Bill Text: FL H0735 | 2010 | Regular Session | Introduced


Bill Title: State Judicial System

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2010-04-30 - Died in Committee on Civil Justice & Courts Policy (CCJP) [H0735 Detail]

Download: Florida-2010-H0735-Introduced.html
HB 735
1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to the state judicial system; amending s.
32.01, F.S.; construing application of the common and
4statute laws of England to this state; amending s. 25.382,
5F.S.; revising a definition; expanding the list of
6recipients required to be provided a certain annual report
7of the Florida Supreme Court; specifying a required use of
8such report; requiring the Supreme Court to develop a plan
9for certain civics promotion and judicial branch education
10purposes; requiring an annual plan implementation report;
11specifying report recipients and uses; requiring the
12Supreme Court to submit to certain recipients all final
13reports completed by certain committees; specifying uses
14of such reports; requiring the Auditor General and the
15Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
16Accountability to conduct biennial full audit reviews and
17examinations of the state courts system; requiring
18reports; specifying recipients of the reports; amending s.
1926.012, F.S.; specifying certain additional jurisdiction
20of circuit courts; establishing certain divisions within
21each judicial circuit for certain purposes; providing for
22administration of the divisions; amending s. 43.20, F.S.;
23correcting a cross-reference; increasing membership of the
24Judicial Qualifications Commission; revising expenses
25authorization for the commission; requiring the commission
26to hire staff for each commission panel; providing
27requirements for staff committees for commission panels;
28requiring reports of staff committees; specifying
29recipients of the reports for certain purposes;
30designating such reports as public records; requiring the
31commission to adopt rules; requiring the Auditor General
32and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
33Accountability to conduct biennial full audit reviews and
34examinations of the commission; requiring reports;
35specifying recipients of the reports; specifying
36application of certain provisions; providing an effective
37date.
38
39Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
40
41 Section 1. Section 2.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
42read:
43 2.01 Common law and certain statutes declared in force.-
44 (1) The common and statute laws of England which are of a
45general and not a local nature, with the exception hereinafter
46mentioned, down to the 4th day of July, 1776, are declared to be
47of force in this state to the extent such common and statute
48laws are; provided, the said statutes and common law be not
49inconsistent with the Constitution and laws of the United States
50and the acts of the Legislature of this state.
51 (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), provisions including,
52but not limited to, the following are declared to be of force in
53this state:
54 (a) Those clearly expressed, or obviously and reasonably
55implied without clear expression, in the language and wording of
56the acts of the Legislature.
57 (b) Those that provide for rights and claims in tort
58liability for acts committed directly or indirectly involving
59judicial and administrative proceedings. In such cases,
60litigation privilege or judicial, qualified, or absolute
61immunity and similar privileges and immunities are not and may
62not be considered as viable or valid defenses.
63 (c) Those relating to claims for or defenses of abuse of
64process, malicious prosecution, and fraud upon the court, also
65known as extrinsic fraud, that must be strictly enforced. In
66such cases, litigation privilege or judicial, qualified, or
67absolute immunity and similar privileges and immunities are not
68and may not be considered as viable or valid defenses.
69 (d) Those relating to criminal offenses under 18 U.S.C.
70ss. 241 and 242 and claims under 42 U.S.C. ss. 1983, 1985, 1986,
71and 1988, as prescribed by federal statutes and the decisions of
72the federal courts.
73 Section 2. Subsections (1) and (4) of section 25.382,
74Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (5), (6), and (7)
75are added to that section, to read:
76 25.382 State courts system.-
77 (1) As used in this section, "state courts system" means
78all officers, employees, and divisions of the Supreme Court,
79district courts of appeal, circuit courts, and county courts,
80also known as the judicial branch of state government.
81 (4) The Supreme Court shall ensure that clearly written
82policies, procedures, and goals for the recruitment, selection,
83promotion, and retention of minorities, including minority
84women, are established throughout all levels of the judicial
85system. An annual report shall be submitted to the Chief Justice
86outlining progress, problems, and corrective actions relating to
87the implementation of this plan shall be submitted to the Chief
88Justice, the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
89Speaker of the House of Representatives. Three copies of the
90report shall be submitted to each legislative substantive and
91appropriations committee having jurisdiction over state courts
92or judicial matters. The report shall be used for legislative
93interim projects.
94 (5) The Supreme Court shall ensure that clearly written
95policies, procedures, and goals are developed into a plan for
96promoting civics for residents of this state, together with
97education concerning the judicial branch in order to develop
98trust and confidence in the state's judicial system. An annual
99report outlining progress, problems, and corrective actions
100relating to the implementation of this plan shall be submitted
101to the Chief Justice, the Governor, the Cabinet, the President
102of the Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
103Three copies of the report shall be submitted to each
104legislative substantive and appropriations committee having
105jurisdiction over state courts or judicial matters. The report
106shall be used for legislative interim projects.
107 (6) The Supreme Court shall submit all final reports
108completed by assigned court committees, whether by rule or
109order, dating from 2000 and thereafter, as follows: one copy
110each to the Governor, the Cabinet, the President of the Senate,
111and the Speaker of the House of Representatives and three copies
112to each legislative substantive and appropriations committee
113having jurisdiction over state courts or judicial matters. The
