Senate Bill sb2268e2

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to workers' compensation;

  3         amending s. 440.02, F.S.; redefining the terms

  4         "corporate officer," "employee," and

  5         "employer"; providing members of limited

  6         liability companies similar authority to elect

  7         exemption from workers' compensation coverage

  8         as corporate officers; amending ss. 440.05,

  9         440.077, F.S.; providing technical and

10         conforming changes relating to exemptions from

11         coverage requirements; amending s. 440.093,

12         F.S.; providing exceptions for limitations on

13         benefits for mental and nervous injuries;

14         amending s. 440.105, F.S.; deleting the

15         prohibition against specified acts; providing

16         for carriers and self-insured employers to

17         verify whether benefit recipients are

18         concurrently listed as employees of an

19         employing unit; amending s. 440.106, F.S.;

20         providing a technical and conforming change

21         relating to notification requirements; amending

22         s. 440.107, F.S.; providing technical and

23         conforming changes relating to exemptions from

24         coverage requirements; amending s. 440.13,

25         F.S.; revising method of calculating the value

26         of attendant care services; revising provisions

27         relating to penalties with respect to payment

28         of medical bills; revising practice parameters

29         applicable to medical care; amending ss.

30         440.14, 440.15, F.S.; correcting

31         cross-references; amending s. 440.20, F.S.;


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         providing duties of the Department of Financial

 2         Services in ensuring timely payment of

 3         benefits; deleting provisions that require an

 4         ongoing examination of certain claims files and

 5         provide for imposition of fines, that prohibit

 6         recoupment of penalties through rate filings,

 7         and that authorize rules for audit and

 8         standards of the Automated Carrier Performance

 9         System; amending s. 440.381, F.S.; revising

10         penalties relating to applications for

11         coverage; amending s. 440.525, F.S.; providing

12         for examination of certain entities and

13         reports; providing for the department to

14         examine claims files for questionable claims

15         handling practices or a pattern of unreasonably

16         controverted claims; providing for interviews

17         of certain witnesses; prohibiting recoupment of

18         a penalty through a rate base, premium, or rate

19         filing; amending s. 921.0022, F.S.; revising

20         criminal offense severity ranking chart with

21         respect to specified offenses involving

22         workers' compensation; providing an effective

23         date.

24  

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

26  

27         Section 1.  Subsections (9), (15), and (16) of section

28  440.02, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

29         440.02  Definitions.--When used in this chapter, unless

30  the context clearly requires otherwise, the following terms

31  shall have the following meanings:


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (9)  "Corporate officer" or "officer of a corporation"

 2  means any person who fills an office provided for in the

 3  corporate charter or articles of incorporation filed with the

 4  Division of Corporations of the Department of State or as

 5  permitted or required by chapter 607. As to persons engaged in

 6  the construction industry, the term "officer of a corporation"

 7  includes a member owning at least 10 percent of a limited

 8  liability company created and approved under chapter 608.

 9         (15)(a)  "Employee" means any person who receives

10  remuneration from an employer for the performance of any work

11  or service while engaged in any employment under any

12  appointment or contract for hire or apprenticeship, express or

13  implied, oral or written, whether lawfully or unlawfully

14  employed, and includes, but is not limited to, aliens and

15  minors.

16         (b)  "Employee" includes any person who is an officer

17  of a corporation and who performs services for remuneration

18  for such corporation within this state, whether or not such

19  services are continuous.

20         1.  Any officer of a corporation may elect to be exempt

21  from this chapter by filing written notice of the election

22  with the department as provided in s. 440.05.

23         2.  As to officers of a corporation or members of a

24  limited liability company who are engaged in the construction

25  industry, no more than three officers of a corporation or

26  members of a limited liability company or of any group of

27  affiliated corporations or limited liability companies may

28  elect to be exempt from this chapter by filing written notice

29  of the election with the department as provided in s. 440.05.

