Bill Text: FL S1416 | 2012 | Regular Session | Comm Sub

NOTE: There are more recent revisions of this legislation. Read Latest Draft
Bill Title: Unemployment Compensation

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (? 2-1)

Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-03-08 - Laid on Table, refer to CS/HB 7027 -SJ 1008 [S1416 Detail]

Download: Florida-2012-S1416-Comm_Sub.html
       Florida Senate - 2012                             CS for SB 1416
       
       
       
       By the Committee on Commerce and Tourism; and Senator Bogdanoff
       
       
       
       
       577-02440A-12                                         20121416c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to unemployment compensation; amending
    3         s. 443.011, F.S.; revising a short title to rename
    4         “unemployment compensation” as “reemployment
    5         assistance”; amending s. 443.012, F.S.; renaming the
    6         Unemployment Appeals Commission as the Reemployment
    7         Assistance Appeals Commission; amending s. 443.036,
    8         F.S.; providing a definition for the term
    9         “reemployment assistance”; revising references to
   10         conform to changes made by the act; amending s.
   11         443.071, F.S.; specifying what constitutes prima facie
   12         evidence that the person claimed and received
   13         reemployment assistance from the state through
   14         transaction history and payment; revising references
   15         to conform to changes made by the act; amending s.
   16         443.091, F.S.; providing scoring requirements relating
   17         to initial skills reviews; providing for workforce
   18         training for certain eligible claimants; requiring the
   19         development and use of best practices; providing
   20         reporting requirements; providing work search
   21         requirements for certain claimants; revising
   22         references to conform to changes made by the act;
   23         providing for the applicability of certain exceptions
   24         relating to benefits based on employment with a
   25         private employer under contract with an educational
   26         institution; amending s. 443.101, F.S.; clarifying how
   27         a disqualification for benefits for fraud is imposed;
   28         revising references to conform to changes made by the
   29         act; amending s. 443.1216, F.S.; providing that
   30         employee leasing companies may make a one-time
   31         election to report leased employees under the
   32         respective unemployment account of each leasing
   33         company client; providing procedures and application
   34         for such election; revising references to conform to
   35         the changes made by the act; amending s. 443.131,
   36         F.S.; prohibiting benefits from being charged to the
   37         employment record of an employer that is forced to lay
   38         off workers as a result of a manmade disaster of
   39         national significance; revising references to conform
   40         to changes made by the act; amending s. 443.151, F.S.;
   41         revising the statute of limitations related to the
   42         collection of unemployment compensation benefits
   43         overpayments; revising references to conform to
   44         changes made by the act; amending s. 443.171, F.S.;
   45         deleting an exemption from public records requirements
   46         for unemployment compensation records and reports;
   47         revising references to conform to changes made by the
   48         act; amending s. 443.1715, F.S.; revising an exemption
   49         from public records requirements for unemployment
   50         compensation records and reports; revising references
   51         to conform to changes made by the act; amending ss.
   52         20.60, 27.52, 40.24, 45.031, 55.204, 57.082, 61.046,
   53         61.1824, 61.30, 69.041, 77.041, 110.205, 110.502,
   54         120.80, 125.9502, 212.096, 213.053, 216.292, 220.03,
   55         220.181, 220.191, 220.194, 222.15, 222.16, 255.20,
   56         288.075, 288.1045, 288.106, 288.1081, 288.1089,
   57         334.30, 408.809, 409.2563, 409.2576, 414.295, 435.06,
   58         440.12, 440.15, 440.381, 440.42, 443.051, 443.111,
   59         443.1113, 443.1116, 443.1215, 443.1312, 443.1313,
   60         443.1315, 443.1316, 443.1317, 443.141, 443.163,
   61         443.17161, 443.181, 443.191, 443.221, 445.009,
   62         445.016, 446.50, 448.110, 450.31, 450.33, 468.529,
   63         553.791, 624.509, 679.4061, 679.4081, 895.02, 896.101,
   64         921.0022, 946.513, 946.523, 985.618, 1003.496,
   65         1008.39, and 1008.41, F.S.; revising references to
   66         conform to changes made by the act; reviving,
   67         readopting, and amending s. 443.1117, F.S., relating
   68         to temporary extended benefits; providing for
   69         retroactive application; providing for applicability
   70         relating to extended benefits for certain weeks and
   71         for periods of high unemployment; providing for
   72         applicability; providing for severability; providing
   73         that the act fulfills an important state interest;
   74         providing effective dates.
   75  
   76  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   77  
   78         Section 1. Section 443.011, Florida Statutes, is amended to
   79  read:
   80         443.011 Short title.—This chapter may be cited as the
   81  “Reemployment Assistance Program Unemployment Compensation Law.”
   82         Section 2. Subsections (1), (3), (10), and (12) of section
   83  443.012, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
   84         443.012 Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals
   85  Commission.—
   86         (1) There is created within the Division of Workforce
   87  Services of the Department of Economic Opportunity a
   88  Reemployment Assistance an Unemployment Appeals Commission. The
   89  commission is composed of a chair and two other members
   90  appointed by the Governor, subject to confirmation by the
   91  Senate. Only one appointee may be a representative of employers,
   92  as demonstrated by his or her previous vocation, employment, or
   93  affiliation; and only one appointee may be a representative of
   94  employees, as demonstrated by his or her previous vocation,
   95  employment, or affiliation.
   96         (a) The chair shall devote his or her entire time to
   97  commission duties and is responsible for the administrative
   98  functions of the commission.
   99         (b) The chair has authority to appoint a general counsel
  100  and other personnel to carry out the duties and responsibilities
  101  of the commission.
  102         (c) The chair must have the qualifications required by law
  103  for a judge of the circuit court and may not engage in any other
  104  business vocation or employment. Notwithstanding any other law,
  105  the chair shall be paid a salary equal to that paid under state
  106  law to a judge of the circuit court.
  107         (d) The remaining members shall be paid a stipend of $100
  108  for each day they are engaged in the work of the commission. The
  109  chair and other members are entitled to be reimbursed for travel
  110  expenses, as provided in s. 112.061.
  111         (e) The total salary and travel expenses of each member of
  112  the commission shall be paid from the Employment Security
  113  Administration Trust Fund.
  114         (3) The commission has all authority, powers, duties, and
  115  responsibilities relating to reemployment assistance
  116  unemployment compensation appeal proceedings under this chapter.
  117         (10) The commission shall have a seal for authenticating
  118  its orders, awards, and proceedings, upon which shall be
  119  inscribed the words “State of Florida-Reemployment Assistance
  120  Unemployment Appeals Commission-Seal,” and it shall be
  121  judicially noticed.
  122         (12) Orders of the commission relating to reemployment
  123  assistance unemployment compensation under this chapter are
  124  subject to review only by notice of appeal to the district
  125  courts of appeal in the manner provided in s. 443.151(4)(e).
  126         Section 3. Subsections (12), (14), and (26) of section
  127  443.036, Florida Statutes, are amended, present subsections (38)
  128  through (46) are renumbered as subsections (39) through (47),
  129  respectively, present subsections (38) and (42) are amended, and
  130  a new subsection (38) is added to that section, to read:
  131         443.036 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
  132         (12) “Commission” means the Reemployment Assistance
  133  Unemployment Appeals Commission.
  134         (14) “Contribution” means a payment of payroll tax to the
  135  Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund which is required under
  136  this chapter to finance reemployment assistance unemployment
  137  benefits.
  138         (26) “Initial skills review” means an online education or
  139  training program, such as that established under s. 1004.99,
  140  that is approved by the Department of Economic Opportunity
  141  Agency for Workforce Innovation and designed to measure an
  142  individual’s mastery level of workplace skills.
  143         (38) “Reemployment assistance” means cash benefits payable
  144  to individuals with respect to their unemployment pursuant to
  145  the provisions of this chapter. Where the context requires,
  146  reemployment assistance also means cash benefits payable to
  147  individuals with respect to their unemployment pursuant to 5
  148  U.S.C. ss. 8501-8525, 26 U.S.C. ss. 3301-3311, 42 U.S.C. ss.
  149  501-504, 1101-1110, and 1321-1324, or pursuant to state laws
  150  which have been certified pursuant to 26 U.S.C. s. 3304 and 42
  151  U.S.C. s. 503. Any reference to reemployment assistance shall
  152  mean compensation payable from an unemployment fund as defined
  153  in 26 U.S.C. s. 3306(f).
  154         (39)(38) “Reimbursement” means a payment of money to the
  155  Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund in lieu of a contribution
  156  which is required under this chapter to finance reemployment
  157  assistance unemployment benefits.
  158         (43)(42) “Tax collection service provider” or “service
  159  provider” means the state agency providing reemployment
  160  assistance unemployment tax collection services under contract
  161  with the Department of Economic Opportunity through an
  162  interagency agreement pursuant to s. 443.1316.
  163         Section 4. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and paragraphs
  164  (b) and (d) of subsection (3) of section 443.051, Florida
  165  Statutes, are amended to read:
  166         443.051 Benefits not alienable; exception, child support
  167  intercept.—
  168         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
  169         (a) “Reemployment assistance” or “unemployment
  170  compensation” means any compensation payable under state law,
  171  including amounts payable pursuant to an agreement under any
  172  federal law providing for compensation, assistance, or
  173  allowances for unemployment.
  174         (3) EXCEPTION, SUPPORT INTERCEPT.—
  175         (b) For support obligations established on or after July 1,
  176  2006, and for support obligations established before July 1,
  177  2006, when the support order does not address the withholding of
  178  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation, the
  179  department shall deduct and withhold 40 percent of the
  180  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation otherwise
  181  payable to an individual disclosed under paragraph (a). If
  182  delinquencies, arrearages, or retroactive support are owed and
  183  repayment has not been ordered, the unpaid amounts are included
  184  in the support obligation and are subject to withholding. If the
  185  amount deducted exceeds the support obligation, the Department
  186  of Revenue shall promptly refund the amount of the excess
  187  deduction to the obligor. For support obligations in effect
  188  before July 1, 2006, if the support order addresses the
  189  withholding of reemployment assistance or unemployment
  190  compensation, the department shall deduct and withhold the
  191  amount ordered by the court or administrative agency that issued
  192  the support order as disclosed by the Department of Revenue.
  193         (d) Any amount deducted and withheld under this subsection
  194  shall for all purposes be treated as if it were paid to the
  195  individual as reemployment assistance or unemployment
  196  compensation and paid by the individual to the Department of
  197  Revenue for support obligations.
  198         Section 5. Subsections (6), (7), and (8) of section
  199  443.071, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  200         443.071 Penalties.—
  201         (6) The entry into evidence of an application for
  202  reemployment assistance unemployment benefits initiated by the
  203  use of the Internet claims program or the interactive voice
  204  response system telephone claims program of the Department of
  205  Economic Opportunity constitutes prima facie evidence of the
  206  establishment of a personal benefit account by or for an
  207  individual if the following information is provided: the
  208  applicant’s name, residence address, date of birth, social
  209  security number, and present or former place of work.
  210         (7) The entry into evidence of a transaction history
  211  generated by a personal identification number, password, or
  212  other identifying code used by the department in establishing
  213  that a certification or claim for one or more weeks of benefits
  214  was made against the benefit account of the individual, together
  215  with documentation that payment was paid by a state warrant made
  216  to the order of the person, or by direct deposit via electronic
  217  means, or department-issued debit card, constitutes prima facie
  218  evidence that the person claimed and received reemployment
  219  assistance unemployment benefits from the state.
  220         (8) All records relating to investigations of reemployment
  221  assistance unemployment compensation fraud in the custody of the
  222  Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax collection service
  223  provider are available for examination by the Department of Law
  224  Enforcement, the state attorneys, or the Office of the Statewide
  225  Prosecutor in the prosecution of offenses under s. 817.568 or in
  226  proceedings brought under this chapter.
  227         Section 6. Paragraphs (c), (d), and (f) of subsection (1)
  228  and subsection (3) of section 443.091, Florida Statutes, are
  229  amended to read:
  230         443.091 Benefit eligibility conditions.—
  231         (1) An unemployed individual is eligible to receive
  232  benefits for any week only if the Department of Economic
  233  Opportunity finds that:
  234         (c) To make continued claims for benefits, she or he is
  235  reporting to the department in accordance with this paragraph
  236  and department agency rules, and participating in an initial
  237  skills review, as directed by the department agency. Department
  238  Agency rules may not conflict with s. 443.111(1)(b) , which
  239  requires that each claimant continue to report regardless of any
  240  pending appeal relating to her or his eligibility or
  241  disqualification for benefits.
  242         1. For each week of unemployment claimed, each report must,
  243  at a minimum, include the name, address, and telephone number of
  244  each prospective employer contacted, or the date the claimant
  245  reported to a one-stop career center, pursuant to paragraph (d).
  246         2. The administrator or operator of the initial skills
  247  review shall notify the department agency when the individual
  248  completes the initial skills review and report the results of
  249  the review to the regional workforce board or the one-stop
  250  career center as directed by the workforce board. The department
  251  shall prescribe a numeric score on the initial skills review
  252  that demonstrates a minimal proficiency in workforce skills. The
  253  department, workforce board, or one-stop career center shall use
  254  the initial skills review to develop a plan for referring
  255  individuals to training and employment opportunities. The
  256  failure of the individual to comply with this requirement will
  257  result in the individual being determined ineligible for
  258  benefits for the week in which the noncompliance occurred and
  259  for any subsequent week of unemployment until the requirement is
  260  satisfied. However, this requirement does not apply if the
  261  individual is able to affirmatively attest to being unable to
  262  complete such review due to illiteracy or a language impediment
  263  or is exempt from the work registration requirement as set forth
  264  in paragraph (b).
  265         3. Any individual that falls below the minimal proficiency
  266  score prescribed by the department in subparagraph 2. on the
  267  initial skills review shall be offered training opportunities
  268  and encouraged to participate in such training at no cost to the
  269  individual in order to improve his or her workforce skills to
  270  the minimal proficiency level.
  271         4. The department shall coordinate with Workforce Florida,
  272  Inc., the workforce boards, and the one-stop career centers to
  273  identify, develop, and utilize best practices for improving the
  274  skills of individuals who choose to participate in training
  275  opportunities and who have a minimal proficiency score below the
  276  score prescribed in subparagraph 2.
  277         5. The department, in coordination with Workforce Florida,
  278  Inc., the workforce boards, and the one-stop career centers,
  279  shall evaluate the use, effectiveness, and costs associated with
  280  the training prescribed in subparagraph 3. and report its
  281  findings and recommendations for training and the use of best
  282  practices to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the
  283  Speaker of the House of Representatives by January 1, 2013.
  284         (d) She or he is able to work and is available for work. In
  285  order to assess eligibility for a claimed week of unemployment,
  286  the department shall develop criteria to determine a claimant’s
  287  ability to work and availability for work. A claimant must be
  288  actively seeking work in order to be considered available for
  289  work. This means engaging in systematic and sustained efforts to
  290  find work, including contacting at least five prospective
  291  employers for each week of unemployment claimed. The department
  292  agency may require the claimant to provide proof of such efforts
  293  to the one-stop career center as part of reemployment services.
  294  The department agency shall conduct random reviews of work
  295  search information provided by claimants. As an alternative to
  296  contacting at least five prospective employers for any week of
  297  unemployment claimed, a claimant may, for that same week, report
  298  in person to a one-stop career center to meet with a
  299  representative of the center and access reemployment services of
  300  the center. The center shall keep a record of the services or
  301  information provided to the claimant and shall provide the
  302  records to the department agency upon request by the department
  303  agency. However:
  304         1. Notwithstanding any other provision of this paragraph or
  305  paragraphs (b) and (e), an otherwise eligible individual may not
  306  be denied benefits for any week because she or he is in training
  307  with the approval of the department, or by reason of s.
  308  443.101(2) relating to failure to apply for, or refusal to
  309  accept, suitable work. Training may be approved by the
  310  department in accordance with criteria prescribed by rule. A
  311  claimant’s eligibility during approved training is contingent
  312  upon satisfying eligibility conditions prescribed by rule.
  313         2. Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, an
  314  otherwise eligible individual who is in training approved under
  315  s. 236(a)(1) of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended, may not be
  316  determined ineligible or disqualified for benefits due to
  317  enrollment in such training or because of leaving work that is
  318  not suitable employment to enter such training. As used in this
  319  subparagraph, the term “suitable employment” means work of a
  320  substantially equal or higher skill level than the worker’s past
  321  adversely affected employment, as defined for purposes of the
  322  Trade Act of 1974, as amended, the wages for which are at least
  323  80 percent of the worker’s average weekly wage as determined for
  324  purposes of the Trade Act of 1974, as amended.
  325         3. Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, an
  326  otherwise eligible individual may not be denied benefits for any
  327  week because she or he is before any state or federal court
  328  pursuant to a lawfully issued summons to appear for jury duty.
  329         4. Union members who customarily obtain employment through
  330  a union hiring hall may satisfy the work search requirements of
  331  this paragraph by reporting daily to their union hall.
  332         5. The work search requirements of this paragraph do not
  333  apply to persons who are unemployed as a result of a temporary
  334  layoff or who are claiming benefits under an approved short-time
  335  compensation plan as provided in s. 443.1116.
  336         6. In small counties as defined in s. 120.52(19), a
  337  claimant engaging in systematic and sustained efforts to find
  338  work must contact at least three prospective employers for each
  339  week of unemployment claimed.
  340         (f) She or he has been unemployed for a waiting period of 1
  341  week. A week may not be counted as a waiting week of
  342  unemployment under this subsection only if unless:
  343         1. It occurs within the benefit year that includes the week
  344  for which she or he claims payment of benefits;.
  345         2. Benefits have not been paid for that week; and.
  346         3. The individual was eligible for benefits for that week
  347  as provided in this section and s. 443.101, except for the
  348  requirements of this subsection and s. 443.101(5).
  349         (3) Benefits based on service in employment described in s.
  350  443.1216(2) and (3) are payable in the same amount, on the same
  351  terms, and subject to the same conditions as benefits payable
  352  based on other service subject to this chapter, except that:
  353         (a) Benefits are not payable for services in an
  354  instructional, research, or principal administrative capacity
  355  for an educational institution or an institution of higher
  356  education for any week of unemployment commencing during the
  357  period between 2 successive academic years; during a similar
  358  period between two regular terms, whether or not successive; or
  359  during a period of paid sabbatical leave provided for in the
  360  individual’s contract, to any individual, if the individual
  361  performs those services in the first of those academic years or
  362  terms and there is a contract or a reasonable assurance that the
  363  individual will perform services in any such capacity for any
  364  educational institution or institution of higher education in
  365  the second of those academic years or terms.
  366         (b) Benefits may not be based on services in any other
  367  capacity for an educational institution or an institution of
  368  higher education to any individual for any week that commences
  369  during a period between 2 successive academic years or terms if
  370  the individual performs those services in the first of the
  371  academic years or terms and there is a reasonable assurance that
  372  the individual will perform those services in the second of the
  373  academic years or terms. However, if compensation is denied to
  374  any individual under this paragraph and the individual was not
  375  offered an opportunity to perform those services for the
  376  educational institution for the second of those academic years
  377  or terms, that individual is entitled to a retroactive payment
  378  of compensation for each week for which the individual filed a
  379  timely claim for compensation and for which compensation was
  380  denied solely by reason of this paragraph.
  381         (c) Benefits are not payable based on services provided to
  382  an educational institution or institution of higher learning to
  383  any individual for any week that commences during an established
  384  and customary vacation period or holiday recess if the
  385  individual performs any services described in paragraph (a) or
  386  paragraph (b) in the period immediately before the vacation
  387  period or holiday recess and there is a reasonable assurance
  388  that the individual will perform any service in the period
  389  immediately after the vacation period or holiday recess.
  390         (d) Benefits are not payable for services in any capacity
  391  specified in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) to any individual who
  392  performed those services in an educational institution while in
  393  the employ of a governmental agency or governmental entity that
  394  is established and operated exclusively for the purpose of
  395  providing those services to one or more educational
  396  institutions.
  397         (e) Benefits are not payable for services in any capacity
  398  specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c), and (d) to any individual
  399  who provided those services to or on behalf of an educational
  400  institution, or an institution of higher education.
  401         (f)Beginning July 1, 2013, paragraphs (a)-(e) apply to any
  402  individual who provided services for an educational institution
  403  while in the employ of a private employer holding a contractual
  404  relationship with such educational institution, but only if at
  405  least 75 percent of the individual’s base period wages with the
  406  private employer are attributable to services performed in an
  407  educational institution.
  408         (g)(f) As used in this subsection, the term:
  409         1. “Fixed contract” means a written agreement of employment
  410  for a specified period of time.
  411         2. “Continuing contract” means a written agreement that is
  412  automatically renewed until terminated by one of the parties to
  413  the contract.
  414         Section 7. Subsections (5), (6), (9), and (11) and
  415  paragraph (b) of subsection (10) of section 443.101, Florida
  416  Statutes, are amended to read:
  417         443.101 Disqualification for benefits.—An individual shall
  418  be disqualified for benefits:
  419         (5) For any week with respect to which or a part of which
  420  he or she has received or is seeking reemployment assistance or
  421  unemployment benefits under a reemployment assistance or an
  422  unemployment compensation law of another state or of the United
  423  States. For the purposes of this subsection, a reemployment
  424  assistance or an unemployment compensation law of the United
  425  States is any law of the United States which provides for
  426  payment of any type and in any amounts for periods of
  427  unemployment due to lack of work. However, if the appropriate
  428  agency of the other state or of the United States finally
  429  determines that he or she is not entitled to reemployment
  430  assistance or unemployment benefits, this disqualification does
  431  not apply.
  432         (6) For a period not to exceed 1 year from the date of the
  433  discovery by the Department of Economic Opportunity of the
  434  making of any false or fraudulent representation for the purpose
  435  of obtaining benefits contrary to this chapter, constituting a
  436  violation under s. 443.071. The disqualification imposed under
  437  this subsection shall begin with the week in which the false or
  438  fraudulent representation is made and shall continue for a
  439  period not to exceed 1 year after the date the Department of
  440  Economic Opportunity discovers the false or fraudulent
  441  representation and until any overpayment of benefits resulting
  442  from such representation has been repaid in full. This
  443  disqualification may be appealed in the same manner as any other
  444  disqualification imposed under this section. A conviction by any
  445  court of competent jurisdiction in this state of the offense
  446  prohibited or punished by s. 443.071 is conclusive upon the
  447  appeals referee and the commission of the making of the false or
  448  fraudulent representation for which disqualification is imposed
  449  under this section.
