FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Fla. Stat. § 117.225 — Florida Code / Title X / Chapter 117 / Part II / Section 117.225
117.225 Registration; qualifications.
Status: in_force

A notary public, a civil-law notary appointed under chapter 118, or a commissioner of deeds appointed under part IV of chapter 721 may complete registration as an online notary public with the Department of State by:

(1) Holding a current commission as a notary public under part I of this chapter, an appointment as a civil-law notary under chapter 118, or an appointment as a commissioner of deeds under part IV of chapter 721, and submitting his or her commission or appointment number.

(2) Certifying that the notary public, civil-law notary, or commissioner of deeds registering as an online notary public has completed a classroom or online course covering the duties, obligations, and technology requirements for serving as an online notary public.

(3) Paying a notary public registration fee as required by s. 113.01.

(4) Submitting a registration as an online notary public to the Department of State, signed and sworn to by the registrant.

(5) Identifying the RON service provider or providers whose audio-video communication technology and processes for credential analysis and identity-proofing technologies the registrant intends to use for online notarizations.

(6) Providing evidence satisfactory to the Department of State that the registrant has obtained a bond in the amount of $25,000, payable to any individual harmed as a result of a breach of duty by the registrant acting in his or her official capacity as an online notary public, conditioned for the due discharge of the office, and on such terms as are specified in rule by the Department of State as reasonably necessary to protect the public. The bond shall be approved and filed with the Department of State and executed by a surety company duly authorized to transact business in this state. Compliance by an online notary public with this requirement shall satisfy the requirement of obtaining a bond under s. 117.01(7).

(7) Providing evidence satisfactory to the Department of State that the registrant acting in his or her capacity as an online notary public is covered by an errors and omissions insurance policy from an insurer authorized to transact business in this state, in the minimum amount of $25,000 and on such terms as are specified by rule by the Department of State as reasonably necessary to protect the public.

History: s. 9, ch. 2019-71; s. 4, ch. 2021-137.
Fla. Stat. § 48.171 — Florida Code / Title VI / Chapter 48 / Section 48.171
48.171 Service on nonresident motor vehicle owners, etc.
Status: in_force

Any nonresident of this state, being the operator or owner of any motor vehicle, who accepts the privilege extended by the laws of this state to nonresident operators and owners, of operating a motor vehicle or of having it operated, or of permitting any motor vehicle owned, or leased, or controlled by him or her to be operated with his or her knowledge, permission, acquiescence, or consent, within the state, or any resident of this state, being the licensed operator or owner of or the lessee, or otherwise entitled to control any motor vehicle under the laws of this state, who becomes a nonresident or conceals his or her whereabouts, by the acceptance or licensure and by the operation of the motor vehicle, either in person, or by or through his or her servants, agents, or employees, or by persons with his or her knowledge, acquiescence, and consent within the state constitutes the Secretary of State his or her agent for the service of process in any civil action begun in the courts of the state against such operator or owner, lessee, or other person entitled to control of the motor vehicle, arising out of or by reason of any accident or collision occurring within the state in which the motor vehicle is involved.

History: s. 1, ch. 17254, 1935; CGL 1936 Supp. 4274(7); ss. 1, 2, ch. 25003, 1949; s. 4, ch. 67-254; s. 278, ch. 95-147.
Fla. Stat. § 744.374 — Florida Code / Title XLIII / Chapter 744 / Part VI / Section 744.374
744.374 Payments to guardian.
Status: in_force

If there is more than one guardian, either guardian may petition for an order directing the guardian of the property to pay to the guardian of the person periodic amounts for the support, care, maintenance, education, and other needs of the ward if not otherwise provided for in the guardianship plan. The amount may be increased or decreased from time to time. If an order is entered, the receipt of the guardian for payments made shall be a sufficient discharge of the guardian who makes the payments. The guardian shall not be bound to see to the application of the payments.