30  Officers must be shareholders, each owning at least 10 percent

31  of the stock of such corporation and listed as an officer of


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  such corporation with the Division of Corporations of the

 2  Department of State, in order to elect exemptions under this

 3  chapter. Members must each own at least a 10-percent interest

 4  of such limited liability company created under chapter 608

 5  and the company must be listed with the Division of

 6  Corporations of the Department of State in order to elect

 7  exemption under this chapter. For purposes of this

 8  subparagraph, the term "affiliated" means and includes one or

 9  more corporations or limited liability companies or entities,

10  any one of which is a corporation or limited liability company

11  engaged in the construction industry, under the same or

12  substantially the same control of a group of business entities

13  which are connected or associated so that one entity controls

14  or has the power to control each of the other business

15  entities. The term "affiliated" includes, but is not limited

16  to, the members, officers, directors, executives, shareholders

17  active in management, employees, and agents of the affiliated

18  corporation or limited liability company. The ownership by one

19  business entity of a controlling interest in another business

20  entity or a pooling of equipment or income among business

21  entities shall be prima facie evidence that one business is

22  affiliated with the other.

23         3.  An officer of a corporation who elects to be exempt

24  from this chapter by filing a written notice of the election

25  with the department as provided in s. 440.05 is not an

26  employee.

27  

28  Services are presumed to have been rendered to the corporation

29  if the officer is compensated by other than dividends upon

30  shares of stock of the corporation which the officer owns.

31         (c)  "Employee" includes:


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         1.  A sole proprietor, a member of a limited liability

 2  company, or a partner who is not engaged in the construction

 3  industry, devotes full time to the proprietorship or

 4  partnership, and elects to be included in the definition of

 5  employee by filing notice thereof as provided in s. 440.05.

 6         2.  All persons who are being paid by a construction

 7  contractor as a subcontractor, unless the subcontractor has

 8  validly elected an exemption as permitted by this chapter, or

 9  has otherwise secured the payment of compensation coverage as

10  a subcontractor, consistent with s. 440.10, for work performed

11  by or as a subcontractor.

12         3.  An independent contractor working or performing

13  services in the construction industry.

14         4.  A sole proprietor who engages in the construction

15  industry and a partner or partnership that is engaged in the

16  construction industry.

17         5.  A volunteer worker for the state or a county,

18  municipality, or other governmental entity.

19         (d)  "Employee" does not include:

20         1.  An independent contractor who is not engaged in the

21  construction industry.

22         a.  In order to meet the definition of independent

23  contractor, at least four of the following criteria must be

24  met:

25         (I)  The independent contractor maintains a separate

26  business with his or her own work facility, truck, equipment,

27  materials, or similar accommodations;

28         (II)  The independent contractor holds or has applied

29  for a federal employer identification number, unless the

30  independent contractor is a sole proprietor who is not

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  required to obtain a federal employer identification number

 2  under state or federal regulations;

 3         (III)  The independent contractor receives compensation

 4  for services rendered or work performed and such compensation

 5  is paid to a business rather than to an individual;

 6         (IV)  The independent contractor holds one or more bank

 7  accounts in the name of the business entity for purposes of

 8  paying business expenses or other expenses related to services

 9  rendered or work performed for compensation;

10         (V)  The independent contractor performs work or is

11  able to perform work for any entity in addition to or besides

12  the employer at his or her own election without the necessity

13  of completing an employment application or process; or

14         (VI)  The independent contractor receives compensation

15  for work or services rendered on a competitive-bid basis or

16  completion of a task or a set of tasks as defined by a

17  contractual agreement, unless such contractual agreement

18  expressly states that an employment relationship exists.

19         b.  If four of the criteria listed in sub-subparagraph

20  a. do not exist, an individual may still be presumed to be an

21  independent contractor and not an employee based on full

22  consideration of the nature of the individual situation with

23  regard to satisfying any of the following conditions:

24         (I)  The independent contractor performs or agrees to

25  perform specific services or work for a specific amount of

26  money and controls the means of performing the services or

27  work.

28         (II)  The independent contractor incurs the principal

29  expenses related to the service or work that he or she

30  performs or agrees to perform.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (III)  The independent contractor is responsible for

 2  the satisfactory completion of the work or services that he or

 3  she performs or agrees to perform.

 4         (IV)  The independent contractor receives compensation

 5  for work or services performed for a commission or on a

 6  per-job basis and not on any other basis.

 7         (V)  The independent contractor may realize a profit or

 8  suffer a loss in connection with performing work or services.

 9         (VI)  The independent contractor has continuing or

10  recurring business liabilities or obligations.