114reports may be used for legislative interim projects.
115 (7) Pursuant to ss. 11.45(2)(a), 11.51(1), and 11.513(5),
116the Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis
117and Government Accountability shall conduct a full audit review
118and examination of the state courts system and prepare a report
119containing appropriate recommendations. The audit must be
120conducted every 2 years beginning July 1, 2011, in accordance
121with the full authority and responsibilities conferred upon the
122Auditor General and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and
123Government Accountability by general law. The report and
124recommendations must be submitted within 1 year after the audit
125to the chair and vice chair of the Legislative Budget
126Commission, the chair and vice chair of the Legislative Auditing
127Committee, the Governor, and the Chief Justice of the Supreme
128Court.
129 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 26.012, Florida
130Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
131section, to read:
132 26.012 Jurisdiction of circuit court.-
133 (1) Circuit courts shall have jurisdiction of appeals from
134county courts except appeals of county court orders or judgments
135declaring invalid a state statute or a provision of the State
136Constitution and except orders or judgments of a county court
137which are certified by the county court to the district court of
138appeal to be of great public importance and which are accepted
139by the district court of appeal for review. Circuit courts shall
140have jurisdiction of interlocutory appeals from orders on
141motions to dismiss, for final dismissal, and for summary
142judgment rendered in cases in which a circuit court has
143exclusive original jurisdiction. Circuit courts shall have
144jurisdiction of appeals from final administrative orders of
145local government code enforcement boards.
146 (6) The following special divisions of judicial circuits
147are created:
148 (a) Unified family courts.-A unified family division is
149established in each judicial circuit for the purpose of
150consolidating cases and integrating subject matter pertaining to
151children and their families who are parties or persons of
152interest in proceedings or matters under chapters 39, 61, and
15363, s. 68.07, and chapters 88, 741, 742, 743, 984, 985, and
1541003. Each judicial circuit shall administer the division as
155prescribed by general law or s. 43.30 for the resolution of
156disputes involving children and families through a fully
157integrated, comprehensive approach that includes coordinated
158case management; the concept of "one family, one judge";
159collaboration with the community for referral to needed
160services; and methods of alternative dispute resolution.
161 (b) Teen courts.-A teen division is established in each
162judicial circuit for the purpose of administering teen courts as
163provided by s. 938.19. Each judicial circuit shall administer
164the division as prescribed by general law or s. 43.30.
165 (c) Drug and mental health courts.-A drug and mental
166health division is established in each judicial circuit for the
167purpose of administering the programs under ss. 394.656,
168394.658, and 397.334. Each judicial circuit shall administer the
169division as prescribed by general law or s. 43.30.
170 Section 4. Subsections (1), (2), and (5) of section 43.20,
171Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsections (6) and (7) are
172added to that section, to read:
173 43.20 Judicial Qualifications Commission.-
174 (1) PURPOSE.-The purpose of this section is to implement
175s. 12(a)(b), Art. V of the State Constitution which provides for
176a Judicial Qualifications Commission.
177 (2) MEMBERSHIP; TERMS.-The commission shall consist of 15
17813 members. The members of the commission shall serve for terms
179of 6 years.
180 (5) EXPENSES.-The compensation of members and their staff
181and referees shall be the travel expense or transportation and
182per diem allowance provided by s. 112.061. Other administrative
183costs and expenses shall be appropriated under the state courts
184system.
185 (6) COMMISSION STAFF.-The commission shall hire separate
186staff for each commission panel, which staff may be compensated
187or may be provided by volunteer services.
188 (a) Staff for each commission panel must consist of at
189least one designated staff committee of five common citizen
190electors to assist and engage in the deliberations for each
191panel of members of the commission in carrying out its powers
192and duties. Such designated staff committee must consist of
193persons who are not considered to be officers of the court. The
194designated staff committee shall prepare a report of suggestions
195or comments.
196 (b) The designated staff committee shall provide a copy of
197the report of its suggestions or comments to:
198 1. The hearing panel upon submission of formal charges by
199the commission's investigative panel to assist the hearing panel
200in its pending proceedings and final recommendations.
201 2. The Supreme Court, together with the recommendations of
202the commission's hearing panel, to assist the Supreme Court in
203its final determination.
204 (c) The reports of the suggestions or comments of the
205designated staff committee shall be public records and available
206upon the final determination of any case rendered by any
207commission panel.
208 (d) The commission shall adopt rules to implement this
209subsection.
210 (7) COMMISSION ACCOUNTABILITY AND EFFICIENCY.-Pursuant to
211ss. 11.45(2)(a), 11.51(1), and 11.513(5), the Auditor General
212and the Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
213Accountability shall conduct a full audit review and examination
214of the commission and prepare a report containing appropriate
215recommendations. The audit must be conducted every 2 years
216commencing July 1, 2011, in accordance with the full authority
217and responsibilities conferred upon the Auditor General and the
218Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability
219by general law. The report and recommendations shall be
220submitted within 1 year after the audit to the chair and vice
221chair of the Legislative Budget Commission, the chair and vice
222chair of the Legislative Auditing Committee, the Governor, and
223the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
224 Section 5. The amendment to section 2.01, Florida
225Statutes, made by this act applies retroactively and
226prospectively.
227 Section 6. This act shall take effect July 1, 2010.
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
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