Title: Offenses Against Brokers, Broker Associates, or Sales Associates

Summary: Provides for reclassification of specified offenses committed against brokers, broker associates, or sales associates.

Full Text:
An act relating to offenses against brokers, broker associates, or sales associates; creating s. 775.0863, F.S.; providing definitions; providing applicability; providing for reclassification of specified offenses committed against brokers, broker associates, or sales associates; providing an effective date. Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: Section 1. Section 775.0863, Florida St atutes, is created to read: 775.0863 Offenses against brokers, broker associates, or sales associates; reclassification of offenses.-(1) For purposes of this section, the terms "broker," "broker associate," and "sales associate" have the same meanings as provided in s. 475.01. (2) The degree of an offense shall be reclassified as provided in subsection (3) if the offense is committed against a broker, broker associate, or sales associate while he or she is engaged in the act of showing real property or holding an open house of real property and the offense is a felony or misdemeanor violation of: (a) Section 784.011, relating to assault; (b) Section 784.021, relating to aggravated assault; (c) Section 784.03, relating to battery and felony CS/HB 2016 battery; (d) Section 784.041(1), relating to felony battery; (e) Section 784.045, relating to aggravated battery; or (f) Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery. (3)(a) A misdemeanor of the second degree shall be reclassified as a misdemeanor of the first degree. (b) A misdemeanor of the first degree shall be reclassified as a felony of the third degree. (c) A felony of the third degree shall be reclassified as a felony of the second degree. (d) A felony of the second degree shall be reclassifi ed as a felony of the first degree. (e) A felony of the first degree shall be reclassified as a life felony. (4) For purposes of sentencing under chapter and determining incentive gain-time eligibility under chapter 944, a felony offense that is re classified under this section is ranked one level above the ranking under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023 of the offense committed. Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2016.