11         (VII)  The success or failure of the independent

12  contractor's business depends on the relationship of business

13  receipts to expenditures.

14         c.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this

15  subparagraph, an individual claiming to be an independent

16  contractor has the burden of proving that he or she is an

17  independent contractor for purposes of this chapter.

18         2.  A real estate licensee, if that person agrees, in

19  writing, to perform for remuneration solely by way of

20  commission.

21         3.  Bands, orchestras, and musical and theatrical

22  performers, including disk jockeys, performing in licensed

23  premises as defined in chapter 562, if a written contract

24  evidencing an independent contractor relationship is entered

25  into before the commencement of such entertainment.

26         4.  An owner-operator of a motor vehicle who transports

27  property under a written contract with a motor carrier which

28  evidences a relationship by which the owner-operator assumes

29  the responsibility of an employer for the performance of the

30  contract, if the owner-operator is required to furnish the

31  necessary motor vehicle equipment and all costs incidental to


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  the performance of the contract, including, but not limited

 2  to, fuel, taxes, licenses, repairs, and hired help; and the

 3  owner-operator is paid a commission for transportation service

 4  and is not paid by the hour or on some other time-measured

 5  basis.

 6         5.  A person whose employment is both casual and not in

 7  the course of the trade, business, profession, or occupation

 8  of the employer.

 9         6.  A volunteer other than, except a volunteer worker

10  for the state or a county, municipality, or other governmental

11  entity. A person who does not receive monetary remuneration

12  for services is presumed to be a volunteer unless there is

13  substantial evidence that a valuable consideration was

14  intended by both employer and employee. For purposes of this

15  chapter, the term "volunteer" includes, but is not limited to:

16         a.  Persons who serve in private nonprofit agencies and

17  who receive no compensation other than expenses in an amount

18  less than or equivalent to the standard mileage and per diem

19  expenses provided to salaried employees in the same agency or,

20  if such agency does not have salaried employees who receive

21  mileage and per diem, then such volunteers who receive no

22  compensation other than expenses in an amount less than or

23  equivalent to the customary mileage and per diem paid to

24  salaried workers in the community as determined by the

25  department; and

26         b.  Volunteers participating in federal programs

27  established under Pub. L. No. 93-113.

28         7.  Unless otherwise prohibited by this chapter, any

29  officer of a corporation who elects to be exempt from this

30  chapter. Such officer is not an employee for any reason under

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  this chapter until the notice of revocation of election filed

 2  pursuant to s. 440.05 is effective.

 3         8.  An officer of a corporation or member of a limited

 4  liability company that is engaged in the construction industry

 5  who elects to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter,

 6  as otherwise permitted by this chapter. Such officer or member

 7  is not an employee for any reason until the notice of

 8  revocation of election filed pursuant to s. 440.05 is

 9  effective.

10         9.  An exercise rider who does not work for a single

11  horse farm or breeder, and who is compensated for riding on a

12  case-by-case basis, provided a written contract is entered

13  into prior to the commencement of such activity which

14  evidences that an employee/employer relationship does not

15  exist.

16         10.  A taxicab, limousine, or other passenger

17  vehicle-for-hire driver who operates said vehicles pursuant to

18  a written agreement with a company which provides any

19  dispatch, marketing, insurance, communications, or other

20  services under which the driver and any fees or charges paid

21  by the driver to the company for such services are not

22  conditioned upon, or expressed as a proportion of, fare

23  revenues.

24         11.  A person who performs services as a sports

25  official for an entity sponsoring an interscholastic sports

26  event or for a public entity or private, nonprofit

27  organization that sponsors an amateur sports event. For

28  purposes of this subparagraph, such a person is an independent

29  contractor. For purposes of this subparagraph, the term

30  "sports official" means any person who is a neutral

31  participant in a sports event, including, but not limited to,


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  umpires, referees, judges, linespersons, scorekeepers, or

 2  timekeepers. This subparagraph does not apply to any person

 3  employed by a district school board who serves as a sports

 4  official as required by the employing school board or who

 5  serves as a sports official as part of his or her

 6  responsibilities during normal school hours.

 7         12.  Medicaid-enrolled clients under chapter 393 who

 8  are excluded from the definition of employment under s.