  450         (9) If the individual was terminated from his or her work
  451  as follows:
  452         (a) If the Department of Economic Opportunity or the
  453  Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals Commission finds
  454  that the individual was terminated from work for violation of
  455  any criminal law, under any jurisdiction, which was in
  456  connection with his or her work, and the individual was
  457  convicted, or entered a plea of guilty or nolo contendere, the
  458  individual is not entitled to reemployment assistance
  459  unemployment benefits for up to 52 weeks, pursuant to rules
  460  adopted by the department, and until he or she has earned income
  461  of at least 17 times his or her weekly benefit amount. If,
  462  before an adjudication of guilt, an admission of guilt, or a
  463  plea of nolo contendere, the employer proves by competent
  464  substantial evidence to the department that the arrest was due
  465  to a crime against the employer or the employer’s business,
  466  customers, or invitees, the individual is not entitled to
  467  reemployment assistance unemployment benefits.
  468         (b) If the department or the Reemployment Assistance
  469  Unemployment Appeals Commission finds that the individual was
  470  terminated from work for any dishonest act in connection with
  471  his or her work, the individual is not entitled to reemployment
  472  assistance unemployment benefits for up to 52 weeks, pursuant to
  473  rules adopted by the department, and until he or she has earned
  474  income of at least 17 times his or her weekly benefit amount. If
  475  the employer terminates an individual as a result of a dishonest
  476  act in connection with his or her work and the department finds
  477  misconduct in connection with his or her work, the individual is
  478  not entitled to reemployment assistance unemployment benefits.
  479  
  480  If an individual is disqualified for benefits, the account of
  481  the terminating employer, if the employer is in the base period,
  482  is noncharged at the time the disqualification is imposed.
  483         (10) Subject to the requirements of this subsection, if the
  484  claim is made based on the loss of employment as a leased
  485  employee for an employee leasing company or as a temporary
  486  employee for a temporary help firm.
  487         (b) A temporary or leased employee is deemed to have
  488  voluntarily quit employment and is disqualified for benefits
  489  under subparagraph (1)(a)1. if, upon conclusion of his or her
  490  latest assignment, the temporary or leased employee, without
  491  good cause, failed to contact the temporary help or employee
  492  leasing firm for reassignment, if the employer advised the
  493  temporary or leased employee at the time of hire and that the
  494  leased employee is notified also at the time of separation that
  495  he or she must report for reassignment upon conclusion of each
  496  assignment, regardless of the duration of the assignment, and
  497  that reemployment assistance unemployment benefits may be denied
  498  for failure to report. For purposes of this section, the time of
  499  hire for a day laborer is upon his or her acceptance of the
  500  first assignment following completion of an employment
  501  application with the labor pool. The labor pool as defined in s.
  502  448.22(1) must provide notice to the temporary employee upon
  503  conclusion of the latest assignment that work is available the
  504  next business day and that the temporary employee must report
  505  for reassignment the next business day. The notice must be given
  506  by means of a notice printed on the paycheck, written notice
  507  included in the pay envelope, or other written notification at
  508  the conclusion of the current assignment.
  509         (11) If an individual is discharged from employment for
  510  drug use as evidenced by a positive, confirmed drug test as
  511  provided in paragraph (1)(d), or is rejected for offered
  512  employment because of a positive, confirmed drug test as
  513  provided in paragraph (2)(c), test results and chain of custody
  514  documentation provided to the employer by a licensed and
  515  approved drug-testing laboratory is self-authenticating and
  516  admissible in reemployment assistance unemployment compensation
  517  hearings, and such evidence creates a rebuttable presumption
  518  that the individual used, or was using, controlled substances,
  519  subject to the following conditions:
  520         (a) To qualify for the presumption described in this
  521  subsection, an employer must have implemented a drug-free
  522  workplace program under ss. 440.101 and 440.102, and must submit
  523  proof that the employer has qualified for the insurance
  524  discounts provided under s. 627.0915, as certified by the
  525  insurance carrier or self-insurance unit. In lieu of these
  526  requirements, an employer who does not fit the definition of
  527  “employer” in s. 440.102 may qualify for the presumption if the
  528  employer is in compliance with equivalent or more stringent
  529  drug-testing standards established by federal law or regulation.
  530         (b) Only laboratories licensed and approved as provided in
  531  s. 440.102(9), or as provided by equivalent or more stringent
  532  licensing requirements established by federal law or regulation
  533  may perform the drug tests.
  534         (c) Disclosure of drug test results and other information
  535  pertaining to drug testing of individuals who claim or receive
  536  compensation under this chapter shall be governed by s.
  537  443.1715.
  538         Section 8. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1), subsection (2),
  539  and paragraph (a) of subsection (5) of section 443.111, Florida
  540  Statutes, are amended to read:
  541         443.111 Payment of benefits.—
  542         (1) MANNER OF PAYMENT.—Benefits are payable from the fund
  543  in accordance with rules adopted by the Department of Economic
  544  Opportunity, subject to the following requirements:
  545         (b) As required under s. 443.091(1), each claimant must
  546  report at least biweekly to receive reemployment assistance
  547  unemployment benefits and to attest to the fact that she or he
  548  is able and available for work, has not refused suitable work,
  549  is seeking work and has met the requirements of s. 443.091(d).
  550  contacted at least five prospective employers or reported in
  551  person to a one-stop career center for reemployment services for
  552  each week of unemployment claimed, and, if she or he has worked,
  553  to report earnings from that work. Each claimant must continue
  554  to report regardless of any appeal or pending appeal relating to
  555  her or his eligibility or disqualification for benefits.
  556         (2) QUALIFYING REQUIREMENTS.—To establish a benefit year
  557  for reemployment assistance unemployment benefits, an individual
  558  must have:
  559         (a) Wage credits in two or more calendar quarters of the
  560  individual’s base period.
  561         (b) Minimum total base period wage credits equal to the
  562  high quarter wages multiplied by 1.5, but at least $3,400 in the
  563  base period.
  564         (5) DURATION OF BENEFITS.—
  565         (a) As used in this section, the term “Florida average
  566  unemployment rate” means the average of the 3 months for the
  567  most recent third calendar year quarter of the seasonally
  568  adjusted statewide unemployment rates as published by the
  569  Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for Workforce
  570  Innovation.
  571         Section 9. Section 443.1113, Florida Statutes, is amended
  572  to read:
  573         443.1113 Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Compensation
  574  Claims and Benefits Information System.—
  575         (1) To the extent that funds are appropriated for each
  576  phase of the Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Compensation
  577  Claims and Benefits Information System by the Legislature, the
  578  Department of Economic Opportunity shall replace and enhance the
  579  functionality provided in the following systems with an
  580  integrated Internet-based system that is known as the
  581  “Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Compensation Claims and
  582  Benefits Information System”:
  583         (a) Claims and benefit mainframe system.
  584         (b) Florida unemployment Internet direct.
  585         (c) Florida continued claim Internet directory.
  586         (d) Call center interactive voice response system.
  587         (e) Benefit overpayment screening system.
  588         (f) Internet and Intranet appeals system.
  589         (2) The Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Compensation
  590  Claims and Benefits System shall accomplish the following main
  591  business objectives:
  592         (a) Wherever cost-effective and operationally feasible,
  593  eliminate or automate existing paper processes and enhance any
  594  existing automated workflows in order to expedite customer
  595  transactions and eliminate redundancy.
  596         (b) Enable online, self-service access to claimant and
  597  employer information and federal and state reporting.
  598         (c) Integrate benefit payment control with the adjudication
  599  program and collection system in order to improve the detection
  600  of fraud.
  601         (d) Comply with all requirements established in federal and
  602  state law for reemployment assistance unemployment compensation.
  603         (e) Integrate with the Department of Revenue’s statewide
  604  unified tax system that collects reemployment assistance
  605  unemployment compensation taxes.
  606         (3) The scope of the Reemployment Assistance Unemployment
  607  Compensation Claims and Benefits Information System does not
  608  include any of the following functionalities:
  609         (a) Collection of reemployment assistance unemployment
  610  compensation taxes.
  611         (b) General ledger, financial management, or budgeting
  612  capabilities.
  613         (c) Human resource planning or management capabilities.
  614         (4) The project to implement the Reemployment Assistance
  615  Unemployment Compensation Claims and Benefits Information System
  616  shall be comprised of the following phases and corresponding
  617  implementation timeframes:
  618         (a) No later than the end of fiscal year 2009-2010
  619  completion of the business re-engineering analysis and
  620  documentation of both the detailed system requirements and the
  621  overall system architecture.
  622         (b) The Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Claims and
  623  Benefits Internet portal that replaces the Florida Unemployment
  624  Internet Direct and the Florida Continued Claims Internet
  625  Directory systems, the Call Center Interactive Voice Response
  626  System, the Benefit Overpayment Screening System, the Internet
  627  and Intranet Appeals System, and the Claims and Benefits
  628  Mainframe System shall be deployed to full operational status no
  629  later than the end of fiscal year 2012-2013.
  630         (5) The Department of Economic Opportunity shall implement
  631  the following project governance structure until such time as
  632  the project is completed, suspended, or terminated:
  633         (a) The project sponsor for the Reemployment Assistance
  634  Unemployment Compensation Claims and Benefits Information System
  635  project is the department.
  636         (b) The project shall be governed by an executive steering
  637  committee composed of the following voting members or their
  638  designees:
  639         1. The executive director of the department.
  640         2. The executive director of the Department of Revenue.
  641         3. The director of the Division of Workforce Services
  642  within the department.
  643         4. The program director of the General Tax Administration
  644  Program Office within the Department of Revenue.
  645         5. The chief information officer of the department.
  646         (c) The executive steering committee has the overall
  647  responsibility for ensuring that the project meets its primary
  648  objectives and is specifically responsible for:
  649         1. Providing management direction and support to the
  650  project management team.
  651         2. Assessing the project’s alignment with the strategic
  652  goals of the department for administering the reemployment
  653  assistance unemployment compensation program.
  654         3. Reviewing and approving or disapproving any changes to
  655  the project’s scope, schedule, and costs.
  656         4. Reviewing, approving or disapproving, and determining
  657  whether to proceed with any major project deliverables.
  658         5. Recommending suspension or termination of the project to
  659  the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the Speaker of
  660  the House of Representatives if it determines that the primary
  661  objectives cannot be achieved.
  662         (d) The project management team shall work under the
  663  direction of the executive steering committee and shall be
  664  minimally comprised of senior managers and stakeholders from the
  665  department and the Department of Revenue. The project management
  666  team is responsible for:
  667         1. Providing daily planning, management, and oversight of
  668  the project.
  669         2. Submitting an operational work plan and providing
  670  quarterly updates to that plan to the executive steering
  671  committee. The plan must specify project milestones,
  672  deliverables, and expenditures.
  673         3. Submitting written monthly project status reports to the
  674  executive steering committee which include:
  675         a. Planned versus actual project costs;
  676         b. An assessment of the status of major milestones and
  677  deliverables;
  678         c. Identification of any issues requiring resolution, the
  679  proposed resolution for these issues, and information regarding
  680  the status of the resolution;
  681         d. Identification of risks that must be managed; and
  682         e. Identification of and recommendations regarding
  683  necessary changes in the project’s scope, schedule, or costs.
  684  All recommendations must be reviewed by project stakeholders
  685  before submission to the executive steering committee in order
  686  to ensure that the recommendations meet required acceptance
  687  criteria.
  688         Section 10. Paragraph (b) of subsection (8) of section
  689  443.1116, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  690         443.1116 Short-time compensation.—
  691         (8) EFFECT OF SHORT-TIME COMPENSATION BENEFITS RELATING TO
  692  THE PAYMENT OF REGULAR AND EXTENDED BENEFITS.—
  693         (b) An individual who receives all of the short-time
  694  compensation or combined reemployment assistance or unemployment
  695  compensation and short-time compensation available in a benefit
  696  year is considered an exhaustee for purposes of the extended
  697  benefits program in s. 443.1115 and, if otherwise eligible under
  698  those provisions, is eligible to receive extended benefits.
  699         Section 11. Subsection (3) of section 443.1215, Florida
  700  Statutes, is amended to read:
  701         443.1215 Employers.—
  702         (3) An employing unit that fails to keep the records of
  703  employment required by this chapter and by the rules of the
  704  Department of Economic Opportunity and the state agency
  705  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
  706  services is presumed to be an employer liable for the payment of
  707  contributions under this chapter, regardless of the number of
  708  individuals employed by the employing unit. However, the tax
  709  collection service provider shall make written demand that the
  710  employing unit keep and maintain required payroll records. The
  711  demand must be made at least 6 months before assessing
  712  contributions against an employing unit determined to be an
  713  employer that is subject to this chapter solely by reason of
  714  this subsection.
  715         Section 12. Paragraphs (a) and (d) of subsection (1),
  716  subsections (8) and (12), and paragraphs (f), (h), and (p) of
  717  subsection (13) of section 443.1216, Florida Statutes, are
  718  amended to read:
  719         443.1216 Employment.—Employment, as defined in s. 443.036,
  720  is subject to this chapter under the following conditions:
  721         (1)(a) The employment subject to this chapter includes a
  722  service performed, including a service performed in interstate
  723  commerce, by:
  724         1. An officer of a corporation.
  725         2. An individual who, under the usual common-law rules
  726  applicable in determining the employer-employee relationship, is
  727  an employee. However, whenever a client, as defined in s.
  728  443.036(18), which would otherwise be designated as an employing
  729  unit has contracted with an employee leasing company to supply
  730  it with workers, those workers are considered employees of the
  731  employee leasing company. An employee leasing company may lease
  732  corporate officers of the client to the client and other workers
  733  to the client, except as prohibited by regulations of the
  734  Internal Revenue Service. Employees of an employee leasing
  735  company must be reported under the employee leasing company’s
  736  tax identification number and contribution rate for work
  737  performed for the employee leasing company.
  738         a. However, except for the internal employees of an
  739  employee leasing company, each employee leasing company may make
  740  a separate one-time election to report and pay contributions
  741  under the tax identification number and contribution rate for
  742  each client of the employee leasing company. Under the client
  743  method, an employee leasing company choosing this option must
  744  assign leased employees to the client company that is leasing
  745  the employees. The client method is solely a method to report
  746  and pay unemployment contributions and whichever method is
  747  chosen, such election may not impact any other aspect of state
  748  law. An employee leasing company that elects the client method
  749  must pay contributions at the rates assigned to each client
  750  company.
  751         (I)The election applies to all of the employee leasing
  752  company’s current and future clients.
  753         (II)The employee leasing company must notify the
  754  Department of Revenue of its election by July 1, 2012, and such
  755  election applies to reports and contributions for the first
  756  quarter of the following calendar year. The notification must
  757  include:
  758         (A)A list of each client company and the unemployment
  759  account number or, if one has not yet been issued, the federal
  760  employment identification number, as established by the employee
  761  leasing company upon the election to file by client method;
  762         (B)A list of each client company’s current and previous
  763  employees and their respective social security numbers for the
  764  prior 3 state fiscal years or, if the client company has not
  765  been a client for the prior 3 state fiscal years, such portion
  766  of the prior 3 state fiscal years that the client company has
  767  been a client must be supplied;
  768         (C)The wage data and benefit charges associated with each
  769  client company for the prior 3 state fiscal years or, if the
  770  client company has not been a client for the prior 3 state
  771  fiscal years, such portion of the prior 3 state fiscal years
  772  that the client company has been a client must be supplied. If
  773  the client company’s employment record is chargeable with
  774  benefits for less than 8 calendar quarters while being a client
  775  of the employee leasing company, the client company must pay
  776  contributions at the initial rate of 2.7 percent; and
  777         (D) The wage data and benefit charges for the prior 3 state
  778  fiscal years that cannot be associated with a client company
  779  must be reported and charged to the employee leasing company.
  780         (III)Subsequent to choosing the client method, the
  781  employee leasing company may not change its reporting method.
  782         (IV)The employee leasing company shall file a Florida
  783  Department of Revenue Employer’s Quarterly Report for each
  784  client company by approved electronic means, and pay all
  785  contributions by approved electronic means.
  786         (V)For the purposes of calculating experience rates when
  787  the client method is chosen, each client’s own benefit charges
  788  and wage data experience while with the employee leasing company
  789  determines each client’s tax rate where the client has been a
  790  client of the employee leasing company for at least 8 calendar
  791  quarters before the election. The client company shall continue
  792  to report the nonleased employees under its tax rate.
  793         (VI) The election is binding on each client of the employee
  794  leasing company, for as long as a written agreement is in effect
  795  between the client and the employee leasing company pursuant to
  796  s. 468.525(3)(a). If the relationship between the employee
  797  leasing company and the client terminates, the client retains
  798  the wage and benefit history experienced under the employee
  799  leasing company.
  800         (VII) Notwithstanding which election method the employee
  801  leasing company chooses, the applicable client company is an
  802  employing unit for purposes of s. 443.071. The employee leasing
  803  company or any of its officers or agents are liable for any
  804  violation of s. 443.071 engaged in by such persons or entities.
  805  The applicable client company or any of its officers or agents
  806  are liable for any violation of s. 443.071 engaged in by such
  807  persons or entities. The employee leasing company or its
  808  applicable client company are not liable for any violation of s.
  809  443.071 engaged in by the other party or by the other party’s
  810  officers or agents.
  811         (VIII) If an employee leasing company fails to select the
  812  client method of reporting not later than July 1, 2012, the
  813  entity is required to report under the employee leasing
  814  company’s tax identification number and contribution rate.
  815         (IX) After an employee leasing company is licensed pursuant
  816  to part XI of chapter 468, each newly licensed entity has 30
  817  days after the date the license is granted to notify the tax
  818  collection service provider in writing of their selection of the
  819  client method. A newly licensed employee leasing company that
  820  fails to timely select reporting pursuant to the client method
  821  of reporting must report under the employee leasing company’s
  822  tax identification number and contribution rate.
  823         (X) Irrespective of the election, each transfer of trade or
  824  business, including workforce, or a portion thereof, between
  825  employee leasing companies is subject to the provisions of s.
  826  443.131(3)(g) if, at the time of the transfer, there is common
  827  ownership, management, or control between the entities.
  828         b.a. In addition to any other report required to be filed
  829  by law, an employee leasing company shall submit a report to the
  830  Labor Market Statistics Center within the Department of Economic
  831  Opportunity which includes each client establishment and each
  832  establishment of the employee leasing company, or as otherwise
  833  directed by the department. The report must include the
  834  following information for each establishment:
  835         (I) The trade or establishment name;
  836         (II) The former reemployment assistance unemployment
  837  compensation account number, if available;
  838         (III) The former federal employer’s identification number
  839  (FEIN), if available;
  840         (IV) The industry code recognized and published by the
  841  United States Office of Management and Budget, if available;
  842         (V) A description of the client’s primary business activity
  843  in order to verify or assign an industry code;
  844         (VI) The address of the physical location;
  845         (VII) The number of full-time and part-time employees who
  846  worked during, or received pay that was subject to reemployment
  847  assistance unemployment compensation taxes for, the pay period
  848  including the 12th of the month for each month of the quarter;
  849         (VIII) The total wages subject to reemployment assistance
  850  unemployment compensation taxes paid during the calendar
  851  quarter;
  852         (IX) An internal identification code to uniquely identify
  853  each establishment of each client;
  854         (X) The month and year that the client entered into the
  855  contract for services; and
  856         (XI) The month and year that the client terminated the
  857  contract for services.
  858         c.b. The report must shall be submitted electronically or
  859  in a manner otherwise prescribed by the Department of Economic
  860  Opportunity in the format specified by the Bureau of Labor
  861  Statistics of the United States Department of Labor for its
  862  Multiple Worksite Report for Professional Employer
  863  Organizations. The report must be provided quarterly to the
  864  Labor Market Statistics Center within the department, or as
  865  otherwise directed by the department, and must be filed by the
  866  last day of the month immediately after following the end of the
  867  calendar quarter. The information required in sub-sub
  868  subparagraphs b.(X) and (XI) a.(X) and (XI) need be provided
  869  only in the quarter in which the contract to which it relates
  870  was entered into or terminated. The sum of the employment data
  871  and the sum of the wage data in this report must match the
  872  employment and wages reported in the reemployment assistance
  873  unemployment compensation quarterly tax and wage report. A
  874  report is not required for any calendar quarter preceding the
  875  third calendar quarter of 2010.
  876         d.c. The department shall adopt rules as necessary to
  877  administer this subparagraph, and may administer, collect,
  878  enforce, and waive the penalty imposed by s. 443.141(1)(b) for
  879  the report required by this subparagraph.
  880         e.d. For the purposes of this subparagraph, the term
  881  “establishment” means any location where business is conducted
  882  or where services or industrial operations are performed.
  883         3. An individual other than an individual who is an
  884  employee under subparagraph 1. or subparagraph 2., who performs
  885  services for remuneration for any person:
  886         a. As an agent-driver or commission-driver engaged in
  887  distributing meat products, vegetable products, fruit products,
  888  bakery products, beverages other than milk, or laundry or
  889  drycleaning services for his or her principal.
  890         b. As a traveling or city salesperson engaged on a full
  891  time basis in the solicitation on behalf of, and the
  892  transmission to, his or her principal of orders from
  893  wholesalers, retailers, contractors, or operators of hotels,
  894  restaurants, or other similar establishments for merchandise for
  895  resale or supplies for use in the their business operations.
  896  This sub-subparagraph does not apply to an agent-driver or a
  897  commission-driver and does not apply to sideline sales
  898  activities performed on behalf of a person other than the
  899  salesperson’s principal.
  900         4. The services described in subparagraph 3. are employment
  901  subject to this chapter only if:
  902         a. The contract of service contemplates that substantially
  903  all of the services are to be performed personally by the
  904  individual;
  905         b. The individual does not have a substantial investment in
  906  facilities used in connection with the services, other than
  907  facilities used for transportation; and
  908         c. The services are not in the nature of a single
  909  transaction that is not part of a continuing relationship with
  910  the person for whom the services are performed.
  911         (d) If two or more related corporations concurrently employ
  912  the same individual and compensate the individual through a
  913  common paymaster, each related corporation is considered to have
  914  paid wages to the individual only in the amounts actually
  915  disbursed by that corporation to the individual and is not
  916  considered to have paid the wages actually disbursed to the
  917  individual by another of the related corporations. The
  918  department and the state agency providing reemployment
  919  assistance unemployment tax collection services may adopt rules
  920  necessary to administer this paragraph.