History: s. 1, ch. 74-106; ss. 6, 26, ch. 75-222; s. 59, ch. 89-96; s. 45, ch. 90-271; s. 1095, ch. 97-102.
Fla. Stat. § 660.28 — Florida Code / Title XXXVIII / Chapter 660 / Section 660.28
660.28 Exemption from bond and other security as fiduciary.
Status: in_force

A trust company or trust department maintaining security with the Chief Financial Officer as required by s. 660.27 shall not be required by the state or any of its political subdivisions or by a court of this state to furnish any bond or other security as a condition of, or in connection with, acting in any fiduciary capacity which such trust company or trust department is lawfully permitted to accept or assume.

History: s. 3, ch. 28016, 1953; s. 3, ch. 76-168; s. 1, ch. 77-457; ss. 125, 151, 152, ch. 80-260; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; s. 1, ch. 91-307; s. 1, ch. 92-303; s. 1810, ch. 2003-261.
Fla. Stat. § 1004.576 — Florida Code / Title XLVIII / Chapter 1004 / Part II / Section 1004.576
1004.576 Destruction, purchase, and sale of vertebrate fossils prohibited, exceptions; field investigation permits required; penalty for violation.
Status: in_force

(1) The destruction, defacement, purchase, and sale of vertebrate fossils found on or under land owned or leased by the state and on land in state-designated vertebrate paleontological sites are prohibited, except that the Florida Museum of Natural History may sell vertebrate fossils and may adopt rules defining “nonessential vertebrate fossils” and prescribing the conditions under which such fossils may be sold or otherwise disposed of by a person holding a permit issued by the Florida Museum of Natural History. Field investigations of vertebrate fossils, including, but not limited to, the systematic collection, acquisition, excavation, salvage, exhumation, or restoration of such fossils, are prohibited on all lands owned or leased by the state and on lands in state-designated vertebrate paleontological sites, unless such activities are conducted under the authority of permits issued by the Florida Museum of Natural History. A permit may be granted by the Florida Museum of Natural History upon application for the permit accompanied by an application fee not to exceed $5. The privileges authorized pursuant to the grant of a permit as provided in this subsection may not be assigned or sublet to any other party.

(2) Any person who, in violation of this section, engages in any of the activities described in subsection (1) without first having obtained a permit to engage in such activity commits a misdemeanor, punishable by a fine not to exceed $500 or by imprisonment in the county jail for a period not to exceed 6 months, or both; and, in addition, he or she shall forfeit to the state all specimens, objects, and materials collected and excavated in violation of this section, together with all photographs and records relating to such materials.

(3) The Florida Museum of Natural History may institute a civil action in the appropriate circuit court for recovery of any unlawfully taken vertebrate fossil. The fossil shall be forfeited to the state if the Florida Museum of Natural History shows by the greater weight of the evidence that the fossil has been taken from a particular site within this state and that the person found in possession of the fossil is not authorized by law to possess such fossil.

History: s. 206, ch. 2002-387.
Fla. Stat. § 531.61 — Florida Code / Title XXXIII / Chapter 531 / Section 531.61
531.61 Exemptions from permit requirement.
Status: in_force

Commercial weights or measures instruments or devices are exempt from the requirements of ss. 531.60-531.66 if:

(1) The device is used exclusively for weighing railroad cars and is tested for accuracy and compliance with state standards by a private testing agency.

(2) The device is used exclusively for measuring aviation fuel or petroleum products inspected under chapter 525.

History: ss. 34, 40, ch. 2009-66; ss. 1, 2, ch. 2013-55; ss. 35, 36, 37, ch. 2013-251; s. 21, ch. 2016-166; s. 29, ch. 2017-85; s. 30, ch. 2018-84; s. 27, ch. 2024-137.
Fla. Stat. § 61.076 — Florida Code / Title VI / Chapter 61 / Part I / Section 61.076
61.076 Distribution of retirement plans upon dissolution of marriage.
Status: in_force

(1) All vested and nonvested benefits, rights, and funds accrued during the marriage in retirement, pension, profit-sharing, annuity, deferred compensation, and insurance plans and programs are marital assets subject to equitable distribution.