 9  443.036(21)(d)5. and served by Adult Day Training Services

10  under the Home and Community-Based Medicaid Waiver program in

11  a sheltered workshop setting licensed by the United States

12  Department of Labor for the purpose of training and earning

13  less than the federal hourly minimum wage.

14         (16)(a)  "Employer" means the state and all political

15  subdivisions thereof, all public and quasi-public corporations

16  therein, every person carrying on any employment, and the

17  legal representative of a deceased person or the receiver or

18  trustees of any person. "Employer" also includes employment

19  agencies, employee leasing companies, establishments primarily

20  engaged in supplying temporary or continuing help on a

21  contract or fee basis where the help supplied is always on the

22  payroll of the supplying establishment but under the direct or

23  general supervision of the business to which the help is

24  furnished and similar agents who provide employees to other

25  persons. If the employer is a corporation, parties in actual

26  control of the corporation, including, but not limited to, the

27  president, officers who exercise broad corporate powers,

28  directors, and all shareholders who directly or indirectly own

29  a controlling interest in the corporation, are considered the

30  employer for the purposes of ss. 440.105, 440.106, and

31  440.107.


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (b)  A homeowner shall not be considered the employer

 2  of persons hired by the homeowner to carry out construction on

 3  the homeowner's own premises if those premises are not

 4  intended for immediate lease, sale, or resale.

 5         (c)  Facilities serving individuals under subparagraph

 6  (15)(d)12. shall be considered agents of the Agency for Health

 7  Care Administration as it relates to providing Adult Day

 8  Training Services under the Home and Community-Based Medicaid

 9  Waiver program and not employers or third parties for the

10  purpose of limiting or denying Medicaid benefits.

11         Section 2.  Subsections (3), (6), (10), (11), (12),

12  (13), (14), and (15) of section 440.05, Florida Statutes, are

13  amended to read:

14         440.05  Election of exemption; revocation of election;

15  notice; certification.--

16         (3)  Each officer of a corporation or member of a

17  limited liability company who is engaged in the construction

18  industry and who elects an exemption from this chapter or who,

19  after electing such exemption, revokes that exemption, must

20  mail a written notice to such effect to the department on a

21  form prescribed by the department. The notice of election to

22  be exempt from the provisions of this chapter must be

23  notarized and under oath. The notice of election to be exempt

24  which is submitted to the department by the officer of a

25  corporation or member of a limited liability company who is

26  allowed to claim an exemption as provided by this chapter must

27  list the name, federal tax identification number, social

28  security number, all certified or registered licenses issued

29  pursuant to chapter 489 held by the person seeking the

30  exemption, a copy of relevant documentation as to employment

31  status filed with the Internal Revenue Service as specified by


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  the department, a copy of the relevant occupational license in

 2  the primary jurisdiction of the business, and the registration

 3  number of the corporation or limited liability company filed

 4  with the Division of Corporations of the Department of State

 5  along with a copy of the stock certificate or certificate of

 6  membership interest evidencing the required ownership or

 7  interest under this chapter. The notice of election to be

 8  exempt must identify each corporation or limited liability

 9  company that employs the person electing the exemption and

10  must list the social security number or federal tax

11  identification number of each such employer and the additional

12  documentation required by this section. In addition, the

13  notice of election to be exempt must provide that the officer

14  or member electing an exemption is not entitled to benefits

15  under this chapter, must provide that the election does not

16  exceed exemption limits for officers or members provided in s.

17  440.02, and must certify that any employees of the corporation

18  or limited liability company whose officer or member elects an

19  exemption are covered by workers' compensation insurance. Upon

20  receipt of the notice of the election to be exempt, receipt of

21  all application fees, and a determination by the department

22  that the notice meets the requirements of this subsection, the

23  department shall issue a certification of the election to the

24  officer or member, unless the department determines that the

25  information contained in the notice is invalid. The department

26  shall revoke a certificate of election to be exempt from

27  coverage upon a determination by the department that the

28  person does not meet the requirements for exemption or that

29  the information contained in the notice of election to be

30  exempt is invalid. The certificate of election must list the

31  name of the corporation or limited liability company listed in


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  the request for exemption. A new certificate of election must

 2  be obtained each time the person is employed by a new or

 3  different corporation or limited liability company that is not

 4  listed on the certificate of election. A copy of the

 5  certificate of election must be sent to each workers'

 6  compensation carrier identified in the request for exemption.