  921         1. As used in this paragraph, the term “common paymaster”
  922  means a member of a group of related corporations that disburses
  923  wages to concurrent employees on behalf of the related
  924  corporations and that is responsible for keeping payroll records
  925  for those concurrent employees. A common paymaster is not
  926  required to disburse wages to all the employees of the related
  927  corporations; however, this subparagraph does not apply to wages
  928  of concurrent employees which are not disbursed through a common
  929  paymaster. A common paymaster must pay concurrently employed
  930  individuals under this subparagraph by one combined paycheck.
  931         2. As used in this paragraph, the term “concurrent
  932  employment” means the existence of simultaneous employment
  933  relationships between an individual and related corporations.
  934  Those relationships require the performance of services by the
  935  employee for the benefit of the related corporations, including
  936  the common paymaster, in exchange for wages that, if deductible
  937  for the purposes of federal income tax, are deductible by the
  938  related corporations.
  939         3. Corporations are considered related corporations for an
  940  entire calendar quarter if they satisfy any one of the following
  941  tests at any time during the calendar quarter:
  942         a. The corporations are members of a “controlled group of
  943  corporations” as defined in s. 1563 of the Internal Revenue Code
  944  of 1986 or would be members if s. 1563(a)(4) and (b) did not
  945  apply.
  946         b. In the case of a corporation that does not issue stock,
  947  at least 50 percent of the members of the board of directors or
  948  other governing body of one corporation are members of the board
  949  of directors or other governing body of the other corporation or
  950  the holders of at least 50 percent of the voting power to select
  951  those members are concurrently the holders of at least 50
  952  percent of the voting power to select those members of the other
  953  corporation.
  954         c. At least 50 percent of the officers of one corporation
  955  are concurrently officers of the other corporation.
  956         d. At least 30 percent of the employees of one corporation
  957  are concurrently employees of the other corporation.
  958         4. The common paymaster must report to the tax collection
  959  service provider, as part of the reemployment assistance
  960  unemployment compensation quarterly tax and wage report, the
  961  state reemployment assistance unemployment compensation account
  962  number and name of each related corporation for which concurrent
  963  employees are being reported. Failure to timely report this
  964  information shall result in the related corporations being
  965  denied common paymaster status for that calendar quarter.
  966         5. The common paymaster shall remit also has the primary
  967  responsibility for remitting contributions due under this
  968  chapter for the wages it disburses as the common paymaster. The
  969  common paymaster must compute these contributions as though it
  970  were the sole employer of the concurrently employed individuals.
  971  If a common paymaster fails to timely remit these contributions
  972  or reports, in whole or in part, the common paymaster is remains
  973  liable for the full amount of the unpaid portion of these
  974  contributions. In addition, each of the other related
  975  corporations using the common paymaster is jointly and severally
  976  liable for its appropriate share of these contributions. Each
  977  related corporation’s share equals the greater of:
  978         a. The liability of the common paymaster under this
  979  chapter, after taking into account any contributions made.
  980         b. The liability under this chapter which, notwithstanding
  981  this section, would have existed for the wages from the other
  982  related corporations, reduced by an allocable portion of any
  983  contributions previously paid by the common paymaster for those
  984  wages.
  985         (8) Services not covered under paragraph (7)(b) which are
  986  performed entirely outside of this state, and for which
  987  contributions are not required or paid under a reemployment
  988  assistance or an unemployment compensation law of any other
  989  state or of the Federal Government, are deemed to be employment
  990  subject to this chapter if the individual performing the
  991  services is a resident of this state and the tax collection
  992  service provider approves the election of the employing unit for
  993  whom the services are performed, electing that the entire
  994  service of the individual is deemed to be employment subject to
  995  this chapter.
  996         (12) The employment subject to this chapter includes
  997  services covered by a reciprocal arrangement under s. 443.221
  998  between the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax
  999  collection service provider and the agency charged with the
 1000  administration of another state reemployment assistance or
 1001  unemployment compensation law or a federal reemployment
 1002  assistance or unemployment compensation law, under which all
 1003  services performed by an individual for an employing unit are
 1004  deemed to be performed entirely within this state, if the
 1005  department or its tax collection service provider approved an
 1006  election of the employing unit in which all of the services
 1007  performed by the individual during the period covered by the
 1008  election are deemed to be insured work.
 1009         (13) The following are exempt from coverage under this
 1010  chapter:
 1011         (f) Service performed in the employ of a public employer as
 1012  defined in s. 443.036, except as provided in subsection (2), and
 1013  service performed in the employ of an instrumentality of a
 1014  public employer as described in s. 443.036(36)(b) or (c)
 1015  443.036(35)(b) or (c), to the extent that the instrumentality is
 1016  immune under the United States Constitution from the tax imposed
 1017  by s. 3301 of the Internal Revenue Code for that service.
 1018         (h) Service for which reemployment assistance unemployment
 1019  compensation is payable under a reemployment assistance or an
 1020  unemployment compensation system established by the United
 1021  States Congress, of which this chapter is not a part.
 1022         (p) Service covered by an arrangement between the
 1023  Department of Economic Opportunity, or its tax collection
 1024  service provider, and the agency charged with the administration
 1025  of another state or federal reemployment assistance or
 1026  unemployment compensation law under which all services performed
 1027  by an individual for an employing unit during the period covered
 1028  by the employing unit’s duly approved election is deemed to be
 1029  performed entirely within the other agency’s state or under the
 1030  federal law.
 1031         Section 13. Paragraph (a) and (f) of subsection (3) of
 1032  section 443.131, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1033         443.131 Contributions.—
 1034         (3) VARIATION OF CONTRIBUTION RATES BASED ON BENEFIT
 1035  EXPERIENCE.—
 1036         (a) Employment records.—The regular and short-time
 1037  compensation benefits paid to an eligible individual shall be
 1038  charged to the employment record of each employer who paid the
 1039  individual wages of at least $100 during the individual’s base
 1040  period in proportion to the total wages paid by all employers
 1041  who paid the individual wages during the individual’s base
 1042  period. Benefits may not be charged to the employment record of
 1043  an employer who furnishes part-time work to an individual who,
 1044  because of loss of employment with one or more other employers,
 1045  is eligible for partial benefits while being furnished part-time
 1046  work by the employer on substantially the same basis and in
 1047  substantially the same amount as the individual’s employment
 1048  during his or her base period, regardless of whether this part
 1049  time work is simultaneous or successive to the individual’s lost
 1050  employment. Further, as provided in s. 443.151(3), benefits may
 1051  not be charged to the employment record of an employer who
 1052  furnishes the Department of Economic Opportunity with notice, as
 1053  prescribed in rules of the department, that any of the following
 1054  apply:
 1055         1. If an individual leaves his or her work without good
 1056  cause attributable to the employer or is discharged by the
 1057  employer for misconduct connected with his or her work, benefits
 1058  subsequently paid to the individual based on wages paid by the
 1059  employer before the separation may not be charged to the
 1060  employment record of the employer.
 1061         2. If an individual is discharged by the employer for
 1062  unsatisfactory performance during an initial employment
 1063  probationary period, benefits subsequently paid to the
 1064  individual based on wages paid during the probationary period by
 1065  the employer before the separation may not be charged to the
 1066  employer’s employment record. As used in this subparagraph, the
 1067  term “initial employment probationary period” means an
 1068  established probationary plan that applies to all employees or a
 1069  specific group of employees and that does not exceed 90 calendar
 1070  days following the first day a new employee begins work. The
 1071  employee must be informed of the probationary period within the
 1072  first 7 days of work. The employer must demonstrate by
 1073  conclusive evidence that the individual was separated because of
 1074  unsatisfactory work performance and not because of lack of work
 1075  due to temporary, seasonal, casual, or other similar employment
 1076  that is not of a regular, permanent, and year-round nature.
 1077         3. Benefits subsequently paid to an individual after his or
 1078  her refusal without good cause to accept suitable work from an
 1079  employer may not be charged to the employment record of the
 1080  employer if any part of those benefits are based on wages paid
 1081  by the employer before the individual’s refusal to accept
 1082  suitable work. As used in this subparagraph, the term “good
 1083  cause” does not include distance to employment caused by a
 1084  change of residence by the individual. The department shall
 1085  adopt rules prescribing for the payment of all benefits whether
 1086  this subparagraph applies regardless of whether a
 1087  disqualification under s. 443.101 applies to the claim.
 1088         4. If an individual is separated from work as a direct
 1089  result of a natural disaster declared under the Robert T.
 1090  Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act, 42 U.S.C.
 1091  ss. 5121 et seq., benefits subsequently paid to the individual
 1092  based on wages paid by the employer before the separation may
 1093  not be charged to the employment record of the employer.
 1094         5. If an individual is separated from work as a direct
 1095  result of an oil spill, terrorist attack, or other similar
 1096  disaster of national significance not subject to a declaration
 1097  under the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency
 1098  Assistance Act, benefits subsequently paid to the individual
 1099  based on wages paid by the employer before the separation may
 1100  not be charged to the employment record of the employer.
 1101         (f) Transfer of employment records.—
 1102         1. For the purposes of this subsection, two or more
 1103  employers who are parties to a transfer of business or the
 1104  subject of a merger, consolidation, or other form of
 1105  reorganization, effecting a change in legal identity or form,
 1106  are deemed a single employer and are considered to be one
 1107  employer with a continuous employment record if the tax
 1108  collection service provider finds that the successor employer
 1109  continues to carry on the employing enterprises of all of the
 1110  predecessor employers and that the successor employer has paid
 1111  all contributions required of and due from all of the
 1112  predecessor employers and has assumed liability for all
 1113  contributions that may become due from all of the predecessor
 1114  employers. In addition, an employer may not be considered a
 1115  successor under this subparagraph if the employer purchases a
 1116  company with a lower rate into which employees with job
 1117  functions unrelated to the business endeavors of the predecessor
 1118  are transferred for the purpose of acquiring the low rate and
 1119  avoiding payment of contributions. As used in this paragraph,
 1120  notwithstanding s. 443.036(14), the term “contributions” means
 1121  all indebtedness to the tax collection service provider,
 1122  including, but not limited to, interest, penalty, collection
 1123  fee, and service fee. A successor employer must accept the
 1124  transfer of all of the predecessor employers’ employment records
 1125  within 30 days after the date of the official notification of
 1126  liability by succession. If a predecessor employer has unpaid
 1127  contributions or outstanding quarterly reports, the successor
 1128  employer must pay the total amount with certified funds within
 1129  30 days after the date of the notice listing the total amount
 1130  due. After the total indebtedness is paid, the tax collection
 1131  service provider shall transfer the employment records of all of
 1132  the predecessor employers to the successor employer’s employment
 1133  record. The tax collection service provider shall determine the
 1134  contribution rate of the combined successor and predecessor
 1135  employers upon the transfer of the employment records, as
 1136  prescribed by rule, in order to calculate any change in the
 1137  contribution rate resulting from the transfer of the employment
 1138  records.
 1139         2. Regardless of whether a predecessor employer’s
 1140  employment record is transferred to a successor employer under
 1141  this paragraph, the tax collection service provider shall treat
 1142  the predecessor employer, if he or she subsequently employs
 1143  individuals, as an employer without a previous employment record
 1144  or, if his or her coverage is terminated under s. 443.121, as a
 1145  new employing unit.
 1146         3. The state agency providing reemployment assistance
 1147  unemployment tax collection services may adopt rules governing
 1148  the partial transfer of experience rating when an employer
 1149  transfers an identifiable and segregable portion of his or her
 1150  payrolls and business to a successor employing unit. As a
 1151  condition of each partial transfer, these rules must require the
 1152  following to be filed with the tax collection service provider:
 1153  an application by the successor employing unit, an agreement by
 1154  the predecessor employer, and the evidence required by the tax
 1155  collection service provider to show the benefit experience and
 1156  payrolls attributable to the transferred portion through the
 1157  date of the transfer. These rules must provide that the
 1158  successor employing unit, if not an employer subject to this
 1159  chapter, becomes an employer as of the date of the transfer and
 1160  that the transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s
 1161  employment record is removed from the employment record of the
 1162  predecessor employer. For each calendar year after the date of
 1163  the transfer of the employment record in the records of the tax
 1164  collection service provider, the service provider shall compute
 1165  the contribution rate payable by the successor employer or
 1166  employing unit based on his or her employment record, combined
 1167  with the transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s
 1168  employment record. These rules may also prescribe what
 1169  contribution rates are payable by the predecessor and successor
 1170  employers for the period between the date of the transfer of the
 1171  transferred portion of the predecessor employer’s employment
 1172  record in the records of the tax collection service provider and
 1173  the first day of the next calendar year.
 1174         4. This paragraph does not apply to an employee leasing
 1175  company and client contractual agreement as defined in s.
 1176  443.036, except as provided in s. 443.1216(1)(a)2.a. The tax
 1177  collection service provider shall, if the contractual agreement
 1178  is terminated or the employee leasing company fails to submit
 1179  reports or pay contributions as required by the service
 1180  provider, treat the client as a new employer without previous
 1181  employment record unless the client is otherwise eligible for a
 1182  variation from the standard rate.
 1183         Section 14. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
 1184  443.1312, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1185         443.1312 Reimbursements; nonprofit organizations.—Benefits
 1186  paid to employees of nonprofit organizations shall be financed
 1187  in accordance with this section.
 1188         (2) LIABILITY FOR CONTRIBUTIONS AND ELECTION OF
 1189  REIMBURSEMENT.—A nonprofit organization that is, or becomes,
 1190  subject to this chapter under s. 443.1215(1)(c) or s.
 1191  443.121(3)(a) must pay contributions under s. 443.131 unless it
 1192  elects, in accordance with this subsection, to reimburse the
 1193  Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund for all of the regular
 1194  benefits, short-time compensation benefits, and one-half of the
 1195  extended benefits paid, which are attributable to service in the
 1196  employ of the nonprofit organization, to individuals for weeks
 1197  of unemployment which begin during the effective period of the
 1198  election.
 1199         (d) In accordance with rules adopted by the Department of
 1200  Economic Opportunity or the state agency providing reemployment
 1201  assistance unemployment tax collection services, the tax
 1202  collection service provider shall notify each nonprofit
 1203  organization of any determination of the organization’s status
 1204  as an employer, the effective date of any election the
 1205  organization makes, and the effective date of any termination of
 1206  the election. Each determination is subject to reconsideration,
 1207  appeal, and review under s. 443.141(2)(c).
 1208         Section 15. Subsection (3) and paragraph (a) of subsection
 1209  (4) of section 443.1313, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1210         443.1313 Public employers; reimbursements; election to pay
 1211  contributions.—Benefits paid to employees of a public employer,
 1212  as defined in s. 443.036, based on service described in s.
 1213  443.1216(2) shall be financed in accordance with this section.
 1214         (3) CHANGE OF ELECTION.—Upon electing to be a reimbursing
 1215  or contributing employer under this section, a public employer
 1216  may not change this election for at least 2 calendar years. This
 1217  subsection does not prevent a public employer subject to this
 1218  subsection from changing its election after completing 2
 1219  calendar years under another financing method if the new
 1220  election is timely filed. The state agency providing
 1221  reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection services may
 1222  adopt rules prescribing procedures for changing methods of
 1223  reporting.
 1224         (4) PUBLIC EMPLOYERS REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE UNEMPLOYMENT
 1225  COMPENSATION BENEFIT ACCOUNT.—
 1226         (a) There is established within the Unemployment
 1227  Compensation Trust Fund a Public Employers Reemployment
 1228  Assistance Unemployment Compensation Benefit Account, which must
 1229  be maintained as a separate account within the trust fund. All
 1230  benefits paid to the employees of a public employer that elects
 1231  to become a contributing employer under paragraph (b) must be
 1232  charged to the Public Employers Unemployment Compensation
 1233  Benefit Account.
 1234         Section 16. Subsection (7) of section 443.1315, Florida
 1235  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1236         443.1315 Treatment of Indian tribes.—
 1237         (7) The Department of Economic Opportunity and the state
 1238  agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 1239  collection services shall adopt rules necessary to administer
 1240  this section.
 1241         Section 17. Section 443.1316, Florida Statutes, is amended
 1242  to read:
 1243         443.1316 Reemployment assistance Unemployment tax
 1244  collection services; interagency agreement.—
 1245         (1) The Department of Economic Opportunity shall contract
 1246  with the Department of Revenue, through an interagency
 1247  agreement, to perform the duties of the tax collection service
 1248  provider and provide other reemployment assistance unemployment
 1249  tax collection services under this chapter. Under the
 1250  interagency agreement, the tax collection service provider may
 1251  only implement:
 1252         (a) The provisions of this chapter conferring duties upon
 1253  the tax collection service provider.
 1254         (b) The provisions of law conferring duties upon the
 1255  department which are specifically delegated to the tax
 1256  collection service provider in the interagency agreement.
 1257         (2)(a) The Department of Revenue is considered to be
 1258  administering a revenue law of this state when the department
 1259  implements this chapter, or otherwise provides reemployment
 1260  assistance unemployment tax collection services, under contract
 1261  with the department through the interagency agreement.
 1262         (b) Sections 213.015(1)-(3), (5)-(7), (9)-(19), and (21);
 1263  213.018; 213.025; 213.051; 213.053; 213.0532; 213.0535; 213.055;
 1264  213.071; 213.10; 213.21(4); 213.2201; 213.23; 213.24; 213.25;
 1265  213.27; 213.28; 213.285; 213.34(1), (3), and (4); 213.37;
 1266  213.50; 213.67; 213.69; 213.692; 213.73; 213.733; 213.74; and
 1267  213.757 apply to the collection of reemployment assistance
 1268  unemployment contributions and reimbursements by the Department
 1269  of Revenue unless prohibited by federal law.
 1270         Section 18. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and subsections
 1271  (2) and (3) of section 443.1317, Florida Statutes, are amended
 1272  to read:
 1273         443.1317 Rulemaking authority; enforcement of rules.—
 1274         (1) DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.—
 1275         (a) Except as otherwise provided in s. 443.012, the
 1276  Department of Economic Opportunity has ultimate authority over
 1277  the administration of the Reemployment Assistance Unemployment
 1278  Compensation Program.
 1279         (2) TAX COLLECTION SERVICE PROVIDER.—The state agency
 1280  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
 1281  services under contract with the Department of Economic
 1282  Opportunity through an interagency agreement pursuant to s.
 1283  443.1316 may adopt rules under ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54,
 1284  subject to approval by the department, to administer the
 1285  provisions of law described in s. 443.1316(1)(a) and (b) which
 1286  are within this chapter. These rules must not conflict with the
 1287  rules adopted by the department or with the interagency
 1288  agreement.
 1289         (3) ENFORCEMENT OF RULES.—The Department of Economic
 1290  Opportunity may enforce any rule adopted by the state agency
 1291  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
 1292  services to administer this chapter. The tax collection service
 1293  provider may enforce any rule adopted by the department to
 1294  administer the provisions of law described in s. 443.1316(1)(a)
 1295  and (b).
 1296         Section 19. Paragraphs (b) and (g) of subsection (1),
 1297  paragraph (c) of subsection (2), and paragraphs (c) and (e) of
 1298  subsection (4) of section 443.141, Florida Statutes, are amended
 1299  to read:
 1300         443.141 Collection of contributions and reimbursements.—
 1301         (1) PAST DUE CONTRIBUTIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS; DELINQUENT,
 1302  ERRONEOUS, INCOMPLETE, OR INSUFFICIENT REPORTS.—
 1303         (b) Penalty for delinquent, erroneous, incomplete, or
 1304  insufficient reports.—
 1305         1. An employing unit that fails to file any report required
 1306  by the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax collection
 1307  service provider, in accordance with rules for administering
 1308  this chapter, shall pay to the service provider for each
 1309  delinquent report the sum of $25 for each 30 days or fraction
 1310  thereof that the employing unit is delinquent, unless the
 1311  department agency or its service provider, whichever required
 1312  the report, finds that the employing unit has good reason for
 1313  failing to file the report. The department or its service
 1314  provider may assess penalties only through the date of the
 1315  issuance of the final assessment notice. However, additional
 1316  penalties accrue if the delinquent report is subsequently filed.
 1317         2.a. An employing unit that files an erroneous, incomplete,
 1318  or insufficient report with the department or its tax collection
 1319  service provider shall pay a penalty. The amount of the penalty
 1320  is $50 or 10 percent of any tax due, whichever is greater, but
 1321  no more than $300 per report. The penalty shall be added to any
 1322  tax, penalty, or interest otherwise due.
 1323         b. The department or its tax collection service provider
 1324  shall waive the penalty if the employing unit files an accurate,
 1325  complete, and sufficient report within 30 days after a penalty
 1326  notice is issued to the employing unit. The penalty may not be
 1327  waived pursuant to this subparagraph more than one time during a
 1328  12-month period.
 1329         c. As used in this subsection, the term “erroneous,
 1330  incomplete, or insufficient report” means a report so lacking in
 1331  information, completeness, or arrangement that the report cannot
 1332  be readily understood, verified, or reviewed. Such reports
 1333  include, but are not limited to, reports having missing wage or
 1334  employee information, missing or incorrect social security
 1335  numbers, or illegible entries; reports submitted in a format
 1336  that is not approved by the department or its tax collection
 1337  service provider; and reports showing gross wages that do not
 1338  equal the total of the wages of each employee. However, the term
 1339  does not include a report that merely contains inaccurate data
 1340  that was supplied to the employer by the employee, if the
 1341  employer was unaware of the inaccuracy.
 1342         3. Penalties imposed pursuant to this paragraph shall be
 1343  deposited in the Special Employment Security Administration
 1344  Trust Fund.
 1345         4. The penalty and interest for a delinquent, erroneous,
 1346  incomplete, or insufficient report may be waived if the penalty
 1347  or interest is inequitable. The provisions of s. 213.24(1) apply
 1348  to any penalty or interest that is imposed under this section.
 1349         (g) Adoption of rules.—The department and the state agency
 1350  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
 1351  services may adopt rules to administer this subsection.
 1352         (2) REPORTS, CONTRIBUTIONS, APPEALS.—
 1353         (c) Appeals.—The department and the state agency providing
 1354  reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection services
 1355  shall adopt rules prescribing the procedures for an employing
 1356  unit determined to be an employer to file an appeal and be
 1357  afforded an opportunity for a hearing on the determination.
 1358  Pending a hearing, the employing unit must file reports and pay
 1359  contributions in accordance with s. 443.131.