(2) If the parties were married for at least 10 years, during which at least one of the parties who was a member of the federal uniformed services performed at least 10 years of creditable service, and if the division of marital property includes a division of uniformed services retired or retainer pay, the final judgment shall include the following: (a) Sufficient information to identify the member of the uniformed services; (b) Certification that the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act was observed if the decree was issued while the member was on active duty and was not represented in court; (c) A specification of the amount of retired or retainer pay to be distributed pursuant to the order, expressed in dollars or as a percentage of the disposable retired or retainer pay.

(3) An order which provides for distribution of retired or retainer pay from the federal uniformed services shall not provide for payment from this source more frequently than monthly and shall not require the payor to vary normal pay and disbursement cycles for retired or retainer pay in order to comply with the order.

History: s. 3, ch. 88-98; s. 5, ch. 2007-5.
Fla. Stat. § 105.041 — Florida Code / Title IX / Chapter 105 / Section 105.041
105.041 Form of ballot.
Status: in_force

(1) BALLOTS. — The names of candidates for nonpartisan office which appear on the ballot at the primary election shall be grouped together on a separate portion of the ballot or on a separate ballot. The names of candidates for election to nonpartisan office which appear on the ballot at the general election and the names of justices and judges seeking retention to office shall be grouped together on a separate portion of the general election ballot.

(2) LISTING OF CANDIDATES. — The order of nonpartisan offices appearing on the ballot shall be determined by the Department of State. The names of candidates for election to each nonpartisan office shall be listed in alphabetical order. With respect to retention of justices and judges, the question “Shall Justice (or Judge) (name of justice or judge) of the (name of the court) be retained in office?” shall appear on the ballot in alphabetical order and thereafter the words “Yes” and “No.”

(3) REFERENCE TO PARTY AFFILIATION PROHIBITED. — No reference to political party affiliation shall appear on any ballot with respect to any nonpartisan office or candidate.

(4) WRITE-IN CANDIDATES. — Space shall be made available on the general election ballot for an elector to write in the name of a write-in candidate for judge of a circuit court or county court or member of a school board if a candidate has qualified as a write-in candidate for such office pursuant to s. 105.031. This subsection shall not apply to the offices of justices and judges seeking retention.

History: s. 4, ch. 71-49; s. 38, ch. 77-175; s. 55, ch. 79-400; s. 1, ch. 80-305; s. 18, ch. 81-105; s. 4, ch. 99-326; s. 3, ch. 99-355; s. 2, ch. 2000-361; s. 22, ch. 2005-286; s. 34, ch. 2008-95.
Fla. Stat. § 817.482 — Florida Code / Title XLVI / Chapter 817 / Part I / Section 817.482
817.482 Possessing or transferring device for theft of telecommunications service; concealment of destination of telecommunications service.
Status: in_force

(1) It shall be unlawful for any person knowingly to: (a) Make or possess any instrument, apparatus, equipment or device designed or adapted for use for the purpose of avoiding or attempting to avoid payment of telecommunications service in violation of s. 817.481; or (b) Sell, give, transport, or otherwise transfer to another, or offer or advertise to sell, give, or otherwise transfer, any instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device described in paragraph (a), or plans or instructions for making or assembling the same; under circumstances evincing an intent to use or employ such instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device, or to allow the same to be used or employed, for a purpose described in paragraph (a), or knowing or having reason to believe that the same is intended to be so used, or that the aforesaid plans or instructions are intended to be used for making or assembling such instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device. Any person violating the provisions of paragraphs (a) and (b) is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Any person who shall make or possess, for purposes of avoiding or attempting to avoid payment for long-distance telecommunication services, any electronic device capable of duplicating tones or sounds utilized in long-distance telecommunications shall be guilty of a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

(3) Any such instrument, apparatus, equipment, or device, or plans or instructions therefor, referred to in subsections (1) and (2), may be seized by court order or under a search warrant of a judge or incident to a lawful arrest; and upon the conviction of any person for a violation of any provision of this act, or s. 817.481, such instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, plans, or instructions either shall be destroyed as contraband by the sheriff of the county in which such person was convicted or turned over to the telephone company in whose territory such instrument, apparatus, equipment, device, plans, or instructions were seized.

