminology used throughout the chapter

Expands the list of institutional buyers exempt from securities registration requirements to include savings and loan associations, credit unions, federal covered advisers, small business investment companies, family offices with over $5 million in assets, and entities where all equity owners are themselves exempt institutional buyers

Overhauls fingerprint submission requirements for securities registration applicants, specifying that natural persons who are associated persons, key officers (president, CEO, CFO, etc.), directors, and owners of 5% or more of a dealer, investment adviser, or intermediary must submit fingerprints for live-scan processing, with costs borne by the person subject to the background check

Revises merger and acquisition broker provisions by redefining "control person" to use a 25% ownership threshold (up from 20%), expanding the list of conditions that disqualify a broker from the registration exemption to include providing deal financing, representing both parties without disclosure, and facilitating transactions with passive buyer groups

Extends the maximum delay period a dealer or investment adviser may place on a disbursement or transaction to protect a specified adult from financial exploitation from 10 to 30 additional business days, and expands Securities Guaranty Fund eligibility to include beneficiaries of restitution orders in addition to final judgment creditors