 1360         (4) MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS FOR COLLECTION OF
 1361  CONTRIBUTIONS AND REIMBURSEMENTS.—
 1362         (c) Any agent or employee designated by the Department of
 1363  Economic Opportunity or its tax collection service provider may
 1364  administer an oath to any person for any return or report
 1365  required by this chapter or by the rules of the department or
 1366  the state agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment
 1367  tax collection services, and an oath made before the department
 1368  or its service provider or any authorized agent or employee has
 1369  the same effect as an oath made before any judicial officer or
 1370  notary public of the state.
 1371         (e) The tax collection service provider may commence an
 1372  action in any other state to collect reemployment assistance
 1373  unemployment compensation contributions, reimbursements,
 1374  penalties, and interest legally due this state. The officials of
 1375  other states that extend a like comity to this state may sue for
 1376  the collection of contributions, reimbursements, interest, and
 1377  penalties in the courts of this state. The courts of this state
 1378  shall recognize and enforce liability for contributions,
 1379  reimbursements, interest, and penalties imposed by other states
 1380  that extend a like comity to this state.
 1381         Section 20. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1), paragraph (b)
 1382  of subsection (2), paragraph (c) of subsection (3), and
 1383  paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (6) of section 443.151,
 1384  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1385         443.151 Procedure concerning claims.—
 1386         (1) POSTING OF INFORMATION.—
 1387         (b)1. The department shall advise each individual filing a
 1388  new claim for reemployment assistance unemployment compensation,
 1389  at the time of filing the claim, that:
 1390         a. Reemployment assistance unemployment compensation is
 1391  subject to federal income tax.
 1392         b. Requirements exist pertaining to estimated tax payments.
 1393         c. The individual may elect to have federal income tax
 1394  deducted and withheld from the individual’s payment of
 1395  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation at the amount
 1396  specified in the federal Internal Revenue Code.
 1397         d. The individual is not permitted to change a previously
 1398  elected withholding status more than twice per calendar year.
 1399         2. Amounts deducted and withheld from reemployment
 1400  assistance unemployment compensation must remain in the
 1401  Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund until transferred to the
 1402  federal taxing authority as payment of income tax.
 1403         3. The department shall follow all procedures specified by
 1404  the United States Department of Labor and the federal Internal
 1405  Revenue Service pertaining to the deducting and withholding of
 1406  income tax.
 1407         4. If more than one authorized request for deduction and
 1408  withholding is made, amounts must be deducted and withheld in
 1409  accordance with the following priorities:
 1410         a. Reemployment assistance Unemployment overpayments have
 1411  first priority;
 1412         b. Child support payments have second priority; and
 1413         c. Withholding under this subsection has third priority.
 1414         (2) FILING OF CLAIM INVESTIGATIONS; NOTIFICATION OF
 1415  CLAIMANTS AND EMPLOYERS.—
 1416         (b) Process.—When the Reemployment Assistance Unemployment
 1417  Compensation Claims and Benefits Information System described in
 1418  s. 443.1113 is fully operational, the process for filing claims
 1419  must incorporate the process for registering for work with the
 1420  workforce information systems established pursuant to s.
 1421  445.011. A claim for benefits may not be processed until the
 1422  work registration requirement is satisfied. The department may
 1423  adopt rules as necessary to administer the work registration
 1424  requirement set forth in this paragraph.
 1425         (3) DETERMINATION OF ELIGIBILITY.—
 1426         (c) Nonmonetary determinations.—If the department receives
 1427  information that may result in a denial of benefits, the
 1428  department must complete an investigation of the claim required
 1429  by subsection (2) and provide notice of a nonmonetary
 1430  determination to the claimant and the employer from whom the
 1431  claimant’s reason for separation affects his or her entitlement
 1432  to benefits. The determination must state the reason for the
 1433  determination and whether the reemployment assistance
 1434  unemployment tax account of the contributing employer is charged
 1435  for benefits paid on the claim. The nonmonetary determination is
 1436  final unless within 20 days after the mailing of the notices to
 1437  the parties’ last known addresses, or in lieu of mailing, within
 1438  20 days after the delivery of the notices, an appeal or written
 1439  request for reconsideration is filed by the claimant or other
 1440  party entitled to notice. The department may adopt rules as
 1441  necessary to implement the processes described in this paragraph
 1442  relating to notices of nonmonetary determination and the appeals
 1443  or reconsideration requests filed in response to such notices,
 1444  and may adopt rules prescribing the manner and procedure by
 1445  which employers within the base period of a claimant become
 1446  entitled to notice of nonmonetary determination.
 1447         (6) RECOVERY AND RECOUPMENT.—
 1448         (a) Any person who, by reason of her or his fraud, receives
 1449  benefits under this chapter to which she or he is not entitled
 1450  is liable for repaying those benefits to the Department of
 1451  Economic Opportunity on behalf of the trust fund or, in the
 1452  discretion of the department, to have those benefits deducted
 1453  from future benefits payable to her or him under this chapter.
 1454  To enforce this paragraph, the department must find the
 1455  existence of fraud through a redetermination or decision under
 1456  this section within 2 years after the fraud was committed. Any
 1457  recovery or recoupment of benefits must be commenced effected
 1458  within 7 5 years after the redetermination or decision.
 1459         (b) Any person who, by reason other than her or his fraud,
 1460  receives benefits under this chapter to which, under a
 1461  redetermination or decision pursuant to this section, she or he
 1462  is not entitled, is liable for repaying those benefits to the
 1463  department on behalf of the trust fund or, in the discretion of
 1464  the department, to have those benefits deducted from any future
 1465  benefits payable to her or him under this chapter. Any recovery
 1466  or recoupment of benefits must be commenced effected within 7 3
 1467  years after the redetermination or decision.
 1468         Section 21. Subsection (1) and paragraph (c) of subsection
 1469  (3) of section 443.163, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1470         443.163 Electronic reporting and remitting of contributions
 1471  and reimbursements.—
 1472         (1) An employer may file any report and remit any
 1473  contributions or reimbursements required under this chapter by
 1474  electronic means. The Department of Economic Opportunity or the
 1475  state agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 1476  collection services shall adopt rules prescribing the format and
 1477  instructions necessary for electronically filing reports and
 1478  remitting contributions and reimbursements to ensure a full
 1479  collection of contributions and reimbursements due. The
 1480  acceptable method of transfer, the method, form, and content of
 1481  the electronic means, and the method, if any, by which the
 1482  employer will be provided with an acknowledgment shall be
 1483  prescribed by the department or its tax collection service
 1484  provider. However, any employer who employed 10 or more
 1485  employees in any quarter during the preceding state fiscal year
 1486  must file the Employers Quarterly Reports (UCT-6) for the
 1487  current calendar year and remit the contributions and
 1488  reimbursements due by electronic means approved by the tax
 1489  collection service provider. A person who prepared and reported
 1490  for 100 or more employers in any quarter during the preceding
 1491  state fiscal year must file the Employers Quarterly Reports
 1492  (UCT-6) for each calendar quarter in the current calendar year,
 1493  beginning with reports due for the second calendar quarter of
 1494  2003, by electronic means approved by the tax collection service
 1495  provider.
 1496         (3) The tax collection service provider may waive the
 1497  requirement to file an Employers Quarterly Report (UCT-6) by
 1498  electronic means for employers that are unable to comply despite
 1499  good faith efforts or due to circumstances beyond the employer’s
 1500  reasonable control.
 1501         (c) The department or the state agency providing
 1502  reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection services may
 1503  establish by rule the length of time a waiver is valid and may
 1504  determine whether subsequent waivers will be authorized, based
 1505  on this subsection.
 1506         Section 22. Subsections (2) and (5) and paragraphs (a) and
 1507  (c) of subsection (9) of section 443.171, Florida Statutes, are
 1508  amended to read:
 1509         443.171 Department of Economic Opportunity and commission;
 1510  powers and duties; records and reports; proceedings; state
 1511  federal cooperation.—
 1512         (2) PUBLICATION OF ACTS AND RULES.—The Department of
 1513  Economic Opportunity shall cause to be printed and distributed
 1514  to the public, or otherwise distributed to the public through
 1515  the Internet or similar electronic means, the text of this
 1516  chapter and of the rules for administering this chapter adopted
 1517  by the department or the state agency providing reemployment
 1518  assistance unemployment tax collection services and any other
 1519  matter relevant and suitable. The department shall furnish this
 1520  information to any person upon request. However, any pamphlet,
 1521  rules, circulars, or reports required by this chapter may not
 1522  contain any matter except the actual data necessary to complete
 1523  them or the actual language of the rule, together with the
 1524  proper notices.
 1525         (5) RECORDS AND REPORTS.—Each employing unit shall keep
 1526  true and accurate work records, containing the information
 1527  required by the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax
 1528  collection service provider. These records must be open to
 1529  inspection and are subject to being copied by the department or
 1530  its tax collection service provider at any reasonable time and
 1531  as often as necessary. The department or its tax collection
 1532  service provider may require from any employing unit any sworn
 1533  or unsworn reports, for persons employed by the employing unit,
 1534  necessary for the effective administration of this chapter.
 1535  However, a state or local governmental agency performing
 1536  intelligence or counterintelligence functions need not report an
 1537  employee if the head of that agency determines that reporting
 1538  the employee could endanger the safety of the employee or
 1539  compromise an ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.
 1540  Information revealing the employing unit’s or individual’s
 1541  identity obtained from the employing unit or from any individual
 1542  through the administration of this chapter, is, except to the
 1543  extent necessary for the proper presentation of a claim or upon
 1544  written authorization of the claimant who has a workers’
 1545  compensation claim pending, confidential and exempt from s.
 1546  119.07(1). This confidential information is available only to
 1547  public employees in the performance of their public duties. Any
 1548  claimant, or the claimant’s legal representative, at a hearing
 1549  before an appeals referee or the commission must be supplied
 1550  with information from these records to the extent necessary for
 1551  the proper presentation of her or his claim. Any employee or
 1552  member of the commission, any employee of the department or its
 1553  tax collection service provider, or any other person receiving
 1554  confidential information who violates this subsection commits a
 1555  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
 1556  775.082 or s. 775.083. However, the department or its tax
 1557  collection service provider may furnish to any employer copies
 1558  of any report previously submitted by that employer, upon the
 1559  request of the employer. The department or its tax collection
 1560  service provider may charge a reasonable fee for copies of
 1561  reports, which may not exceed the actual reasonable cost of the
 1562  preparation of the copies as prescribed by rules adopted by the
 1563  department or the state agency providing tax collection
 1564  services. Fees received by the department or its tax collection
 1565  service provider for copies furnished under this subsection must
 1566  be deposited in the Employment Security Administration Trust
 1567  Fund.
 1568         (9) STATE-FEDERAL COOPERATION.—
 1569         (a)1. In the administration of this chapter, the Department
 1570  of Economic Opportunity and its tax collection service provider
 1571  shall cooperate with the United States Department of Labor to
 1572  the fullest extent consistent with this chapter and shall take
 1573  those actions, through the adoption of appropriate rules,
 1574  administrative methods, and standards, necessary to secure for
 1575  this state all advantages available under the provisions of
 1576  federal law relating to reemployment assistance unemployment
 1577  compensation.
 1578         2. In the administration of the provisions in s. 443.1115,
 1579  which are enacted to conform with the Federal-State Extended
 1580  Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970, the department shall take
 1581  those actions necessary to ensure that those provisions are
 1582  interpreted and applied to meet the requirements of the federal
 1583  act as interpreted by the United States Department of Labor and
 1584  to secure for this state the full reimbursement of the federal
 1585  share of extended benefits paid under this chapter which is
 1586  reimbursable under the federal act.
 1587         3. The department and its tax collection service provider
 1588  shall comply with the regulations of the United States
 1589  Department of Labor relating to the receipt or expenditure by
 1590  this state of funds granted under federal law; shall submit the
 1591  reports in the form and containing the information the United
 1592  States Department of Labor requires; and shall comply with
 1593  directions of the United States Department of Labor necessary to
 1594  assure the correctness and verification of these reports.
 1595         (c) The department and its tax collection service provider
 1596  shall cooperate with the agencies of other states, and shall
 1597  make every proper effort within their means, to oppose and
 1598  prevent any further action leading to the complete or
 1599  substantial federalization of state reemployment assistance
 1600  unemployment compensation funds or state employment security
 1601  programs. The department and its tax collection service provider
 1602  may make, and may cooperate with other appropriate agencies in
 1603  making, studies as to the practicability and probable cost of
 1604  possible new state-administered social security programs and the
 1605  relative desirability of state, rather than federal, action in
 1606  that field of study.
 1607         Section 23. Subsections (1) and (2) of section 443.1715,
 1608  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1609         443.1715 Disclosure of information; confidentiality.—
 1610         (1) RECORDS AND REPORTS.—Information revealing an employing
 1611  unit’s or individual’s identity obtained from the employing unit
 1612  or any individual under the administration of this chapter, and
 1613  any determination revealing that information, except to the
 1614  extent necessary for the proper presentation of a claim or upon
 1615  written authorization of the claimant who has a workers’
 1616  compensation claim pending or is receiving compensation
 1617  benefits, is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
 1618  24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. This confidential
 1619  information may be released in accordance with the provisions in
 1620  20 C.F.R. part 603 only to public employees in the performance
 1621  of their public duties. Except as otherwise provided by law,
 1622  public employees receiving this confidential information must
 1623  maintain the confidentiality of the information. Any claimant,
 1624  or the claimant’s legal representative, at a hearing before an
 1625  appeals referee or the commission is entitled to information
 1626  from these records to the extent necessary for the proper
 1627  presentation of her or his claim. A person receiving
 1628  confidential information who violates this subsection commits a
 1629  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
 1630  775.082 or s. 775.083. The Department of Economic Opportunity or
 1631  its tax collection service provider may, however, furnish to any
 1632  employer copies of any report submitted by that employer upon
 1633  the request of the employer and may furnish to any claimant
 1634  copies of any report submitted by that claimant upon the request
 1635  of the claimant. The department or its tax collection service
 1636  provider may charge a reasonable fee for copies of these reports
 1637  as prescribed by rule, which may not exceed the actual
 1638  reasonable cost of the preparation of the copies. Fees received
 1639  for copies under this subsection must be deposited in the
 1640  Employment Security Administration Trust Fund.
 1641         (2) DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.—
 1642         (a) Subject to restrictions the Department of Economic
 1643  Opportunity or the state agency providing reemployment
 1644  assistance unemployment tax collection services adopts by rule,
 1645  information declared confidential under this section is
 1646  available to any agency of this or any other state, or any
 1647  federal agency, charged with the administration of any
 1648  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation law or the
 1649  maintenance of the one-stop delivery system, or the Bureau of
 1650  Internal Revenue of the United States Department of the
 1651  Treasury, or the Florida Department of Revenue. Information
 1652  obtained in connection with the administration of the one-stop
 1653  delivery system may be made available to persons or agencies for
 1654  purposes appropriate to the operation of a public employment
 1655  service or a job-preparatory or career education or training
 1656  program. The department shall, on a quarterly basis, furnish the
 1657  National Directory of New Hires with information concerning the
 1658  wages and reemployment assistance unemployment benefits paid to
 1659  individuals, by the dates, in the format, and containing the
 1660  information specified in the regulations of the United States
 1661  Secretary of Health and Human Services. Upon request, the
 1662  department shall furnish any agency of the United States charged
 1663  with the administration of public works or assistance through
 1664  public employment, and may furnish to any state agency similarly
 1665  charged, the name, address, ordinary occupation, and employment
 1666  status of each recipient of benefits and the recipient’s rights
 1667  to further benefits under this chapter. Except as otherwise
 1668  provided by law, the receiving agency must retain the
 1669  confidentiality of this information as provided in this section.
 1670  The tax collection service provider may request the Comptroller
 1671  of the Currency of the United States to examine the correctness
 1672  of any return or report of any national banking association
 1673  rendered under this chapter and may in connection with that
 1674  request transmit any report or return for examination to the
 1675  Comptroller of the Currency of the United States as provided in
 1676  s. 3305(c) of the federal Internal Revenue Code.
 1677         (b) The employer or the employer’s workers’ compensation
 1678  carrier against whom a claim for benefits under chapter 440 has
 1679  been made, or a representative of either, may request from the
 1680  department records of wages of the employee reported to the
 1681  department by any employer for the quarter that includes the
 1682  date of the accident that is the subject of such claim and for
 1683  subsequent quarters.
 1684         1. The request must be made with the authorization or
 1685  consent of the employee or any employer who paid wages to the
 1686  employee after the date of the accident.
 1687         2. The employer or carrier shall make the request on a form
 1688  prescribed by rule for such purpose by the department agency.
 1689  Such form shall contain a certification by the requesting party
 1690  that it is a party entitled to the information requested.
 1691         3. The department shall provide the most current
 1692  information readily available within 15 days after receiving the
 1693  request.
 1694         Section 24. Subsections (1), (4), (5), (6), and (7) and
 1695  paragraph (c) of subsection (2) of section 443.17161, Florida
 1696  Statutes, are amended to read:
 1697         443.17161 Authorized electronic access to employer
 1698  information.—
 1699         (1) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter,
 1700  the Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for Workforce
 1701  Innovation shall contract with one or more consumer reporting
 1702  agencies to provide users with secured electronic access to
 1703  employer-provided information relating to the quarterly wages
 1704  report submitted in accordance with the state’s reemployment
 1705  assistance unemployment compensation law. The access is limited
 1706  to the wage reports for the appropriate amount of time for the
 1707  purpose the information is requested.
 1708         (2) Users must obtain consent in writing or by electronic
 1709  signature from an applicant for credit, employment, or other
 1710  permitted purposes. Any written or electronic signature consent
 1711  from an applicant must be signed and must include the following:
 1712         (c) Notice that the files of the Department of Economic
 1713  Opportunity Agency for Workforce Innovation or its tax
 1714  collection service provider containing information concerning
 1715  wage and employment history which is submitted by the applicant
 1716  or his or her employers may be accessed; and
 1717         (4) If a consumer reporting agency or user violates this
 1718  section, the Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for
 1719  Workforce Innovation shall, upon 30 days’ written notice to the
 1720  consumer reporting agency, terminate the contract established
 1721  between the department Agency for Workforce Innovation and the
 1722  consumer reporting agency or require the consumer reporting
 1723  agency to terminate the contract established between the
 1724  consumer reporting agency and the user under this section.
 1725         (5) The Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for
 1726  Workforce Innovation shall establish minimum audit, security,
 1727  net worth, and liability insurance standards, technical
 1728  requirements, and any other terms and conditions considered
 1729  necessary in the discretion of the state agency to safeguard the
 1730  confidentiality of the information released under this section
 1731  and to otherwise serve the public interest. The department
 1732  Agency for Workforce Innovation shall also include, in
 1733  coordination with any necessary state agencies, necessary audit
 1734  procedures to ensure that these rules are followed.
 1735         (6) In contracting with one or more consumer reporting
 1736  agencies under this section, any revenues generated by the
 1737  contract must be used to pay the entire cost of providing access
 1738  to the information. Further, in accordance with federal
 1739  regulations, any additional revenues generated by the Department
 1740  of Economic Opportunity Agency for Workforce Innovation or the
 1741  state under this section must be paid into the Administrative
 1742  Trust Fund of the department Agency for Workforce Innovation for
 1743  the administration of the unemployment compensation system or be
 1744  used as program income.
 1745         (7) The Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for
 1746  Workforce Innovation may not provide wage and employment history
 1747  information to any consumer reporting agency before the consumer
 1748  reporting agency or agencies under contract with the department
 1749  Agency for Workforce Innovation pay all development and other
 1750  startup costs incurred by the state in connection with the
 1751  design, installation, and administration of technological
 1752  systems and procedures for the electronic access program.
 1753         Section 25. Subsection (2) of section 443.181, Florida
 1754  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1755         443.181 Public employment service.—
 1756         (2) All funds received by this state under 29 U.S.C. ss.
 1757  49-49l-1 must be paid into the Employment Security
 1758  Administration Trust Fund, and these funds are available to the
 1759  Department of Economic Opportunity for expenditure as provided
 1760  by this chapter or by federal law. For the purpose of
 1761  establishing and maintaining one-stop career centers, the
 1762  department may enter into agreements with the Railroad
 1763  Retirement Board or any other agency of the United States
 1764  charged with the administration of a reemployment assistance or
 1765  an unemployment compensation law, with any political subdivision
 1766  of this state, or with any private, nonprofit organization. As a
 1767  part of any such agreement, the department may accept moneys,
 1768  services, or quarters as a contribution to the Employment
 1769  Security Administration Trust Fund.
 1770         Section 26. Subsection (6) of section 443.191, Florida
 1771  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1772         443.191 Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund; establishment
 1773  and control.—
 1774         (6) TRUST FUND SOLE SOURCE FOR BENEFITS.—The Unemployment
 1775  Compensation Trust Fund is the sole and exclusive source for
 1776  paying reemployment assistance unemployment benefits, and these
 1777  benefits are due and payable only to the extent that
 1778  contributions or reimbursements, with increments thereon,
 1779  actually collected and credited to the fund and not otherwise
 1780  appropriated or allocated, are available for payment. The state
 1781  shall administer the fund without any liability on the part of
 1782  the state beyond the amount of moneys received from the United
 1783  States Department of Labor or other federal agency.
 1784         Section 27. Paragraphs (b), (c), and (d) of subsection (1)
 1785  and subsections (3) and (4) of section 443.221, Florida
 1786  Statutes, are amended to read:
 1787         443.221 Reciprocal arrangements.—
 1788         (1)
 1789         (b) For services to be considered as performed within a
 1790  state under a reciprocal agreement, the employing unit must have
 1791  an election in effect for those services, which is approved by
 1792  the agency charged with the administration of such state’s
 1793  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation law, under
 1794  which all the services performed by the individual for the
 1795  employing unit are deemed to be performed entirely within that
 1796  state.
 1797         (c) The department shall participate in any arrangements
 1798  for the payment of compensation on the basis of combining an
 1799  individual’s wages and employment covered under this chapter
 1800  with her or his wages and employment covered under the
 1801  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation laws of
 1802  other states, which are approved by the United States Secretary
 1803  of Labor, in consultation with the state reemployment assistance
 1804  or unemployment compensation agencies, as reasonably calculated
 1805  to assure the prompt and full payment of compensation in those
 1806  situations and which include provisions for:
 1807         1. Applying the base period of a single state law to a
 1808  claim involving the combining of an individual’s wages and
 1809  employment covered under two or more state reemployment
 1810  assistance or unemployment compensation laws; and
 1811         2. Avoiding the duplicate use of wages and employment
 1812  because of the combination.