History: s. 2, ch. 65-245; s. 874, ch. 71-136; s. 1, ch. 74-137; s. 14, ch. 2004-11.
Fla. Stat. § 78.20 — Florida Code / Title VI / Chapter 78 / Section 78.20
78.20 Judgment for defendant when goods retained by, or redelivered to, defendant.
Status: in_force

When property has been retained by, or redelivered to, defendant on his or her forthcoming bond or upon the dissolution of a prejudgment writ and defendant prevails, he or she shall have judgment against plaintiff for his or her damages for the taking, if any, of the property, attorney fees, and costs. The remedies provided in this section and s. 78.21 shall not preclude any other remedies available under the laws of this state.

History: s. 12, Mar. 11, 1845; RS 1725; GS 2189; RGS 3494; CGL 5347; s. 28, ch. 67-254; s. 1, ch. 73-20; s. 2, ch. 76-19; s. 411, ch. 95-147.
Fla. Stat. § 403.510 — Florida Code / Title XXIX / Chapter 403 / Part II / Section 403.510
403.510 Superseded laws, regulations, and certification power.
Status: in_force

(1) If any provision of this act is in conflict with any other provision, limitation, or restriction under any law, rule, regulation, or ordinance of this state or any political subdivision, municipality, or agency, this act shall govern and control, and such law, rule, regulation, or ordinance shall be deemed superseded for the purposes of this act.

(2) The state hereby preempts the regulation and certification of electrical power plant sites and electrical power plants as defined in this act.

(3) The board shall have the power to adopt reasonable procedural rules to carry out its duties under this act and to give effect to the legislative intent that this act is to provide an efficient, simplified, centrally coordinated, one-stop licensing process.

History: s. 1, ch. 73-33; s. 9, ch. 76-76; s. 14, ch. 90-331.
Fla. Stat. § 49.041 — Florida Code / Title VI / Chapter 49 / Section 49.041
49.041 Sworn statement, natural person as defendant.
Status: in_force

The sworn statement of the plaintiff, his or her agent or attorney, for service of process by publication against a natural person, shall show:

(1) That diligent search and inquiry have been made to discover the name and residence of such person, and that the same is set forth in said sworn statement as particularly as is known to the affiant; and

(2) Whether such person is over or under the age of 18 years, if his or her age is known, or that the person’s age is unknown; and

(3) In addition to the above, that the residence of such person is, either: (a) Unknown to the affiant; or (b) In some state or country other than this state, stating said residence if known; or (c) In the state, but that he or she has been absent from the state for more than 60 days next preceding the making of the sworn statement, or conceals himself or herself so that process cannot be personally served, and that affiant believes that there is no person in the state upon whom service of process would bind said absent or concealed defendant.

History: s. 4, ch. 20452, 1941; s. 5, ch. 67-254; s. 4, ch. 77-121; s. 287, ch. 95-147.
Fla. Stat. § 380.0664 — Florida Code / Title XXVIII / Chapter 380 / Part I / Section 380.0664
380.0664 Quorum; voting; meetings.
Status: in_force

The powers of the land authority shall be vested in its members in office from time to time. A majority of the members of the land authority eligible to vote shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting its business and exercising its powers and for all other purposes. Action may be taken by the land authority upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the members present and eligible to vote; however, no action shall be taken by an affirmative vote of less than a majority of the total membership. Meetings shall be held at the call of the chair or any three members.

