Senate Bill sb1214

    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1214

    By Senators Villalobos and Miller





    38-800A-03

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the Florida Civil Rights Act

  3         of 1992; creating s. 760.021, F.S.; authorizing

  4         the Attorney General to commence a civil action

  5         against a person or group perpetuating

  6         discriminatory practices; providing for

  7         damages, injunctive relief, and civil

  8         penalties; providing for attorney's fees and

  9         costs; providing an effective date.

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11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

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13         Section 1.  Section 760.021, Florida Statutes, is

14  created to read:

15         760.021  Enforcement.--If the Attorney General has

16  reasonable cause to believe that any person or group:

17         (1)  Has engaged in a pattern or practice of

18  discrimination as defined by state law; or

19         (2)  Has been discriminated against as defined by state

20  law and such discrimination raises an issue of general public

21  importance,

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23  the Attorney General may commence a civil action for damages,

24  injunctive relief, civil penalties not to exceed $10,000 per

25  violation, or any other relief that may be appropriate under

26  law. Any damages recovered under this section shall accrue to

27  the injured party. The Attorney General is entitled to an

28  award of reasonable attorney's fees and costs if the

29  Department of Legal Affairs prevails in an action brought

30  under this section.

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    Florida Senate - 2003                                  SB 1214
    38-800A-03




  1         Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

  2  law.

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  5                          SENATE SUMMARY

  6    Provides that the Attorney General may commence a civil
      action against a person or group engaging in
  7    discriminatory practices and obtain damages, attorney's
      fees and costs, and other relief.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.