 1813         (d) Contributions or reimbursements due under this chapter
 1814  with respect to wages for insured work are, for the purposes of
 1815  ss. 443.131, 443.1312, 443.1313, and 443.141, deemed to be paid
 1816  to the fund as of the date payment was made as contributions or
 1817  reimbursements therefor under another state or federal
 1818  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation law, but an
 1819  arrangement may not be entered into unless it contains
 1820  provisions for reimbursement to the fund of the contributions or
 1821  reimbursements and the actual earnings thereon as the department
 1822  or its tax collection service provider finds are fair and
 1823  reasonable as to all affected interests.
 1824         (3) The Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax
 1825  collection service provider may enter into reciprocal
 1826  arrangements with other states or the Federal Government, or
 1827  both, for exchanging services, determining and enforcing payment
 1828  obligations, and making available facilities and information.
 1829  The department or its tax collection service provider may
 1830  conduct investigations, secure and transmit information, make
 1831  available services and facilities, and exercise other powers
 1832  provided under this chapter to facilitate the administration of
 1833  any reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation or
 1834  public employment service law and, in a similar manner, accept
 1835  and use information, services, and facilities made available to
 1836  this state by the agency charged with the administration of any
 1837  other unemployment compensation or public employment service
 1838  law.
 1839         (4) To the extent permissible under federal law, the
 1840  Department of Economic Opportunity may enter into or cooperate
 1841  in arrangements whereby facilities and services provided under
 1842  this chapter and facilities and services provided under the
 1843  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation law of any
 1844  foreign government may be used for the taking of claims and the
 1845  payment of benefits under the employment security law of the
 1846  state or under a similar law of that government.
 1847         Section 28. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) and subsection
 1848  (8) of section 20.60, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 1849         20.60 Department of Economic Opportunity; creation; powers
 1850  and duties.—
 1851         (5) The divisions within the department have specific
 1852  responsibilities to achieve the duties, responsibilities, and
 1853  goals of the department. Specifically:
 1854         (c) The Division of Workforce Services shall:
 1855         1. Prepare and submit a unified budget request for
 1856  workforce in accordance with chapter 216 for, and in conjunction
 1857  with, Workforce Florida, Inc., and its board.
 1858         2. Ensure that the state appropriately administers federal
 1859  and state workforce funding by administering plans and policies
 1860  of Workforce Florida, Inc., under contract with Workforce
 1861  Florida, Inc. The operating budget and midyear amendments
 1862  thereto must be part of such contract.
 1863         a. All program and fiscal instructions to regional
 1864  workforce boards shall emanate from the Department of Economic
 1865  Opportunity pursuant to plans and policies of Workforce Florida,
 1866  Inc., which shall be responsible for all policy directions to
 1867  the regional workforce boards.
 1868         b. Unless otherwise provided by agreement with Workforce
 1869  Florida, Inc., administrative and personnel policies of the
 1870  Department of Economic Opportunity shall apply.
 1871         3. Implement the state’s reemployment assistance
 1872  unemployment compensation program. The Department of Economic
 1873  Opportunity shall ensure that the state appropriately
 1874  administers the reemployment assistance unemployment
 1875  compensation program pursuant to state and federal law.
 1876         4. Assist in developing the 5-year statewide strategic plan
 1877  required by this section.
 1878         (8) The Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals
 1879  Commission, authorized by s. 443.012, is not subject to control,
 1880  supervision, or direction by the department in the performance
 1881  of its powers and duties but shall receive any and all support
 1882  and assistance from the department which is required for the
 1883  performance of its duties.
 1884         Section 29. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 1885  27.52, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1886         27.52 Determination of indigent status.—
 1887         (1) APPLICATION TO THE CLERK.—A person seeking appointment
 1888  of a public defender under s. 27.51 based upon an inability to
 1889  pay must apply to the clerk of the court for a determination of
 1890  indigent status using an application form developed by the
 1891  Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation with final
 1892  approval by the Supreme Court.
 1893         (a) The application must include, at a minimum, the
 1894  following financial information:
 1895         1. Net income, consisting of total salary and wages, minus
 1896  deductions required by law, including court-ordered support
 1897  payments.
 1898         2. Other income, including, but not limited to, social
 1899  security benefits, union funds, veterans’ benefits, workers’
 1900  compensation, other regular support from absent family members,
 1901  public or private employee pensions, reemployment assistance or
 1902  unemployment compensation, dividends, interest, rent, trusts,
 1903  and gifts.
 1904         3. Assets, including, but not limited to, cash, savings
 1905  accounts, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit,
 1906  equity in real estate, and equity in a boat or a motor vehicle
 1907  or in other tangible property.
 1908         4. All liabilities and debts.
 1909         5. If applicable, the amount of any bail paid for the
 1910  applicant’s release from incarceration and the source of the
 1911  funds.
 1912  
 1913  The application must include a signature by the applicant which
 1914  attests to the truthfulness of the information provided. The
 1915  application form developed by the corporation must include
 1916  notice that the applicant may seek court review of a clerk’s
 1917  determination that the applicant is not indigent, as provided in
 1918  this section.
 1919         Section 30. Subsection (6) of section 40.24, Florida
 1920  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1921         40.24 Compensation and reimbursement policy.—
 1922         (6) A juror who receives reemployment assistance
 1923  unemployment benefits does not lose such benefits because he or
 1924  she receives compensation for juror service.
 1925         Section 31. Paragraph (a) of subsection (7) of section
 1926  45.031, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1927         45.031 Judicial sales procedure.—In any sale of real or
 1928  personal property under an order or judgment, the procedures
 1929  provided in this section and ss. 45.0315-45.035 may be followed
 1930  as an alternative to any other sale procedure if so ordered by
 1931  the court.
 1932         (7) DISBURSEMENTS OF PROCEEDS.—
 1933         (a) On filing a certificate of title, the clerk shall
 1934  disburse the proceeds of the sale in accordance with the order
 1935  or final judgment and shall file a report of such disbursements
 1936  and serve a copy of it on each party, and on the Department of
 1937  Revenue if the department was named as a defendant in the action
 1938  or if the Department of Economic Opportunity or the former
 1939  Agency for Workforce Innovation was named as a defendant while
 1940  the Department of Revenue was providing reemployment assistance
 1941  unemployment tax collection services under contract with the
 1942  Department of Economic Opportunity or the former Agency for
 1943  Workforce Innovation through an interagency agreement pursuant
 1944  to s. 443.1316.
 1945         Section 32. Subsection (2) of section 55.204, Florida
 1946  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1947         55.204 Duration and continuation of judgment lien;
 1948  destruction of records.—
 1949         (2) Liens securing the payment of child support or tax
 1950  obligations under s. 95.091(1)(b) lapse 20 years after the date
 1951  of the original filing of the warrant or other document required
 1952  by law to establish a lien. Liens securing the payment of
 1953  reemployment assistance unemployment tax obligations lapse 10
 1954  years after the date of the original filing of the notice of
 1955  lien. A second lien based on the original filing may not be
 1956  obtained.
 1957         Section 33. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 1958  57.082, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 1959         57.082 Determination of civil indigent status.—
 1960         (1) APPLICATION TO THE CLERK.—A person seeking appointment
 1961  of an attorney in a civil case eligible for court-appointed
 1962  counsel, or seeking relief from payment of filing fees and
 1963  prepayment of costs under s. 57.081, based upon an inability to
 1964  pay must apply to the clerk of the court for a determination of
 1965  civil indigent status using an application form developed by the
 1966  Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation with final
 1967  approval by the Supreme Court.
 1968         (a) The application must include, at a minimum, the
 1969  following financial information:
 1970         1. Net income, consisting of total salary and wages, minus
 1971  deductions required by law, including court-ordered support
 1972  payments.
 1973         2. Other income, including, but not limited to, social
 1974  security benefits, union funds, veterans’ benefits, workers’
 1975  compensation, other regular support from absent family members,
 1976  public or private employee pensions, reemployment assistance or
 1977  unemployment compensation, dividends, interest, rent, trusts,
 1978  and gifts.
 1979         3. Assets, including, but not limited to, cash, savings
 1980  accounts, bank accounts, stocks, bonds, certificates of deposit,
 1981  equity in real estate, and equity in a boat or a motor vehicle
 1982  or in other tangible property.
 1983         4. All liabilities and debts.
 1984  
 1985  The application must include a signature by the applicant which
 1986  attests to the truthfulness of the information provided. The
 1987  application form developed by the corporation must include
 1988  notice that the applicant may seek court review of a clerk’s
 1989  determination that the applicant is not indigent, as provided in
 1990  this section.
 1991         Section 34. Subsection (8) of section 61.046, Florida
 1992  Statutes, is amended to read:
 1993         61.046 Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
 1994         (8) “Income” means any form of payment to an individual,
 1995  regardless of source, including, but not limited to: wages,
 1996  salary, commissions and bonuses, compensation as an independent
 1997  contractor, worker’s compensation, disability benefits, annuity
 1998  and retirement benefits, pensions, dividends, interest,
 1999  royalties, trusts, and any other payments, made by any person,
 2000  private entity, federal or state government, or any unit of
 2001  local government. United States Department of Veterans Affairs
 2002  disability benefits and reemployment assistance or unemployment
 2003  compensation, as defined in chapter 443, are excluded from this
 2004  definition of income except for purposes of establishing an
 2005  amount of support.
 2006         Section 35. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
 2007  61.1824, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2008         61.1824 State Disbursement Unit.—
 2009         (3) The State Disbursement Unit shall perform the following
 2010  functions:
 2011         (a) Disburse all receipts from intercepts, including, but
 2012  not limited to, United States Internal Revenue Service,
 2013  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation, lottery,
 2014  and administrative offset intercepts.
 2015         Section 36. Paragraph (a) of subsection (2) of section
 2016  61.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2017         61.30 Child support guidelines; retroactive child support.—
 2018         (2) Income shall be determined on a monthly basis for each
 2019  parent as follows:
 2020         (a) Gross income shall include, but is not limited to, the
 2021  following:
 2022         1. Salary or wages.
 2023         2. Bonuses, commissions, allowances, overtime, tips, and
 2024  other similar payments.
 2025         3. Business income from sources such as self-employment,
 2026  partnership, close corporations, and independent contracts.
 2027  “Business income” means gross receipts minus ordinary and
 2028  necessary expenses required to produce income.
 2029         4. Disability benefits.
 2030         5. All workers’ compensation benefits and settlements.
 2031         6. Reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation.
 2032         7. Pension, retirement, or annuity payments.
 2033         8. Social security benefits.
 2034         9. Spousal support received from a previous marriage or
 2035  court ordered in the marriage before the court.
 2036         10. Interest and dividends.
 2037         11. Rental income, which is gross receipts minus ordinary
 2038  and necessary expenses required to produce the income.
 2039         12. Income from royalties, trusts, or estates.
 2040         13. Reimbursed expenses or in kind payments to the extent
 2041  that they reduce living expenses.
 2042         14. Gains derived from dealings in property, unless the
 2043  gain is nonrecurring.
 2044         Section 37. Paragraph (a) of subsection (4) of section
 2045  69.041, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2046         69.041 State named party; lien foreclosure, suit to quiet
 2047  title.—
 2048         (4)(a) The Department of Revenue has the right to
 2049  participate in the disbursement of funds remaining in the
 2050  registry of the court after distribution pursuant to s.
 2051  45.031(7). The department shall participate in accordance with
 2052  applicable procedures in any mortgage foreclosure action in
 2053  which the department has a duly filed tax warrant, or interests
 2054  under a lien arising from a judgment, order, or decree for
 2055  support, as defined in s. 409.2554, or interest in an
 2056  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation tax lien under
 2057  contract with the Department of Economic Opportunity through an
 2058  interagency agreement pursuant to s. 443.1316, against the
 2059  subject property and with the same priority, regardless of
 2060  whether a default against the department, the Department of
 2061  Economic Opportunity, or the former Agency for Workforce
 2062  Innovation has been entered for failure to file an answer or
 2063  other responsive pleading.
 2064         Section 38. Subsection (1) of section 77.041, Florida
 2065  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2066         77.041 Notice to individual defendant for claim of
 2067  exemption from garnishment; procedure for hearing.—
 2068         (1) Upon application for a writ of garnishment by a
 2069  plaintiff, if the defendant is an individual, the clerk of the
 2070  court shall attach to the writ the following “Notice to
 2071  Defendant”:
 2072  
 2073                NOTICE TO DEFENDANT OF RIGHT AGAINST               
 2074                    GARNISHMENT OF WAGES, MONEY,                   
 2075                         AND OTHER PROPERTY                        
 2076  
 2077         The Writ of Garnishment delivered to you with this Notice
 2078  means that wages, money, and other property belonging to you
 2079  have been garnished to pay a court judgment against you.
 2080  HOWEVER, YOU MAY BE ABLE TO KEEP OR RECOVER YOUR WAGES, MONEY,
 2081  OR PROPERTY. READ THIS NOTICE CAREFULLY.
 2082         State and federal laws provide that certain wages, money,
 2083  and property, even if deposited in a bank, savings and loan, or
 2084  credit union, may not be taken to pay certain types of court
 2085  judgments. Such wages, money, and property are exempt from
 2086  garnishment. The major exemptions are listed below on the form
 2087  for Claim of Exemption and Request for Hearing. This list does
 2088  not include all possible exemptions. You should consult a lawyer
 2089  for specific advice.
 2090         TO KEEP YOUR WAGES, MONEY, AND OTHER PROPERTY FROM
 2091         BEING GARNISHED, OR TO GET BACK ANYTHING ALREADY
 2092         TAKEN, YOU MUST COMPLETE A FORM FOR CLAIM OF EXEMPTION
 2093         AND REQUEST FOR HEARING AS SET FORTH BELOW AND HAVE
 2094         THE FORM NOTARIZED. YOU MUST FILE THE FORM WITH THE
 2095         CLERK’S OFFICE WITHIN 20 DAYS AFTER THE DATE YOU
 2096         RECEIVE THIS NOTICE OR YOU MAY LOSE IMPORTANT RIGHTS.
 2097         YOU MUST ALSO MAIL OR DELIVER A COPY OF THIS FORM TO
 2098         THE PLAINTIFF AND THE GARNISHEE AT THE ADDRESSES
 2099         LISTED ON THE WRIT OF GARNISHMENT.
 2100         If you request a hearing, it will be held as soon as
 2101  possible after your request is received by the court. The
 2102  plaintiff must file any objection within 3 business days if you
 2103  hand delivered to the plaintiff a copy of the form for Claim of
 2104  Exemption and Request for Hearing or, alternatively, 8 business
 2105  days if you mailed a copy of the form for claim and request to
 2106  the plaintiff. If the plaintiff files an objection to your Claim
 2107  of Exemption and Request for Hearing, the clerk will notify you
 2108  and the other parties of the time and date of the hearing. You
 2109  may attend the hearing with or without an attorney. If the
 2110  plaintiff fails to file an objection, no hearing is required,
 2111  the writ of garnishment will be dissolved and your wages, money,
 2112  or property will be released.
 2113         YOU SHOULD FILE THE FORM FOR CLAIM OF EXEMPTION
 2114         IMMEDIATELY TO KEEP YOUR WAGES, MONEY, OR PROPERTY
 2115         FROM BEING APPLIED TO THE COURT JUDGMENT. THE CLERK
 2116         CANNOT GIVE YOU LEGAL ADVICE. IF YOU NEED LEGAL
 2117         ASSISTANCE YOU SHOULD SEE A LAWYER. IF YOU CANNOT
 2118         AFFORD A PRIVATE LAWYER, LEGAL SERVICES MAY BE
 2119         AVAILABLE. CONTACT YOUR LOCAL BAR ASSOCIATION OR ASK
 2120         THE CLERK’S OFFICE ABOUT ANY LEGAL SERVICES PROGRAM IN
 2121         YOUR AREA.
 2122  
 2123                       CLAIM OF EXEMPTION AND                      
 2124                         REQUEST FOR HEARING                       
 2125  
 2126  I claim exemptions from garnishment under the following
 2127  categories as checked:
 2128  ....  1. Head of family wages. (You must check a. or b. below.)      
 2129  ....  a. I provide more than one-half of the support for a child or other dependent and have net earnings of $750 or less per week.
 2130  ....  b. I provide more than one-half of the support for a child or other dependent, have net earnings of more than $750 per week, but have not agreed in writing to have my wages garnished.
 2131  ....  2. Social Security benefits.                                   
 2132  ....  3. Supplemental Security Income benefits.                      
 2133  ....  4. Public assistance (welfare).                                
 2134  ....  5. Workers’ Compensation.                                      
 2135  ....  6. Reemployment assistance or unemployment Compensation.       
 2136  ....  7. Veterans’ benefits.                                         
 2137  ....  8. Retirement or profit-sharing benefits or pension money.     
 2138  ....  9. Life insurance benefits or cash surrender value of a life insurance policy or proceeds of annuity contract.
 2139  ....  10. Disability income benefits.                                
 2140  ....  11. Prepaid College Trust Fund or Medical Savings Account.     
 2141  ....  12. Other exemptions as provided by law.....................(explain)
 2142  
 2143  I request a hearing to decide the validity of my claim. Notice
 2144  of the hearing should be given to me at:
 2145  
 2146  Address: ................................
 2147  Telephone number:........................
 2148  
 2149  The statements made in this request are true to the best of my
 2150  knowledge and belief.
 2151  
 2152  ................................
 2153  Defendant’s signature
 2154  Date................................
 2155  
 2156  STATE OF FLORIDA
 2157  COUNTY OF
 2158  
 2159  Sworn and subscribed to before me this ........ day of ...(month
 2160  and year)..., by ...(name of person making statement)...
 2161  Notary Public/Deputy Clerk
 2162  Personally Known ........OR Produced Identification....
 2163  Type of Identification Produced....................
 2164  
 2165         Section 39. Paragraph (n) of subsection (2) of section
 2166  110.205, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2167         110.205 Career service; exemptions.—
 2168         (2) EXEMPT POSITIONS.—The exempt positions that are not
 2169  covered by this part include the following:
 2170         (n)1.a. In addition to those positions exempted by other
 2171  paragraphs of this subsection, each department head may
 2172  designate a maximum of 20 policymaking or managerial positions,
 2173  as defined by the department and approved by the Administration
 2174  Commission, as being exempt from the Career Service System.
 2175  Career service employees who occupy a position designated as a
 2176  position in the Selected Exempt Service under this paragraph
 2177  shall have the right to remain in the Career Service System by
 2178  opting to serve in a position not exempted by the employing
 2179  agency. Unless otherwise fixed by law, the department shall set
 2180  the salary and benefits of these positions in accordance with
 2181  the rules of the Selected Exempt Service; provided, however,
 2182  that if the agency head determines that the general counsel,
 2183  chief Cabinet aide, public information administrator or
 2184  comparable position for a Cabinet officer, inspector general, or
 2185  legislative affairs director has both policymaking and
 2186  managerial responsibilities and if the department determines
 2187  that any such position has both policymaking and managerial
 2188  responsibilities, the salary and benefits for each such position
 2189  shall be established by the department in accordance with the
 2190  rules of the Senior Management Service.
 2191         b. In addition, each department may designate one
 2192  additional position in the Senior Management Service if that
 2193  position reports directly to the agency head or to a position in
 2194  the Senior Management Service and if any additional costs are
 2195  absorbed from the existing budget of that department.
 2196         2. If otherwise exempt, employees of the Public Employees
 2197  Relations Commission, the Commission on Human Relations, and the
 2198  Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals Commission, upon
 2199  the certification of their respective commission heads, may be
 2200  provided for under this paragraph as members of the Senior
 2201  Management Service, if otherwise qualified. However, the deputy
 2202  general counsel of the Public Employees Relations Commission
 2203  shall be compensated as members of the Selected Exempt Service.
 2204         Section 40. Subsection (4) of section 110.502, Florida
 2205  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2206         110.502 Scope of act; status of volunteers.—
 2207         (4) Persons working with state agencies pursuant to this
 2208  part shall be considered as unpaid independent volunteers and
 2209  shall not be entitled to reemployment assistance unemployment
 2210  compensation.
 2211         Section 41. Subsection (10) of section 120.80, Florida
 2212  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2213         120.80 Exceptions and special requirements; agencies.—
 2214         (10) DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY.—
 2215         (a) Notwithstanding s. 120.54, the rulemaking provisions of
 2216  this chapter do not apply to reemployment assistance
 2217  unemployment appeals referees.
 2218         (b) Notwithstanding s. 120.54(5), the uniform rules of
 2219  procedure do not apply to appeal proceedings conducted under
 2220  chapter 443 by the Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals
 2221  Commission, special deputies, or reemployment assistance
 2222  unemployment appeals referees.
 2223         (c) Notwithstanding s. 120.57(1)(a), hearings under chapter
 2224  443 may not be conducted by an administrative law judge assigned
 2225  by the division, but instead shall be conducted by the
 2226  Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Appeals Commission in
 2227  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation appeals,
 2228  reemployment assistance unemployment appeals referees, and the
 2229  Department of Economic Opportunity or its special deputies under
 2230  s. 443.141.
 2231         Section 42. Subsection (4) of section 125.9502, Florida
 2232  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2233         125.9502 Scope of ss. 125.9501-125.9506; status of
 2234  volunteers.—
 2235         (4) Persons working with a unit of county government or a
 2236  constitutional county officer pursuant to ss. 125.9501-125.9506
 2237  are considered unpaid independent volunteers and are not
 2238  entitled to reemployment assistance unemployment compensation.
 2239         Section 43. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) and paragraph
 2240  (b) of subsection (2) of section 212.096, Florida Statutes, are
 2241  amended to read:
 2242         212.096 Sales, rental, storage, use tax; enterprise zone
 2243  jobs credit against sales tax.—
 2244         (1) For the purposes of the credit provided in this
 2245  section:
 2246         (d) “Job” means a full-time position, as consistent with
 2247  terms used by the Department of Economic Opportunity Agency for
 2248  Workforce Innovation and the United States Department of Labor
 2249  for purposes of reemployment assistance unemployment
 2250  compensation tax administration and employment estimation
 2251  resulting directly from a business operation in this state. This
 2252  term may not include a temporary construction job involved with
 2253  the construction of facilities or any job that has previously
 2254  been included in any application for tax credits under s.
 2255  220.181(1). The term also includes employment of an employee
 2256  leased from an employee leasing company licensed under chapter
 2257  468 if such employee has been continuously leased to the
 2258  employer for an average of at least 36 hours per week for more
 2259  than 6 months.