History: s. 1, ch. 86-170; s. 643, ch. 95-148.
Fla. Stat. § 258.017 — Florida Code / Title XVIII / Chapter 258 / Part I / Section 258.017
258.017 Dedication of state park lands for public use.
Status: in_force

The Division of Recreation and Parks is authorized and empowered, from time to time, by resolution, to dedicate and reserve for the use of the public all or any part of the lands acquired by the division for park purposes; provided however, that said dedication and reservation shall be subject to such rules and regulations, as to reasonable use by the public, as may be adopted by the division.

History: s. 28, ch. 29615, 1955; ss. 25, 35, ch. 69-106.
Fla. Stat. § 476.244 — Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 476 / Section 476.244
476.244 Administrative proceedings.
Status: in_force

All hearings and other administrative proceedings shall be conducted pursuant to the provisions of chapter 120.

History: ss. 24, 28, ch. 78-155; ss. 2, 3, ch. 81-318; ss. 19, 20, ch. 85-297; s. 4, ch. 91-429.
Fla. Stat. § 106.19 — Florida Code / Title IX / Chapter 106 / Section 106.19
106.19 Violations by candidates, persons connected with campaigns, and political committees.
Status: in_force

(1) Any candidate; campaign manager, campaign treasurer, or deputy treasurer of any candidate; committee chair, vice chair, campaign treasurer, deputy treasurer, or other officer of any political committee; agent or person acting on behalf of any candidate or political committee; or other person who knowingly and willfully: (a) Accepts a contribution in excess of the limits prescribed by s. 106.08; (b) Fails to report any contribution required to be reported by this chapter; (c) Falsely reports or deliberately fails to include any information required by this chapter; or (d) Makes or authorizes any expenditure in violation of s. 106.11(4) or any other expenditure prohibited by this chapter; is guilty of a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

(2) Any candidate, campaign treasurer, or deputy treasurer; any chair, vice chair, or other officer of any political committee; any agent or person acting on behalf of any candidate or political committee; or any other person who violates paragraph (1)(a), paragraph (1)(b), or paragraph (1)(d) shall be subject to a civil penalty equal to three times the amount involved in the illegal act. Such penalty may be in addition to the penalties provided by subsection (1) and shall be paid into the General Revenue Fund of this state.

(3) A political committee sponsoring a constitutional amendment proposed by initiative which submits a petition form gathered by a petition circulator which does not provide the name and address of the petition circulator on the form is subject to the civil penalties prescribed in s. 106.265.

(4) Except as otherwise expressly stated, the failure by a candidate to comply with the requirements of this chapter has no effect upon whether the candidate has qualified for the office the candidate is seeking.

History: s. 19, ch. 73-128; s. 57, ch. 77-175; s. 62, ch. 79-400; s. 12, ch. 91-107; s. 649, ch. 95-147; ss. 24, 45, ch. 97-13; s. 8, ch. 2002-197; s. 11, ch. 2006-300; s. 69, ch. 2011-40; s. 35, ch. 2013-37; s. 17, ch. 2025-21.
Fla. Stat. § 456.068 — Florida Code / Title XXXII / Chapter 456 / Section 456.068
456.068 Toll-free telephone number for reporting of complaints.
Status: in_force

The Agency for Health Care Administration shall establish a toll-free telephone number for public reporting of complaints relating to medical treatment or services provided by health care professionals.

History: s. 148, ch. 97-237; s. 24, ch. 97-273; s. 87, ch. 2000-160.
Fla. Stat. § 627.42396 — Florida Code / Title XXXVII / Chapter 627 / Part II / Section 627.42396
627.42396 Reimbursement for telehealth services.
Status: in_force

A contract between a health insurer issuing major medical comprehensive coverage through an individual or group policy and a telehealth provider, as defined in s. 456.47, must be voluntary between the insurer and the provider and must establish mutually acceptable payment rates or payment methodologies for services provided through telehealth. Any contract provision that distinguishes between payment rates or payment methodologies for services provided through telehealth and the same services provided without the use of telehealth must be initialed by the telehealth provider.

History: s. 2, ch. 2019-137.