Florida Senate - 2023                                     SB 282
       
       
        
       By Senator Osgood
       
       
       
       
       
       32-00759-23                                            2023282__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to liability for renting to persons
    3         with criminal records; creating s. 83.555, F.S.;
    4         specifying that a cause of action does not arise
    5         against a landlord, or a manager or an agent of a
    6         landlord, solely for renting to a tenant with a
    7         criminal record; providing exceptions; providing
    8         construction; providing an effective date.
    9          
   10  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   11  
   12         Section 1. Section 83.555, Florida Statutes, is created to
   13  read:
   14         83.555 Immunity from liability for renting to persons with
   15  certain criminal records.—
   16         (1) A cause of action does not arise against a landlord, or
   17  the manager or agent of a landlord, solely for renting a
   18  dwelling unit to a tenant convicted of or found guilty of, or
   19  who has pled guilty or nolo contendere to, a criminal offense
   20  unless:
   21         (a)1. The criminal offense was a violation of:
   22         a. Section 777.04, relating to criminal attempts,
   23  solicitation, and conspiracy;
   24         b. Section 782.04, relating to murder;
   25         c. Section 787.01, relating to kidnapping;
   26         d. Section 787.06, relating to human trafficking;
   27         e. Section 794.011, relating to sexual battery;
   28         f. Section 796.07(2)(f), relating to soliciting, inducing,
   29  enticing, or procuring another person to commit prostitution,
   30  lewdness, or assignation;
   31         g. Section 810.02, relating to burglary;
   32         h. Section 812.13(2)(a) or (b), relating to robbery while
   33  carrying a weapon;
   34         i. Section 827.03, relating to abuse, aggravated abuse, and
   35  neglect of a child; or
   36         j. Section 893.13(1)(c), (d), (e), (f), or (h), relating to
   37  enhanced penalties for selling, manufacturing, or delivering
   38  controlled substances; or
   39         2. The tenant is required to register as a sexual offender
   40  under s. 943.0435; and
   41         (b) The landlord, manager, or agent knew or should have
   42  reasonably known of the conviction, finding, or plea.
   43         (2) This section does not create a cause of action or
   44  expand an existing cause of action.
   45         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.