February Special Session Update

The Florida Legislature convened in February for a special session on a variety of topics such as continued hurricane relief, establishing a statewide prosecutor for election crimes, immigration enforcement, student athlete compensation and special districts (including the Reedy Creek Improvement District). The special session took place one month in advance of the 2023 regular session. Let’s take a look at the bills placed on the fast track.

Emergency Response

HB 1B by Representative Mike Giallombardo (R – Cape Coral) and SB 2B Emergency Response by Senator Ben Albritton (R – Bartow)

■ Creates Local Government Emergency Bridge Loan Program within DEO, subject to appropriation

■ Provides program’s purpose

■ Specifies program eligibility requirements

■ Authorizes DEO to provide interest-free loans to eligible local governments through specified means

■ Provides for expiration of program

■ Provides $700,000,000 appropriation

■ Effective Date: Upon becoming a law.

Statewide Prosecutor

HB 3B by Representative Juan Fernandez-Barquin (R – Miami) and SB 4B Statewide Prosecutor by Senator Jonathan Martin (R – Ft Myers)

■ Specifies that certain crimes facilitated by or connected to the use of the Internet occur in every judicial circuit within the state

■ Authorizing the Office of Statewide Prosecution to investigate and prosecute crimes involving voting in an election for a federal or state office, voting in an election on a referendum, an initiative or an issue, the petition activities for a federal or state office, the petition activities for a referendum, an initiative or an issue or voter registration, etc.

■ Effective Date: Upon becoming a law.

Immigration Enforcement

HB 5B by Representative John Snyder (R – Palm City) and SB 6B Transportation of Inspected Unauthorized Aliens by Senator Blaise Ingoglia (R – Spring Hill)

■ Provides legislative findings, creates Unauthorized Alien Transport Program within Division of Emergency Management to facilitate transport of inspected unauthorized aliens within the United States

■ Authorizes division to contract for services to implement program

■ Authorizes division to adopt rules to implement program

■ Provides for future expiration

■ Removes s. 185 of chapter 2022-156, Laws of Florida

■ Deems certain payments approved

■ Reverts appropriated funds

■ Provides $10,000,000 appropriation

■ Effective Date: Upon becoming a law.

Student Athlete Compensation

HB 7B by Representative Chip LaMarca (R – Lighthouse Point) and SB 8B Intercollegiate Athlete Compensation and Rights by Senator Travis Hutson (R – Palm Coast)

■ Revises provisions relating to athlete agents representing intercollegiate athletes for certain purposes, compensation that intercollegiate athletes may receive, postsecondary educational institutions requirements and specified workshops

■ Provides specified individuals are not liable for damages

■ Effective Date: Upon becoming a law.

Special Districts

HB 9B by Representative Fred Hawkins (R – Orlando) Reedy Creek Improvement District, Orange and Osceola Counties

■ Reenacting, amending and repealing chapter 67-764, Laws of Florida, relating to district

■ Provides for continuation of authority for revenue collection and powers to meet outstanding obligations

■ Renames district

■ Provides boundaries

■ Revises manner of selection of board of supervisors

■ Provides term limits

■ Revises board member compensation

Continued on page 22