 2260  
 2261  A person shall be deemed to be employed if the person performs
 2262  duties in connection with the operations of the business on a
 2263  regular, full-time basis, provided the person is performing such
 2264  duties for an average of at least 36 hours per week each month.
 2265  The person must be performing such duties at a business site
 2266  located in the enterprise zone.
 2267         (2)
 2268         (b) The credit shall be computed as 20 percent of the
 2269  actual monthly wages paid in this state to each new employee
 2270  hired when a new job has been created, unless the business is
 2271  located within a rural enterprise zone pursuant to s. 290.004,
 2272  in which case the credit shall be 30 percent of the actual
 2273  monthly wages paid. If no less than 20 percent of the employees
 2274  of the business are residents of an enterprise zone, excluding
 2275  temporary and part-time employees, the credit shall be computed
 2276  as 30 percent of the actual monthly wages paid in this state to
 2277  each new employee hired when a new job has been created, unless
 2278  the business is located within a rural enterprise zone, in which
 2279  case the credit shall be 45 percent of the actual monthly wages
 2280  paid. If the new employee hired when a new job is created is a
 2281  participant in the welfare transition program, the following
 2282  credit shall be a percent of the actual monthly wages paid: 40
 2283  percent for $4 above the hourly federal minimum wage rate; 41
 2284  percent for $5 above the hourly federal minimum wage rate; 42
 2285  percent for $6 above the hourly federal minimum wage rate; 43
 2286  percent for $7 above the hourly federal minimum wage rate; and
 2287  44 percent for $8 above the hourly federal minimum wage rate.
 2288  For purposes of this paragraph, monthly wages shall be computed
 2289  as one-twelfth of the expected annual wages paid to such
 2290  employee. The amount paid as wages to a new employee is the
 2291  compensation paid to such employee that is subject to
 2292  reemployment assistance unemployment tax. The credit shall be
 2293  allowed for up to 24 consecutive months, beginning with the
 2294  first tax return due pursuant to s. 212.11 after approval by the
 2295  department.
 2296         Section 44. Subsection (4) of section 213.053, Florida
 2297  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2298         213.053 Confidentiality and information sharing.—
 2299         (4) The department, while providing reemployment assistance
 2300  unemployment tax collection services under contract with the
 2301  Department of Economic Opportunity through an interagency
 2302  agreement pursuant to s. 443.1316, may release reemployment
 2303  assistance unemployment tax rate information to the agent of an
 2304  employer who provides payroll services for more than 100
 2305  employers, pursuant to the terms of a memorandum of
 2306  understanding. The memorandum of understanding must state that
 2307  the agent affirms, subject to the criminal penalties contained
 2308  in ss. 443.171 and 443.1715, that the agent will retain the
 2309  confidentiality of the information, that the agent has in effect
 2310  a power of attorney from the employer which permits the agent to
 2311  obtain reemployment assistance unemployment tax rate
 2312  information, and that the agent shall provide the department
 2313  with a copy of the employer’s power of attorney upon request.
 2314         Section 45. Paragraph (a) of subsection (6) of section
 2315  216.292, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2316         216.292 Appropriations nontransferable; exceptions.—
 2317         (6) The Chief Financial Officer shall transfer from any
 2318  available funds of an agency or the judicial branch the
 2319  following amounts and shall report all such transfers and the
 2320  reasons therefor to the legislative appropriations committees
 2321  and the Executive Office of the Governor:
 2322         (a) The amount due to the Unemployment Compensation Trust
 2323  Fund which is more than 90 days delinquent on reimbursements due
 2324  to the Unemployment Compensation Trust Fund. The amount
 2325  transferred shall be that certified by the state agency
 2326  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
 2327  services under contract with the Department of Economic
 2328  Opportunity through an interagency agreement pursuant to s.
 2329  443.1316.
 2330         Section 46. Paragraph (ff) of subsection (1) of section
 2331  220.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2332         220.03 Definitions.—
 2333         (1) SPECIFIC TERMS.—When used in this code, and when not
 2334  otherwise distinctly expressed or manifestly incompatible with
 2335  the intent thereof, the following terms shall have the following
 2336  meanings:
 2337         (ff) “Job” means a full-time position, as consistent with
 2338  terms used by the Department of Economic Opportunity and the
 2339  United States Department of Labor for purposes of reemployment
 2340  assistance unemployment compensation tax administration and
 2341  employment estimation resulting directly from business
 2342  operations in this state. The term may not include a temporary
 2343  construction job involved with the construction of facilities or
 2344  any job that has previously been included in any application for
 2345  tax credits under s. 212.096. The term also includes employment
 2346  of an employee leased from an employee leasing company licensed
 2347  under chapter 468 if the employee has been continuously leased
 2348  to the employer for an average of at least 36 hours per week for
 2349  more than 6 months.
 2350         Section 47. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
 2351  220.181, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2352         220.181 Enterprise zone jobs credit.—
 2353         (1)
 2354         (b) This credit applies only with respect to wages subject
 2355  to reemployment assistance unemployment tax. The credit provided
 2356  in this section does not apply:
 2357         1. For any employee who is an owner, partner, or majority
 2358  stockholder of an eligible business.
 2359         2. For any new employee who is employed for any period less
 2360  than 3 months.
 2361         Section 48. Paragraph (e) of subsection (1) of section
 2362  220.191, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2363         220.191 Capital investment tax credit.—
 2364         (1) DEFINITIONS.—For purposes of this section:
 2365         (e) “Jobs” means full-time equivalent positions, as that
 2366  term is consistent with terms used by the Department of Economic
 2367  Opportunity and the United States Department of Labor for
 2368  purposes of reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 2369  administration and employment estimation, resulting directly
 2370  from a project in this state. The term does not include
 2371  temporary construction jobs involved in the construction of the
 2372  project facility.
 2373         Section 49. Paragraph (d) of subsection (3) of section
 2374  220.194, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2375         220.194 Corporate income tax credits for spaceflight
 2376  projects.—
 2377         (3) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
 2378         (d) “New job” means the full-time employment of an employee
 2379  in a manner that is consistent with terms used by the Department
 2380  of Economic Opportunity Agency for Workforce Innovation and the
 2381  United States Department of Labor for purposes of reemployment
 2382  assistance unemployment compensation tax administration and
 2383  employment estimation. In order to meet the requirement for
 2384  certification specified in paragraph (5)(b), a new job must:
 2385         1. Pay new employees at least 115 percent of the statewide
 2386  or countywide average annual private sector wage for the 3
 2387  taxable years immediately preceding filing an application for
 2388  certification;
 2389         2. Require a new employee to perform duties on a regular
 2390  full-time basis in this state for an average of at least 36
 2391  hours per week each month for the 3 taxable years immediately
 2392  preceding filing an application for certification; and
 2393         3. Not be held by a person who has previously been included
 2394  as a new employee on an application for any credit authorized
 2395  under this section.
 2396         Section 50. Section 222.15, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2397  read:
 2398         222.15 Wages or reemployment assistance or unemployment
 2399  compensation payments due deceased employee may be paid spouse
 2400  or certain relatives.—
 2401         (1) It is lawful for any employer, in case of the death of
 2402  an employee, to pay to the wife or husband, and in case there is
 2403  no wife or husband, then to the child or children, provided the
 2404  child or children are over the age of 18 years, and in case
 2405  there is no child or children, then to the father or mother, any
 2406  wages or travel expenses that may be due such employee at the
 2407  time of his or her death.
 2408         (2) It is also lawful for the Department of Economic
 2409  Opportunity, in case of death of any unemployed individual, to
 2410  pay to those persons referred to in subsection (1) any
 2411  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation payments
 2412  that may be due to the individual at the time of his or her
 2413  death.
 2414         Section 51. Section 222.16, Florida Statutes, is amended to
 2415  read:
 2416         222.16 Wages or reemployment assistance or unemployment
 2417  compensation payments so paid not subject to administration.—Any
 2418  wages, travel expenses, or reemployment assistance or
 2419  unemployment compensation payments so paid under the authority
 2420  of s. 222.15 shall not be considered as assets of the estate and
 2421  subject to administration; provided, however, that the travel
 2422  expenses so exempted from administration shall not exceed the
 2423  sum of $300.
 2424         Section 52. Paragraph (m) of subsection (1) of section
 2425  255.20, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2426         255.20 Local bids and contracts for public construction
 2427  works; specification of state-produced lumber.—
 2428         (1) A county, municipality, special district as defined in
 2429  chapter 189, or other political subdivision of the state seeking
 2430  to construct or improve a public building, structure, or other
 2431  public construction works must competitively award to an
 2432  appropriately licensed contractor each project that is estimated
 2433  in accordance with generally accepted cost-accounting principles
 2434  to cost more than $300,000. For electrical work, the local
 2435  government must competitively award to an appropriately licensed
 2436  contractor each project that is estimated in accordance with
 2437  generally accepted cost-accounting principles to cost more than
 2438  $75,000. As used in this section, the term “competitively award”
 2439  means to award contracts based on the submission of sealed bids,
 2440  proposals submitted in response to a request for proposal,
 2441  proposals submitted in response to a request for qualifications,
 2442  or proposals submitted for competitive negotiation. This
 2443  subsection expressly allows contracts for construction
 2444  management services, design/build contracts, continuation
 2445  contracts based on unit prices, and any other contract
 2446  arrangement with a private sector contractor permitted by any
 2447  applicable municipal or county ordinance, by district
 2448  resolution, or by state law. For purposes of this section, cost
 2449  includes the cost of all labor, except inmate labor, and the
 2450  cost of equipment and materials to be used in the construction
 2451  of the project. Subject to the provisions of subsection (3), the
 2452  county, municipality, special district, or other political
 2453  subdivision may establish, by municipal or county ordinance or
 2454  special district resolution, procedures for conducting the
 2455  bidding process.
 2456         (m) Any contractor may be considered ineligible to bid by
 2457  the governmental entity if the contractor has been found guilty
 2458  by a court of any violation of federal labor or employment tax
 2459  laws regarding subjects such as safety, tax withholding,
 2460  workers’ compensation, reemployment assistance or unemployment
 2461  tax, social security and Medicare tax, wage or hour, or
 2462  prevailing rate laws within the past 5 years.
 2463         Section 53. Subsection (5) of section 288.075, Florida
 2464  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2465         288.075 Confidentiality of records.—
 2466         (5) IDENTIFICATION, ACCOUNT, AND REGISTRATION NUMBERS.—A
 2467  federal employer identification number, reemployment assistance
 2468  unemployment compensation account number, or Florida sales tax
 2469  registration number held by an economic development agency is
 2470  confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I
 2471  of the State Constitution.
 2472         Section 54. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section
 2473  288.1045, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2474         288.1045 Qualified defense contractor and space flight
 2475  business tax refund program.—
 2476         (1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
 2477         (c) “Business unit” means an employing unit, as defined in
 2478  s. 443.036, that is registered with the department for
 2479  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation purposes or
 2480  means a subcategory or division of an employing unit that is
 2481  accepted by the department as a reporting unit.
 2482         Section 55. Paragraph (d) of subsection (2) of section
 2483  288.106, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2484         288.106 Tax refund program for qualified target industry
 2485  businesses.—
 2486         (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section:
 2487         (d) “Business” means an employing unit, as defined in s.
 2488  443.036, that is registered for reemployment assistance
 2489  unemployment compensation purposes with the state agency
 2490  providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax collection
 2491  services under an interagency agreement pursuant to s. 443.1316,
 2492  or a subcategory or division of an employing unit that is
 2493  accepted by the state agency providing reemployment assistance
 2494  unemployment tax collection services as a reporting unit.
 2495         Section 56. Paragraph (b) of subsection (3) of section
 2496  288.1081, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2497         288.1081 Economic Gardening Business Loan Pilot Program.—
 2498         (3)
 2499         (b) A loan applicant must submit a written application to
 2500  the loan administrator in the format prescribed by the loan
 2501  administrator. The application must include:
 2502         1. The applicant’s federal employer identification number,
 2503  reemployment assistance unemployment account number, and sales
 2504  or other tax registration number.
 2505         2. The street address of the applicant’s principal place of
 2506  business in this state.
 2507         3. A description of the type of economic activity, product,
 2508  or research and development undertaken by the applicant,
 2509  including the six-digit North American Industry Classification
 2510  System code for each type of economic activity conducted by the
 2511  applicant.
 2512         4. The applicant’s annual revenue, number of employees,
 2513  number of full-time equivalent employees, and other information
 2514  necessary to verify the applicant’s eligibility for the pilot
 2515  program under s. 288.1082(4)(a).
 2516         5. The projected investment in the business, if any, which
 2517  the applicant proposes in conjunction with the loan.
 2518         6. The total investment in the business from all sources,
 2519  if any, which the applicant proposes in conjunction with the
 2520  loan.
 2521         7. The number of net new full-time equivalent jobs that, as
 2522  a result of the loan, the applicant proposes to create in this
 2523  state as of December 31 of each year and the average annual wage
 2524  of the proposed jobs.
 2525         8. The total number of full-time equivalent employees the
 2526  applicant currently employs in this state.
 2527         9. The date that the applicant anticipates it needs the
 2528  loan.
 2529         10. A detailed explanation of why the loan is needed to
 2530  assist the applicant in expanding jobs in the state.
 2531         11. A statement that all of the applicant’s available
 2532  corporate assets are pledged as collateral for the amount of the
 2533  loan.
 2534         12. A statement that the applicant, upon receiving the
 2535  loan, agrees not to seek additional long-term debt without prior
 2536  approval of the loan administrator.
 2537         13. A statement that the loan is a joint obligation of the
 2538  business and of each person who owns at least 20 percent of the
 2539  business.
 2540         14. Any additional information requested by the department
 2541  or the loan administrator.
 2542         Section 57. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
 2543  288.1089, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2544         288.1089 Innovation Incentive Program.—
 2545         (3) To be eligible for consideration for an innovation
 2546  incentive award, an innovation business, a research and
 2547  development entity, or an alternative and renewable energy
 2548  company must submit a written application to the department
 2549  before making a decision to locate new operations in this state
 2550  or expand an existing operation in this state. The application
 2551  must include, but not be limited to:
 2552         (a) The applicant’s federal employer identification number,
 2553  reemployment assistance unemployment account number, and state
 2554  sales tax registration number. If such numbers are not available
 2555  at the time of application, they must be submitted to the
 2556  department in writing before the disbursement of any payments
 2557  under this section.
 2558         Section 58. Subsection (1) of section 334.30, Florida
 2559  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2560         334.30 Public-private transportation facilities.—The
 2561  Legislature finds and declares that there is a public need for
 2562  the rapid construction of safe and efficient transportation
 2563  facilities for the purpose of traveling within the state, and
 2564  that it is in the public’s interest to provide for the
 2565  construction of additional safe, convenient, and economical
 2566  transportation facilities.
 2567         (1) The department may receive or solicit proposals and,
 2568  with legislative approval as evidenced by approval of the
 2569  project in the department’s work program, enter into agreements
 2570  with private entities, or consortia thereof, for the building,
 2571  operation, ownership, or financing of transportation facilities.
 2572  The department may advance projects programmed in the adopted 5
 2573  year work program or projects increasing transportation capacity
 2574  and greater than $500 million in the 10-year Strategic
 2575  Intermodal Plan using funds provided by public-private
 2576  partnerships or private entities to be reimbursed from
 2577  department funds for the project as programmed in the adopted
 2578  work program. The department shall by rule establish an
 2579  application fee for the submission of unsolicited proposals
 2580  under this section. The fee must be sufficient to pay the costs
 2581  of evaluating the proposals. The department may engage the
 2582  services of private consultants to assist in the evaluation.
 2583  Before approval, the department must determine that the proposed
 2584  project:
 2585         (a) Is in the public’s best interest;
 2586         (b) Would not require state funds to be used unless the
 2587  project is on the State Highway System;
 2588         (c) Would have adequate safeguards in place to ensure that
 2589  no additional costs or service disruptions would be realized by
 2590  the traveling public and residents of the state in the event of
 2591  default or cancellation of the agreement by the department;
 2592         (d) Would have adequate safeguards in place to ensure that
 2593  the department or the private entity has the opportunity to add
 2594  capacity to the proposed project and other transportation
 2595  facilities serving similar origins and destinations; and
 2596         (e) Would be owned by the department upon completion or
 2597  termination of the agreement.
 2598  
 2599  The department shall ensure that all reasonable costs to the
 2600  state, related to transportation facilities that are not part of
 2601  the State Highway System, are borne by the private entity. The
 2602  department shall also ensure that all reasonable costs to the
 2603  state and substantially affected local governments and
 2604  utilities, related to the private transportation facility, are
 2605  borne by the private entity for transportation facilities that
 2606  are owned by private entities. For projects on the State Highway
 2607  System, the department may use state resources to participate in
 2608  funding and financing the project as provided for under the
 2609  department’s enabling legislation. Because the Legislature
 2610  recognizes that private entities or consortia thereof would
 2611  perform a governmental or public purpose or function when they
 2612  enter into agreements with the department to design, build,
 2613  operate, own, or finance transportation facilities, the
 2614  transportation facilities, including leasehold interests
 2615  thereof, are exempt from ad valorem taxes as provided in chapter
 2616  196 to the extent property is owned by the state or other
 2617  government entity, and from intangible taxes as provided in
 2618  chapter 199 and special assessments of the state, any city,
 2619  town, county, special district, political subdivision of the
 2620  state, or any other governmental entity. The private entities or
 2621  consortia thereof are exempt from tax imposed by chapter 201 on
 2622  all documents or obligations to pay money which arise out of the
 2623  agreements to design, build, operate, own, lease, or finance
 2624  transportation facilities. Any private entities or consortia
 2625  thereof must pay any applicable corporate taxes as provided in
 2626  chapter 220, and reemployment assistance unemployment
 2627  compensation taxes as provided in chapter 443, and sales and use
 2628  tax as provided in chapter 212 shall be applicable. The private
 2629  entities or consortia thereof must also register and collect the
 2630  tax imposed by chapter 212 on all their direct sales and leases
 2631  that are subject to tax under chapter 212. The agreement between
 2632  the private entity or consortia thereof and the department
 2633  establishing a transportation facility under this chapter
 2634  constitutes documentation sufficient to claim any exemption
 2635  under this section.
 2636         Section 59. Subsection (8) of section 408.809, Florida
 2637  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2638         408.809 Background screening; prohibited offenses.—
 2639         (8) There is no reemployment assistance unemployment
 2640  compensation or other monetary liability on the part of, and no
 2641  cause of action for damages arising against, an employer that,
 2642  upon notice of a disqualifying offense listed under chapter 435
 2643  or this section, terminates the person against whom the report
 2644  was issued, whether or not that person has filed for an
 2645  exemption with the Department of Health or the agency.
 2646         Section 60. Paragraph (e) of subsection (7) of section
 2647  409.2563, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2648         409.2563 Administrative establishment of child support
 2649  obligations.—
 2650         (7) ADMINISTRATIVE SUPPORT ORDER.—
 2651         (e) An administrative support order must comply with ss.
 2652  61.13(1) and 61.30. The department shall develop a standard form
 2653  or forms for administrative support orders. An administrative
 2654  support order must provide and state findings, if applicable,
 2655  concerning:
 2656         1. The full name and date of birth of the child or
 2657  children;
 2658         2. The name of the parent from whom support is being sought
 2659  and the other parent or caregiver;
 2660         3. The parent’s duty and ability to provide support;
 2661         4. The amount of the parent’s monthly support obligation;
 2662         5. Any obligation to pay retroactive support;
 2663         6. The parent’s obligation to provide for the health care
 2664  needs of each child, whether through health insurance,
 2665  contribution toward the cost of health insurance, payment or
 2666  reimbursement of health care expenses for the child, or any
 2667  combination thereof;
 2668         7. The beginning date of any required monthly payments and
 2669  health insurance;
 2670         8. That all support payments ordered must be paid to the
 2671  Florida State Disbursement Unit as provided by s. 61.1824;
 2672         9. That the parents, or caregiver if applicable, must file
 2673  with the department when the administrative support order is
 2674  rendered, if they have not already done so, and update as
 2675  appropriate the information required pursuant to paragraph
 2676  (13)(b);
 2677         10. That both parents, or parent and caregiver if
 2678  applicable, are required to promptly notify the department of
 2679  any change in their mailing addresses pursuant to paragraph
 2680  (13)(c); and
 2681         11. That if the parent ordered to pay support receives
 2682  reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation benefits,
 2683  the payor shall withhold, and transmit to the department, 40
 2684  percent of the benefits for payment of support, not to exceed
 2685  the amount owed.
 2686  
 2687  An income deduction order as provided by s. 61.1301 must be
 2688  incorporated into the administrative support order or, if not
 2689  incorporated into the administrative support order, the
 2690  department or the Division of Administrative Hearings shall
 2691  render a separate income deduction order.
 2692         Section 61. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3), subsection
 2693  (8), and paragraph (a) of subsection (9) of section 409.2576,
 2694  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2695         409.2576 State Directory of New Hires.—
 2696         (3) EMPLOYERS TO FURNISH REPORTS.—
 2697         (a) Each employer subject to the reporting requirements of
 2698  chapter 443 with 250 or more employees, shall provide to the
 2699  State Directory of New Hires, a report listing the employer’s
 2700  legal name, address, and reemployment assistance unemployment
 2701  compensation identification number. The report must also provide
 2702  the name and social security number of each new employee or
 2703  rehired employee at the end of the first pay period following
 2704  employment or reemployment.
 2705         (8) PROVIDING INFORMATION TO NATIONAL DIRECTORY.—The State
 2706  Directory of New Hires must furnish information regarding newly
 2707  hired or rehired employees to the National Directory of New
 2708  Hires for matching with the records of other state case
 2709  registries within 3 business days of entering such information
 2710  from the employer into the State Directory of New Hires. The
 2711  State Directory of New Hires shall enter into an agreement with
 2712  the Department of Economic Opportunity or its tax collection
 2713  service provider for the quarterly reporting to the National
 2714  Directory of New Hires information on wages and reemployment
 2715  assistance unemployment compensation taken from the quarterly
 2716  report to the Secretary of Labor, now required by Title III of
 2717  the Social Security Act, except that no report shall be filed
 2718  with respect to an employee of a state or local agency
 2719  performing intelligence or counterintelligence functions, if the
 2720  head of such agency has determined that filing such a report
 2721  could endanger the safety of the employee or compromise an
 2722  ongoing investigation or intelligence mission.
 2723         (9) DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION.—
 2724         (a) New hire information shall be disclosed to the state
 2725  agency administering the following programs for the purposes of
 2726  determining eligibility under those programs:
 2727         1. Any state program funded under part A of Title IV of the
 2728  Social Security Act;
 2729         2. The Medicaid program under Title XIX of the Social
 2730  Security Act;
 2731         3. The reemployment assistance or unemployment compensation
 2732  program under s. 3304 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954;
 2733         4. The food assistance program under the Food and Nutrition
 2734  Act of 2008; and
 2735         5. Any state program under a plan approved under Title I
 2736  (Old-Age Assistance for the Aged), Title X (Aid to the Blind),
 2737  Title XIV (Aid to the Permanently and Totally Disabled), or
 2738  Title XVI (Aid to the Aged, Blind, or Disabled; Supplemental
 2739  Security Income for the Aged, Blind, and Disabled) of the Social
 2740  Security Act.
 2741         Section 62. Paragraph (f) of subsection (1) of section
 2742  414.295, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2743         414.295 Temporary cash assistance programs; public records
 2744  exemption.—
 2745         (1) Personal identifying information of a temporary cash
 2746  assistance program participant, a participant’s family, or a
 2747  participant’s family or household member, except for information
 2748  identifying a parent who does not live in the same home as the
 2749  child, held by the department, the Office of Early Learning,
 2750  Workforce Florida, Inc., the Department of Health, the
 2751  Department of Revenue, the Department of Education, or a
 2752  regional workforce board or local committee created pursuant to
 2753  s. 445.007 is confidential and exempt from s. 119.07(1) and s.
 2754  24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution. Such confidential and
 2755  exempt information may be released for purposes directly
 2756  connected with:
 2757         (f) The administration of the reemployment assistance
 2758  unemployment compensation program.
 2759         Section 63. Subsection (4) of section 435.06, Florida
 2760  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2761         435.06 Exclusion from employment.—
 2762         (4) There is no reemployment assistance unemployment
 2763  compensation or other monetary liability on the part of, and no
 2764  cause of action for damages against, an employer that, upon
 2765  notice of a conviction or arrest for a disqualifying offense
 2766  listed under this chapter, terminates the person against whom
 2767  the report was issued or who was arrested, regardless of whether
 2768  or not that person has filed for an exemption pursuant to this
 2769  chapter.
 2770         Section 64. Subsection (2) of section 440.12, Florida
 2771  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2772         440.12 Time for commencement and limits on weekly rate of
 2773  compensation.—
 2774         (2) Compensation for disability resulting from injuries
 2775  which occur after December 31, 1974, shall not be less than $20
 2776  per week. However, if the employee’s wages at the time of injury
 2777  are less than $20 per week, he or she shall receive his or her
 2778  full weekly wages. If the employee’s wages at the time of the
 2779  injury exceed $20 per week, compensation shall not exceed an
 2780  amount per week which is:
 2781         (a) Equal to 100 percent of the statewide average weekly
 2782  wage, determined as hereinafter provided for the year in which
 2783  the injury occurred; however, the increase to 100 percent from
 2784  66 2/3 percent of the statewide average weekly wage shall apply
 2785  only to injuries occurring on or after August 1, 1979; and
 2786         (b) Adjusted to the nearest dollar.
 2787  
 2788  For the purpose of this subsection, the “statewide average
 2789  weekly wage” means the average weekly wage paid by employers
 2790  subject to the Florida Reemployment Assistance Program
 2791  Unemployment Compensation Law as reported to the Department of
 2792  Economic Opportunity for the four calendar quarters ending each
 2793  June 30, which average weekly wage shall be determined by the
 2794  Department of Economic Opportunity on or before November 30 of
 2795  each year and shall be used in determining the maximum weekly
 2796  compensation rate with respect to injuries occurring in the
 2797  calendar year immediately following. The statewide average
 2798  weekly wage determined by the Department of Economic Opportunity
 2799  shall be reported annually to the Legislature.
 2800         Section 65. Paragraph (c) of subsection (9) and subsection
 2801  (10) of section 440.15, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2802         440.15 Compensation for disability.—Compensation for
 2803  disability shall be paid to the employee, subject to the limits
 2804  provided in s. 440.12(2), as follows:
 2805         (9) EMPLOYEE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THIS CHAPTER AND
 2806  FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE ACT.—
 2807         (c) Disability compensation benefits payable for any week,
 2808  including those benefits provided by paragraph (1)(f), may not
 2809  be reduced pursuant to this subsection until the Social Security
 2810  Administration determines the amount otherwise payable to the
 2811  employee under 42 U.S.C. ss. 402 and 423 and the employee has
 2812  begun receiving such social security benefit payments. The
 2813  employee shall, upon demand by the department, the employer, or
 2814  the carrier, authorize the Social Security Administration to
 2815  release disability information relating to her or him and
 2816  authorize the Department of Economic Opportunity to release
 2817  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation information
 2818  relating to her or him, in accordance with rules to be adopted
 2819  by the department prescribing the procedure and manner for
 2820  requesting the authorization and for compliance by the employee.
 2821  The department or the employer or carrier may not make any
 2822  payment of benefits for total disability or those additional
 2823  benefits provided by paragraph (1)(f) for any period during
 2824  which the employee willfully fails or refuses to authorize the
 2825  release of information in the manner and within the time
 2826  prescribed by such rules. The authority for release of
 2827  disability information granted by an employee under this
 2828  paragraph is effective for a period not to exceed 12 months and
 2829  such authority may be renewed, as the department prescribes by
 2830  rule.
 2831         (10) EMPLOYEE ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THIS CHAPTER WHO
 2832  HAS RECEIVED OR IS ENTITLED TO RECEIVE REEMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE
 2833  UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION.—
 2834         (a) No compensation benefits shall be payable for temporary
 2835  total disability or permanent total disability under this
 2836  chapter for any week in which the injured employee has received,
 2837  or is receiving, reemployment assistance or unemployment
 2838  compensation benefits.
 2839         (b) If an employee is entitled to temporary partial
 2840  benefits pursuant to subsection (4) and reemployment assistance
 2841  or unemployment compensation benefits, such reemployment
 2842  assistance or unemployment compensation benefits shall be
 2843  primary and the temporary partial benefits shall be supplemental
 2844  only, the sum of the two benefits not to exceed the amount of
 2845  temporary partial benefits which would otherwise be payable.
 2846         Section 66. Subsections (4) and (7) of section 440.381,
 2847  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 2848         440.381 Application for coverage; reporting payroll;
 2849  payroll audit procedures; penalties.—
 2850         (4) Each employer must submit a copy of the quarterly
 2851  earnings report required by chapter 443 at the end of each
 2852  quarter to the carrier and submit self-audits supported by the
 2853  quarterly earnings reports required by chapter 443 and the rules
 2854  adopted by the Department of Economic Opportunity or by the
 2855  state agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 2856  collection services under contract with the Department of
 2857  Economic Opportunity through an interagency agreement pursuant
 2858  to s. 443.1316. The reports must include a sworn statement by an
 2859  officer or principal of the employer attesting to the accuracy
 2860  of the information contained in the report.
 2861         (7) If an employee suffering a compensable injury was not
 2862  reported as earning wages on the last quarterly earnings report
 2863  filed with the Department of Economic Opportunity or the state
 2864  agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 2865  collection services under contract with the Department of
 2866  Economic Opportunity through an interagency agreement pursuant
 2867  to s. 443.1316 before the accident, the employer shall indemnify
 2868  the carrier for all workers’ compensation benefits paid to or on
 2869  behalf of the employee unless the employer establishes that the
 2870  employee was hired after the filing of the quarterly report, in
 2871  which case the employer and employee shall attest to the fact
 2872  that the employee was employed by the employer at the time of
 2873  the injury. Failure of the employer to indemnify the insurer
 2874  within 21 days after demand by the insurer is grounds for the
 2875  insurer to immediately cancel coverage. Any action for
 2876  indemnification brought by the carrier is cognizable in the
 2877  circuit court having jurisdiction where the employer or carrier
 2878  resides or transacts business. The insurer is entitled to a
 2879  reasonable attorney’s fee if it recovers any portion of the
 2880  benefits paid in the action.
 2881         Section 67. Subsection (2) of section 440.42, Florida
 2882  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2883         440.42 Insurance policies; liability.—
 2884         (2) A workers’ compensation insurance policy may require
 2885  the employer to release certain employment and wage information
 2886  maintained by the state pursuant to federal and state
 2887  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation laws except to
 2888  the extent prohibited or limited under federal law. By entering
 2889  into a workers’ compensation insurance policy with such a
 2890  provision, the employer consents to the release of the
 2891  information. The insurance carrier requiring such consent shall
 2892  safeguard the information and maintain its confidentiality. The
 2893  carrier shall limit use of the information to verifying
 2894  compliance with the terms of the workers’ compensation insurance
 2895  policy. The department may charge a fee to cover the cost of
 2896  disclosing the information.
 2897         Section 68. Paragraph (i) of subsection (1) and paragraph
 2898  (b) of subsection (9) of section 445.009, Florida Statutes, are
 2899  amended to read:
 2900         445.009 One-stop delivery system.—
 2901         (1) The one-stop delivery system is the state’s primary
 2902  customer-service strategy for offering every Floridian access,
 2903  through service sites or telephone or computer networks, to the
 2904  following services:
 2905         (i) Claim filing for reemployment assistance unemployment
 2906  compensation services.
 2907         (9)
 2908         (b) The network shall assure that a uniform method is used
 2909  to determine eligibility for and management of services provided
 2910  by agencies that conduct workforce development activities. The
 2911  Department of Management Services shall develop strategies to
 2912  allow access to the databases and information management systems
 2913  of the following systems in order to link information in those
 2914  databases with the one-stop delivery system:
 2915         1. The Reemployment Assistance Unemployment Compensation
 2916  Program under chapter 443.
 2917         2. The public employment service described in s. 443.181.
 2918         3. The FLORIDA System and the components related to
 2919  temporary cash assistance, food assistance, and Medicaid
 2920  eligibility.
 2921         4. The Student Financial Assistance System of the
 2922  Department of Education.
 2923         5. Enrollment in the public postsecondary education system.
 2924         6. Other information systems determined appropriate by
 2925  Workforce Florida, Inc.
 2926         Section 69. Subsection (6) of section 445.016, Florida
 2927  Statutes, is amended to read:
 2928         445.016 Untried Worker Placement and Employment Incentive
 2929  Act.—
 2930         (6) During an untried worker’s probationary placement, the
 2931  for-profit or not-for-profit agent shall be the employer of
 2932  record of that untried worker, and shall provide workers’
 2933  compensation and reemployment assistance unemployment
 2934  compensation coverage as provided by law. The business employing
 2935  the untried worker through the agent may be eligible to apply
 2936  for any tax credits, wage supplementation, wage subsidy, or
 2937  employer payment for that employee that are authorized in law or
 2938  by agreement with the employer. After satisfactory completion of
 2939  such a probationary period, an untried worker shall not be
 2940  considered an untried worker.
 2941         Section 70. Paragraph (c) of subsection (2) and paragraph
 2942  (a) of subsection (3) of section 446.50, Florida Statutes, are
 2943  amended to read:
 2944         446.50 Displaced homemakers; multiservice programs; report
 2945  to the Legislature; Displaced Homemaker Trust Fund created.—
 2946         (2) DEFINITION.—For the purposes of this section, the term
 2947  “displaced homemaker” means an individual who:
 2948         (c) Is not adequately employed, as defined by rule of the
 2949  Department of Economic Opportunity agency;
 2950         (3) POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMIC
 2951  OPPORTUNITY.—
 2952         (a) The Department of Economic Opportunity, under plans
 2953  established by Workforce Florida, Inc., shall establish, or
 2954  contract for the establishment of, programs for displaced
 2955  homemakers which shall include:
 2956         1. Job counseling, by professionals and peers, specifically
 2957  designed for a person entering the job market after a number of
 2958  years as a homemaker.
 2959         2. Job training and placement services, including:
 2960         a. Training programs for available jobs in the public and
 2961  private sectors, taking into account the skills and job
 2962  experiences of a homemaker and developed by working with public
 2963  and private employers.
 2964         b. Assistance in locating available employment for
 2965  displaced homemakers, some of whom could be employed in existing
 2966  job training and placement programs.
 2967         c. Utilization of the services of the state employment
 2968  service in locating employment opportunities.
 2969         3. Financial management services providing information and
 2970  assistance with respect to insurance, including, but not limited
 2971  to, life, health, home, and automobile insurance, and taxes,
 2972  estate and probate problems, mortgages, loans, and other related
 2973  financial matters.
 2974         4. Educational services, including high school equivalency
 2975  degree and such other courses as the department determines would
 2976  be of interest and benefit to displaced homemakers.
 2977         5. Outreach and information services with respect to
 2978  federal and state employment, education, health, and
 2979  reemployment unemployment assistance programs that the
 2980  department determines would be of interest and benefit to
 2981  displaced homemakers.
 2982         Section 71. Paragraph (b) of subsection (4) of section
 2983  448.110, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 2984         448.110 State minimum wage; annual wage adjustment;
 2985  enforcement.—
 2986         (4)
 2987         (b) The Department of Revenue and the Department of
 2988  Economic Opportunity shall annually publish the amount of the
 2989  adjusted state minimum wage and the effective date. Publication
 2990  shall occur by posting the adjusted state minimum wage rate and
 2991  the effective date on the Internet home pages of the Department
 2992  of Economic Opportunity and the Department of Revenue by October
 2993  15 of each year. In addition, to the extent funded in the
 2994  General Appropriations Act, the Department of Economic
 2995  Opportunity shall provide written notice of the adjusted rate
 2996  and the effective date of the adjusted state minimum wage to all
 2997  employers registered in the most current reemployment assistance
 2998  unemployment compensation database. Such notice shall be mailed
 2999  by November 15 of each year using the addresses included in the
 3000  database. Employers are responsible for maintaining current
 3001  address information in the reemployment assistance unemployment
 3002  compensation database. The Department of Economic Opportunity is
 3003  not responsible for failure to provide notice due to incorrect
 3004  or incomplete address information in the database. The
 3005  Department of Economic Opportunity shall provide the Department
 3006  of Revenue with the adjusted state minimum wage rate information
 3007  and effective date in a timely manner.
 3008         Section 72. Paragraph (e) of subsection (2) of section
 3009  450.31, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3010         450.31 Issuance, revocation, and suspension of, and refusal
 3011  to issue or renew, certificate of registration.—
 3012         (2) The department may revoke, suspend, or refuse to issue
 3013  or renew any certificate of registration when it is shown that
 3014  the farm labor contractor has:
 3015         (e) Failed to pay reemployment assistance unemployment
 3016  compensation taxes as determined by the Department of Economic
 3017  Opportunity; or
 3018         Section 73. Subsection (9) of section 450.33, Florida
 3019  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3020         450.33 Duties of farm labor contractor.—Every farm labor
 3021  contractor must:
 3022         (9) Comply with all applicable statutes, rules, and
 3023  regulations of the United States and of the State of Florida for
 3024  the protection or benefit of labor, including, but not limited
 3025  to, those providing for wages, hours, fair labor standards,
 3026  social security, workers’ compensation, reemployment assistance
 3027  or unemployment compensation, child labor, and transportation.
 3028         Section 74. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 468.529,
 3029  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
 3030         468.529 Licensee’s insurance; employment tax; benefit
 3031  plans.—
 3032         (1) A licensed employee leasing company is the employer of
 3033  the leased employees, except that this provision is not intended
 3034  to affect the determination of any issue arising under Pub. L.
 3035  No. 93-406, the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as
 3036  amended from time to time. An employee leasing company shall be
 3037  responsible for timely payment of reemployment assistance
 3038  unemployment taxes pursuant to chapter 443, and shall be
 3039  responsible for providing workers’ compensation coverage
 3040  pursuant to chapter 440. However, no licensed employee leasing
 3041  company shall sponsor a plan of self-insurance for health
 3042  benefits, except as may be permitted by the provisions of the
 3043  Florida Insurance Code or, if applicable, by Pub. L. No. 93-406,
 3044  the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, as amended from
 3045  time to time. For purposes of this section, a “plan of self
 3046  insurance” shall exclude any arrangement where an admitted
 3047  insurance carrier has issued a policy of insurance primarily
 3048  responsible for the obligations of the health plan.
 3049         (3) A licensed employee leasing company shall within 30
 3050  days after initiation or termination notify its workers’
 3051  compensation insurance carrier, the Division of Workers’
 3052  Compensation of the Department of Financial Services, and the
 3053  state agency providing reemployment assistance unemployment tax
 3054  collection services under contract with the Department of
 3055  Economic Opportunity through an interagency agreement pursuant
 3056  to s. 443.1316 of both the initiation or the termination of the
 3057  company’s relationship with any client company.
 3058         Section 75. Subsection (8) of section 553.791, Florida
 3059  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3060         553.791 Alternative plans review and inspection.—
 3061         (8) A private provider performing required inspections
 3062  under this section shall inspect each phase of construction as
 3063  required by the applicable codes. The private provider shall be
 3064  permitted to send a duly authorized representative to the
 3065  building site to perform the required inspections, provided all
 3066  required reports are prepared by and bear the signature of the
 3067  private provider or the private provider’s duly authorized
 3068  representative. The duly authorized representative must be an
 3069  employee of the private provider entitled to receive
 3070  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation benefits under
 3071  chapter 443. The contractor’s contractual or legal obligations
 3072  are not relieved by any action of the private provider.
 3073         Section 76. Paragraph (b) of subsection (5) of section
 3074  624.509, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3075         624.509 Premium tax; rate and computation.—
 3076         (5)
 3077         (b) For purposes of this subsection:
 3078         1. The term “salaries” does not include amounts paid as
 3079  commissions.
 3080         2. The term “employees” does not include independent
 3081  contractors or any person whose duties require that the person
 3082  hold a valid license under the Florida Insurance Code, except
 3083  adjusters, managing general agents, and service representatives,
 3084  as defined in s. 626.015.
 3085         3. The term “net tax” means the tax imposed by this section
 3086  after applying the calculations and credits set forth in
 3087  subsection (4).
 3088         4. An affiliated group of corporations that created a
 3089  service company within its affiliated group on July 30, 2002,
 3090  shall allocate the salary of each service company employee
 3091  covered by contracts with affiliated group members to the
 3092  companies for which the employees perform services. The salary
 3093  allocation is based on the amount of time during the tax year
 3094  that the individual employee spends performing services or
 3095  otherwise working for each company over the total amount of time
 3096  the employee spends performing services or otherwise working for
 3097  all companies. The total amount of salary allocated to an
 3098  insurance company within the affiliated group shall be included
 3099  as that insurer’s employee salaries for purposes of this
 3100  section.
 3101         a. Except as provided in subparagraph (a)2., the term
 3102  “affiliated group of corporations” means two or more
 3103  corporations that are entirely owned by a single corporation and
 3104  that constitute an affiliated group of corporations as defined
 3105  in s. 1504(a) of the Internal Revenue Code.
 3106         b. The term “service company” means a separate corporation
 3107  within the affiliated group of corporations whose employees
 3108  provide services to affiliated group members and which are
 3109  treated as service company employees for reemployment assistance
 3110  or unemployment compensation and common law purposes. The
 3111  holding company of an affiliated group may not qualify as a
 3112  service company. An insurance company may not qualify as a
 3113  service company.
 3114         c. If an insurance company fails to substantiate, whether
 3115  by means of adequate records or otherwise, its eligibility to
 3116  claim the service company exception under this section, or its
 3117  salary allocation under this section, no credit shall be
 3118  allowed.
 3119         5. A service company that is a subsidiary of a mutual
 3120  insurance holding company, which mutual insurance holding
 3121  company was in existence on or before January 1, 2000, shall
 3122  allocate the salary of each service company employee covered by
 3123  contracts with members of the mutual insurance holding company
 3124  system to the companies for which the employees perform
 3125  services. The salary allocation is based on the ratio of the
 3126  amount of time during the tax year which the individual employee
 3127  spends performing services or otherwise working for each company
 3128  to the total amount of time the employee spends performing
 3129  services or otherwise working for all companies. The total
 3130  amount of salary allocated to an insurance company within the
 3131  mutual insurance holding company system shall be included as
 3132  that insurer’s employee salaries for purposes of this section.
 3133  However, this subparagraph does not apply for any tax year
 3134  unless funds sufficient to offset the anticipated salary credits
 3135  have been appropriated to the General Revenue Fund prior to the
 3136  due date of the final return for that year.
 3137         a. The term “mutual insurance holding company system” means
 3138  two or more corporations that are subsidiaries of a mutual
 3139  insurance holding company and in compliance with part IV of
 3140  chapter 628.
 3141         b. The term “service company” means a separate corporation
 3142  within the mutual insurance holding company system whose
 3143  employees provide services to other members of the mutual
 3144  insurance holding company system and are treated as service
 3145  company employees for reemployment assistance or unemployment
 3146  compensation and common-law purposes. The mutual insurance
 3147  holding company may not qualify as a service company.
 3148         c. If an insurance company fails to substantiate, whether
 3149  by means of adequate records or otherwise, its eligibility to
 3150  claim the service company exception under this section, or its
 3151  salary allocation under this section, no credit shall be
 3152  allowed.
 3153         Section 77. Paragraph (c) of subsection (8) of section
 3154  679.4061, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3155         679.4061 Discharge of account debtor; notification of
 3156  assignment; identification and proof of assignment; restrictions
 3157  on assignment of accounts, chattel paper, payment intangibles,
 3158  and promissory notes ineffective.—
 3159         (8) This section is subject to law other than this chapter
 3160  which establishes a different rule for an account debtor who is
 3161  an individual and who incurred the obligation primarily for
 3162  personal, family, or household purposes. Subsections (4) and (6)
 3163  do not apply to the creation, attachment, perfection, or
 3164  enforcement of a security interest in:
 3165         (c) The interest of a debtor who is a natural person in
 3166  reemployment assistance or unemployment, alimony, disability,
 3167  pension, or retirement benefits or victim compensation funds.
 3168         Section 78. Paragraph (c) of subsection (6) of section
 3169  679.4081, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3170         679.4081 Restrictions on assignment of promissory notes,
 3171  health-care-insurance receivables, and certain general
 3172  intangibles ineffective.—
 3173         (6) Subsections (1) and (3) do not apply to the creation,
 3174  attachment, perfection, or enforcement of a security interest
 3175  in:
 3176         (c) The interest of a debtor who is a natural person in
 3177  reemployment assistance or unemployment, alimony, disability,
 3178  pension, or retirement benefits or victim compensation funds.
 3179         Section 79. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
 3180  895.02, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3181         895.02 Definitions.—As used in ss. 895.01-895.08, the term:
 3182         (1) “Racketeering activity” means to commit, to attempt to
 3183  commit, to conspire to commit, or to solicit, coerce, or
 3184  intimidate another person to commit:
 3185         (a) Any crime that is chargeable by petition, indictment,
 3186  or information under the following provisions of the Florida
 3187  Statutes:
 3188         1. Section 210.18, relating to evasion of payment of
 3189  cigarette taxes.
 3190         2. Section 316.1935, relating to fleeing or attempting to
 3191  elude a law enforcement officer and aggravated fleeing or
 3192  eluding.
 3193         3. Section 403.727(3)(b), relating to environmental
 3194  control.
 3195         4. Section 409.920 or s. 409.9201, relating to Medicaid
 3196  fraud.
 3197         5. Section 414.39, relating to public assistance fraud.
 3198         6. Section 440.105 or s. 440.106, relating to workers’
 3199  compensation.
 3200         7. Section 443.071(4), relating to creation of a fictitious
 3201  employer scheme to commit reemployment assistance unemployment
 3202  compensation fraud.
 3203         8. Section 465.0161, relating to distribution of medicinal
 3204  drugs without a permit as an Internet pharmacy.
 3205         9. Section 499.0051, relating to crimes involving
 3206  contraband and adulterated drugs.
 3207         10. Part IV of chapter 501, relating to telemarketing.
 3208         11. Chapter 517, relating to sale of securities and
 3209  investor protection.
 3210         12. Section 550.235 or s. 550.3551, relating to dogracing
 3211  and horseracing.
 3212         13. Chapter 550, relating to jai alai frontons.
 3213         14. Section 551.109, relating to slot machine gaming.
 3214         15. Chapter 552, relating to the manufacture, distribution,
 3215  and use of explosives.
 3216         16. Chapter 560, relating to money transmitters, if the
 3217  violation is punishable as a felony.
 3218         17. Chapter 562, relating to beverage law enforcement.
 3219         18. Section 624.401, relating to transacting insurance
 3220  without a certificate of authority, s. 624.437(4)(c)1., relating
 3221  to operating an unauthorized multiple-employer welfare
 3222  arrangement, or s. 626.902(1)(b), relating to representing or
 3223  aiding an unauthorized insurer.
 3224         19. Section 655.50, relating to reports of currency
 3225  transactions, when such violation is punishable as a felony.
 3226         20. Chapter 687, relating to interest and usurious
 3227  practices.
 3228         21. Section 721.08, s. 721.09, or s. 721.13, relating to
 3229  real estate timeshare plans.
 3230         22. Section 775.13(5)(b), relating to registration of
 3231  persons found to have committed any offense for the purpose of
 3232  benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of a criminal
 3233  gang.
 3234         23. Section 777.03, relating to commission of crimes by
 3235  accessories after the fact.
 3236         24. Chapter 782, relating to homicide.
 3237         25. Chapter 784, relating to assault and battery.
 3238         26. Chapter 787, relating to kidnapping or human
 3239  trafficking.
 3240         27. Chapter 790, relating to weapons and firearms.
 3241         28. Chapter 794, relating to sexual battery, but only if
 3242  such crime was committed with the intent to benefit, promote, or
 3243  further the interests of a criminal gang, or for the purpose of
 3244  increasing a criminal gang member’s own standing or position
 3245  within a criminal gang.
 3246         29. Section 796.03, s. 796.035, s. 796.04, s. 796.045, s.
 3247  796.05, or s. 796.07, relating to prostitution and sex
 3248  trafficking.
 3249         30. Chapter 806, relating to arson and criminal mischief.
 3250         31. Chapter 810, relating to burglary and trespass.
 3251         32. Chapter 812, relating to theft, robbery, and related
 3252  crimes.
 3253         33. Chapter 815, relating to computer-related crimes.
 3254         34. Chapter 817, relating to fraudulent practices, false
 3255  pretenses, fraud generally, and credit card crimes.
 3256         35. Chapter 825, relating to abuse, neglect, or
 3257  exploitation of an elderly person or disabled adult.
 3258         36. Section 827.071, relating to commercial sexual
 3259  exploitation of children.
 3260         37. Chapter 831, relating to forgery and counterfeiting.
 3261         38. Chapter 832, relating to issuance of worthless checks
 3262  and drafts.
 3263         39. Section 836.05, relating to extortion.
 3264         40. Chapter 837, relating to perjury.
 3265         41. Chapter 838, relating to bribery and misuse of public
 3266  office.
 3267         42. Chapter 843, relating to obstruction of justice.
 3268         43. Section 847.011, s. 847.012, s. 847.013, s. 847.06, or
 3269  s. 847.07, relating to obscene literature and profanity.
 3270         44. Section 849.09, s. 849.14, s. 849.15, s. 849.23, or s.
 3271  849.25, relating to gambling.
 3272         45. Chapter 874, relating to criminal gangs.
 3273         46. Chapter 893, relating to drug abuse prevention and
 3274  control.
 3275         47. Chapter 896, relating to offenses related to financial
 3276  transactions.
 3277         48. Sections 914.22 and 914.23, relating to tampering with
 3278  or harassing a witness, victim, or informant, and retaliation
 3279  against a witness, victim, or informant.
 3280         49. Sections 918.12 and 918.13, relating to tampering with
 3281  jurors and evidence.
 3282         Section 80. Paragraph (g) of subsection (8) of section
 3283  896.101, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3284         896.101 Florida Money Laundering Act; definitions;
 3285  penalties; injunctions; seizure warrants; immunity.—
 3286         (8)
 3287         (g)1. Upon service of the temporary order served pursuant
 3288  to this section, the petitioner shall immediately notify by
 3289  certified mail, return receipt requested, or by personal
 3290  service, both the person or entity in possession of the monetary
 3291  instruments or funds and the owner of the monetary instruments
 3292  or funds if known, of the order entered pursuant to this section
 3293  and that the lawful owner of the monetary instruments or funds
 3294  being enjoined may request a hearing to contest and modify the
 3295  order entered pursuant to this section by petitioning the court
 3296  that issued the order, so that such notice is received within 72
 3297  hours.
 3298         2. The notice shall advise that the hearing shall be held
 3299  within 3 days of the request, and the notice must state that the
 3300  hearing will be set and noticed by the person against whom the
 3301  order is served.
 3302         3. The notice shall specifically state that the lawful
 3303  owner has the right to produce evidence of legitimate business
 3304  expenses, obligations, and liabilities, including but not
 3305  limited to, employee payroll expenses verified by current
 3306  reemployment assistance unemployment compensation records,
 3307  employee workers’ compensation insurance, employee health
 3308  insurance, state and federal taxes, and regulatory or licensing
 3309  fees only as may become due before the expiration of the
 3310  temporary order.
 3311         4. Upon determination by the court that the expenses are
 3312  valid, payment of such expenses may be effected by the owner of
 3313  the enjoined monetary instruments or funds only to the court
 3314  ordered payees through court-reviewed checks, issued by the
 3315  owner of, and the person or entity in possession of, the
 3316  enjoined monetary instruments or funds. Upon presentment, the
 3317  person or entity in possession of the enjoined funds or monetary
 3318  instruments shall only honor the payment of the check to the
 3319  court-ordered payee.
 3320         Section 81. Paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of section
 3321  921.0022, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3322         921.0022 Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity ranking
 3323  chart.—
 3324         (3) OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART
 3325         (a) LEVEL 1
 3326  FloridaStatute  FelonyDegree                Description                 
 3327  24.118(3)(a)      3rd   Counterfeit or altered state lottery ticket.
 3328  212.054(2)(b)     3rd   Discretionary sales surtax; limitations, administration, and collection.
 3329  212.15(2)(b)      3rd   Failure to remit sales taxes, amount greater than $300 but less than $20,000.
 3330  316.1935(1)       3rd   Fleeing or attempting to elude law enforcement officer.
 3331  319.30(5)         3rd   Sell, exchange, give away certificate of title or identification number plate.
 3332  319.35(1)(a)      3rd   Tamper, adjust, change, etc., an odometer.  
 3333  320.26(1)(a)      3rd   Counterfeit, manufacture, or sell registration license plates or validation stickers.
 3334  322.212 (1)(a)-(c)  3rd   Possession of forged, stolen, counterfeit, or unlawfully issued driver’s license; possession of simulated identification.
 3335  322.212(4)        3rd   Supply or aid in supplying unauthorized driver’s license or identification card.
 3336  322.212(5)(a)     3rd   False application for driver’s license or identification card.
 3337  414.39(2)         3rd   Unauthorized use, possession, forgery, or alteration of food assistance program, Medicaid ID, value greater than $200.
 3338  414.39(3)(a)      3rd   Fraudulent misappropriation of public assistance funds by employee/official, value more than $200.
 3339  443.071(1)        3rd   False statement or representation to obtain or increase reemployment assistance unemployment compensation benefits.
 3340  509.151(1)        3rd   Defraud an innkeeper, food or lodging value greater than $300.
 3341  517.302(1)        3rd   Violation of the Florida Securities and Investor Protection Act.
 3342  562.27(1)         3rd   Possess still or still apparatus.           
 3343  713.69            3rd   Tenant removes property upon which lien has accrued, value more than $50.
 3344  812.014(3)(c)     3rd   Petit theft (3rd conviction); theft of any property not specified in subsection (2).
 3345  812.081(2)        3rd   Unlawfully makes or causes to be made a reproduction of a trade secret.
 3346  815.04(4)(a)      3rd   Offense against intellectual property (i.e., computer programs, data).
 3347  817.52(2)         3rd   Hiring with intent to defraud, motor vehicle services.
 3348  817.569(2)        3rd   Use of public record or public records information to facilitate commission of a felony.
 3349  826.01            3rd   Bigamy.                                     
 3350  828.122(3)        3rd   Fighting or baiting animals.                
 3351  831.04(1)         3rd   Any erasure, alteration, etc., of any replacement deed, map, plat, or other document listed in s. 92.28.
 3352  831.31(1)(a)      3rd   Sell, deliver, or possess counterfeit controlled substances, all but s. 893.03(5) drugs.
 3353  832.041(1)        3rd   Stopping payment with intent to defraud $150 or more.
 3354  832.05(2)(b) & (4)(c)  3rd   Knowing, making, issuing worthless checks $150 or more or obtaining property in return for worthless check $150 or more.
 3355  838.15(2)         3rd   Commercial bribe receiving.                 
 3356  838.16            3rd   Commercial bribery.                         
 3357  843.18            3rd   Fleeing by boat to elude a law enforcement officer.
 3358  847.011(1)(a)     3rd   Sell, distribute, etc., obscene, lewd, etc., material (2nd conviction).
 3359  849.01            3rd   Keeping gambling house.                     
 3360  849.09(1)(a)-(d)  3rd   Lottery; set up, promote, etc., or assist therein, conduct or advertise drawing for prizes, or dispose of property or money by means of lottery.
 3361  849.23            3rd   Gambling-related machines; “common offender” as to property rights.
 3362  849.25(2)         3rd   Engaging in bookmaking.                     
 3363  860.08            3rd   Interfere with a railroad signal.           
 3364  860.13(1)(a)      3rd   Operate aircraft while under the influence. 
 3365  893.13(2)(a)2.    3rd   Purchase of cannabis.                       
 3366  893.13(6)(a)      3rd   Possession of cannabis (more than 20 grams).
 3367  934.03(1)(a)      3rd   Intercepts, or procures any other person to intercept, any wire or oral communication.
 3368         Section 82. Subsection (2) of section 946.513, Florida
 3369  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3370         946.513 Private employment of inmates; disposition of
 3371  compensation received.—
 3372         (2) No inmate is eligible for reemployment assistance
 3373  benefits unemployment compensation, whether employed by the
 3374  corporation or by any other private enterprise operating on the
 3375  grounds of a correctional institution or elsewhere, when such
 3376  employment is part of a correctional work program or work
 3377  release program of either the corporation or the department.
 3378         Section 83. Subsection (2) of section 946.523, Florida
 3379  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3380         946.523 Prison industry enhancement (PIE) programs.—
 3381         (2) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
 3382  including s. 440.15(8), private sector employers shall provide
 3383  workers’ compensation coverage to inmates who participate in
 3384  prison industry enhancement (PIE) programs under subsection (1).
 3385  However, inmates are not entitled to reemployment assistance
 3386  benefits unemployment compensation.
 3387         Section 84. Paragraph (c) of subsection (5) of section
 3388  985.618, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3389         985.618 Educational and career-related programs.—
 3390         (5)
 3391         (c) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary,
 3392  including s. 440.15(8), private sector employers shall provide
 3393  juveniles participating in juvenile work programs under
 3394  paragraph (b) with workers’ compensation coverage, and juveniles
 3395  shall be entitled to the benefits of such coverage. Nothing in
 3396  this subsection shall be construed to allow juveniles to
 3397  participate in reemployment assistance unemployment compensation
 3398  benefits.
 3399         Section 85. Subsection (3) of section 1003.496, Florida
 3400  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3401         1003.496 High School to Business Career Enhancement
 3402  Program.—
 3403         (3) Employment under this section of a student intern who
 3404  meets the criteria of s. 443.1216(13)(q) is not employment for
 3405  purposes of reemployment assistance unemployment compensation
 3406  under chapter 443.
 3407         Section 86. Subsection (3) of section 1008.39, Florida
 3408  Statutes, is amended to read:
 3409         1008.39 Florida Education and Training Placement
 3410  Information Program.—
 3411         (3) The Florida Education and Training Placement
 3412  Information Program must not make public any information that
 3413  could identify an individual or the individual’s employer. The
 3414  Department of Education must ensure that the purpose of
 3415  obtaining placement information is to evaluate and improve
 3416  public programs or to conduct research for the purpose of
 3417  improving services to the individuals whose social security
 3418  numbers are used to identify their placement. If an agreement
 3419  assures that this purpose will be served and that privacy will
 3420  be protected, the Department of Education shall have access to
 3421  the reemployment assistance unemployment insurance wage reports
 3422  maintained by the Department of Economic Opportunity, the files
 3423  of the Department of Children and Family Services that contain
 3424  information about the distribution of public assistance, the
 3425  files of the Department of Corrections that contain records of
 3426  incarcerations, and the files of the Department of Business and
 3427  Professional Regulation that contain the results of licensure
 3428  examination.
 3429         Section 87. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
 3430  1008.41, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
 3431         1008.41 Workforce education; management information
 3432  system.—
 3433         (1) The Commissioner of Education shall coordinate uniform
 3434  program structures, common definitions, and uniform management
 3435  information systems for workforce education for all divisions
 3436  within the department. In performing these functions, the
 3437  commissioner shall designate deadlines after which data elements
 3438  may not be changed for the coming fiscal or school year. School
 3439  districts and Florida College System institutions shall be
 3440  notified of data element changes at least 90 days prior to the
 3441  start of the subsequent fiscal or school year. Such systems must
 3442  provide for:
 3443         (b) Compliance with state and federal confidentiality
 3444  requirements, except that the department shall have access to
 3445  the reemployment assistance unemployment insurance wage reports
 3446  to collect and report placement information about former
 3447  students. Such placement reports must not disclose the
 3448  individual identities of former students.
 3449         Section 88. Notwithstanding the expiration date contained
 3450  in section 13 of chapter 2011-235, Laws of Florida, operating
 3451  retroactive to January 4, 2012, and expiring March 11, 2012,
 3452  section 443.1117, Florida Statutes, is revived, readopted, and
 3453  amended to read:
 3454         443.1117 Temporary extended benefits.—
 3455         (1) APPLICABILITY OF EXTENDED BENEFITS STATUTE.—Except if
 3456  the result is inconsistent with other provisions of this
 3457  section, s. 443.1115(2), (3), (4), (6), and (7) apply to all
 3458  claims covered by this section.
 3459         (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:
 3460         (a) “Regular benefits” and “extended benefits” have the
 3461  same meaning as in s. 443.1115.
 3462         (b) “Eligibility period” means the weeks in an individual’s
 3463  benefit year or emergency benefit period which begin in an
 3464  extended benefit period and, if the benefit year or emergency
 3465  benefit period ends within that extended benefit period, any
 3466  subsequent weeks beginning in that period.
 3467         (c) “Emergency benefits” means benefits Emergency
 3468  Unemployment Compensation paid pursuant to Pub. L. No. 110-252,
 3469  and any subsequent federal law that provides for the payment of
 3470  Emergency Unemployment Compensation Pub. L. No. 110-449, Pub. L.
 3471  No. 111-5, Pub. L. No. 111-92, Pub. L. No. 111-118, Pub. L. No.
 3472  111-144, Pub. L. No. 111-157, Pub. L. No. 111-205, and Pub. L.
 3473  No. 111-312.
 3474         (d) “Extended benefit period” means a period that:
 3475         1. Begins with the third week after a week for which there
 3476  is a state “on” indicator; and
 3477         2. Ends with any of the following weeks, whichever occurs
 3478  later:
 3479         a. The third week after the first week for which there is a
 3480  state “off” indicator; or
 3481         b. The 13th consecutive week of that period.
 3482         However, an extended benefit period may not begin by reason
 3483  of a state “on” indicator before the 14th week after the end of
 3484  a prior extended benefit period that was in effect for this
 3485  state.
 3486         (e) “Emergency benefit period” means the period during
 3487  which an individual receives emergency benefits.
 3488         (f) “Exhaustee” means an individual who, for any week of
 3489  unemployment in her or his eligibility period:
 3490         1. Has received, before that week, all of the regular
 3491  benefits and emergency benefits, if any, available under this
 3492  chapter or any other law, including dependents’ allowances and
 3493  benefits payable to federal civilian employees and ex
 3494  servicemembers under 5 U.S.C. ss. 8501-8525, in the current
 3495  benefit year or emergency benefit period that includes that
 3496  week. For the purposes of this subparagraph, an individual has
 3497  received all of the regular benefits and emergency benefits, if
 3498  any, available even if, as a result of a pending appeal for
 3499  wages paid for insured work which were not considered in the
 3500  original monetary determination in the benefit year, she or he
 3501  may subsequently be determined to be entitled to added regular
 3502  benefits;
 3503         2. Had a benefit year that expired before that week, and
 3504  was paid no, or insufficient, wages for insured work on the
 3505  basis of which she or he could establish a new benefit year that
 3506  includes that week; and
 3507         3.a. Has no right to unemployment benefits or allowances
 3508  under the Railroad Unemployment Insurance Act or other federal
 3509  laws as specified in regulations issued by the United States
 3510  Secretary of Labor; and
 3511         b. Has not received and is not seeking unemployment
 3512  benefits under the unemployment compensation law of Canada; but
 3513  if an individual is seeking those benefits and the appropriate
 3514  agency finally determines that she or he is not entitled to
 3515  benefits under that law, she or he is considered an exhaustee.
 3516         (g) “State ‘on’ indicator” means, with respect to weeks of
 3517  unemployment ending on or before February 11, 2012 December 10,
 3518  2011, the occurrence of a week in which the average total
 3519  unemployment rate, seasonally adjusted, as determined by the
 3520  United States Secretary of Labor, for the most recent 3 months
 3521  for which data for all states are published by the United States
 3522  Department of Labor:
 3523         1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those
 3524  rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in any or all
 3525  of the preceding 3 calendar years; and
 3526         2. Equals or exceeds 6.5 percent.
 3527         (h) “High unemployment period” means, with respect to weeks
 3528  of unemployment ending on or before February 11, 2012 December
 3529  10, 2011, any week in which the average total unemployment rate,
 3530  seasonally adjusted, as determined by the United States
 3531  Secretary of Labor, for the most recent 3 months for which data
 3532  for all states are published by the United States Department of
 3533  Labor:
 3534         1. Equals or exceeds 110 percent of the average of those
 3535  rates for the corresponding 3-month period ending in any or all
 3536  of the preceding 3 calendar years; and
 3537         2. Equals or exceeds 8 percent.
 3538         (i) “State ‘off’ indicator” means the occurrence of a week
 3539  in which there is no state “on” indicator or which does not
 3540  constitute a high unemployment period.
 3541         (3) TOTAL EXTENDED BENEFIT AMOUNT.—Except as provided in
 3542  subsection (4):
 3543         (a) For any week for which there is an “on” indicator
 3544  pursuant to paragraph (2)(g), the total extended benefit amount
 3545  payable to an eligible individual for her or his applicable
 3546  benefit year is the lesser of:
 3547         1. Fifty percent of the total regular benefits payable
 3548  under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or
 3549         2. Thirteen times the weekly benefit amount payable under
 3550  this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable
 3551  benefit year.
 3552         (b) For any high unemployment period, the total extended
 3553  benefit amount payable to an eligible individual for her or his
 3554  applicable benefit year is the lesser of:
 3555         1. Eighty percent of the total regular benefits payable
 3556  under this chapter in the applicable benefit year; or
 3557         2. Twenty times the weekly benefit amount payable under
 3558  this chapter for a week of total unemployment in the applicable
 3559  benefit year.
 3560         (4) EFFECT ON TRADE READJUSTMENT.—Notwithstanding any other
 3561  provision of this chapter, if the benefit year of an individual
 3562  ends within an extended benefit period, the number of weeks of
 3563  extended benefits the individual is entitled to receive in that
 3564  extended benefit period for weeks of unemployment beginning
 3565  after the end of the benefit year, except as provided in this
 3566  section, is reduced, but not to below zero, by the number of
 3567  weeks for which the individual received, within that benefit
 3568  year, trade readjustment allowances under the Trade Act of 1974,
 3569  as amended.
 3570         Section 89. The provisions of s. 443.1117, Florida
 3571  Statutes, as revived, readopted, and amended by this act, apply
 3572  only to claims for weeks of unemployment in which an exhaustee
 3573  establishes entitlement to extended benefits pursuant to that
 3574  section which are established for the period between January 4,
 3575  2012, and March 11, 2012.
 3576         Section 90. If any provision of this act or its application
 3577  to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the invalidity
 3578  does not affect other provisions or applications of the act
 3579  which can be given effect without the invalid provision or
 3580  application, and to this end the provision of the act are
 3581  severable.
 3582         Section 91. The Legislature finds that this act fulfills an
 3583  important state interest.
 3584         Section 92. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
 3585  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2012.

feedback