 7  Upon filing a notice of revocation of election, an officer or

 8  member who is a subcontractor or an officer or member of a

 9  corporate or limited liability company subcontractor must

10  notify her or his contractor. Upon revocation of a certificate

11  of election of exemption by the department, the department

12  shall notify the workers' compensation carriers identified in

13  the request for exemption.

14         (6)  A construction industry certificate of election to

15  be exempt which is issued in accordance with this section

16  shall be valid for 2 years after the effective date stated

17  thereon. Both the effective date and the expiration date must

18  be listed on the face of the certificate by the department.

19  The construction industry certificate must expire at midnight,

20  2 years from its issue date, as noted on the face of the

21  exemption certificate. Any person who has received from the

22  department a construction industry certificate of election to

23  be exempt which is in effect on December 31, 1998, shall file

24  a new notice of election to be exempt by the last day in his

25  or her birth month following December 1, 1998. A construction

26  industry certificate of election to be exempt may be revoked

27  before its expiration by the officer or member for whom it was

28  issued or by the department for the reasons stated in this

29  section.  At least 60 days prior to the expiration date of a

30  construction industry certificate of exemption issued after

31  December 1, 1998, the department shall send notice of the


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  expiration date and an application for renewal to the

 2  certificateholder at the address on the certificate.

 3         (10)  Each officer of a corporation or member of a

 4  limited liability company who is actively engaged in the

 5  construction industry and who elects an exemption from this

 6  chapter shall maintain business records as specified by the

 7  department by rule, which rules must include the provision

 8  that any corporation with exempt officers or any limited

 9  liability company with exempt members engaged in the

10  construction industry must maintain written statements of

11  those exempted persons affirmatively acknowledging each such

12  individual's exempt status.

13         (11)  Any corporate officer permitted by this chapter

14  to claim an exemption must be listed on the records of this

15  state's Secretary of State, Division of Corporations, as a

16  corporate officer. The department shall issue a stop-work

17  order under s. 440.107(1) to any corporation who employs a

18  person who claims to be exempt as a corporate officer but who

19  fails or refuses to produce the documents required under this

20  subsection to the department within 3 business days after the

21  request is made.

22         (11)(12)  Certificates of election to be exempt issued

23  under subsection (3) shall apply only to the corporate officer

24  or member of a limited liability company named on the notice

25  of election to be exempt and apply only within the scope of

26  the business or trade listed on the notice of election to be

27  exempt.

28         (12)(13)  Notices of election to be exempt and

29  certificates of election to be exempt shall be subject to

30  revocation if, at any time after the filing of the notice or

31  the issuance of the certificate, the person named on the


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  notice or certificate no longer meets the requirements of this

 2  section for issuance of a certificate. The department shall

 3  revoke a certificate at any time for failure of the person

 4  named on the certificate to meet the requirements of this

 5  section.

 6         (13)(14)  An officer of a corporation or member of a

 7  limited liability company who elects exemption from this

 8  chapter by filing a certificate of election under this section

 9  may not recover benefits or compensation under this chapter.

10  For purposes of determining the appropriate premium for

11  workers' compensation coverage, carriers may not consider any

12  officer of a corporation or member of a limited liability

13  company who validly meets the requirements of this section to

14  be an employee.

15         (14)(15)  Any corporate officer or member of a limited

16  liability company who is an affiliated person of a person who

17  is delinquent in paying a stop-work order and penalty

18  assessment order issued pursuant to s. 440.107, or owed

19  pursuant to a court order, is ineligible for an election of

20  exemption. The stop-work order and penalty assessment shall be

21  in effect against any such affiliated person. As used in this

22  subsection, the term "affiliated person" means:

23         (a)  The spouse of such other person;

24         (b)  Any person who directly or indirectly owns or

25  controls, or holds with the power to vote, 10 percent or more

26  of the outstanding voting securities of such other person;

27         (c)  Any person who directly or indirectly owns 10

28  percent or more of the outstanding voting securities that are

29  directly or indirectly owned, controlled, or held with the

30  power to vote by such other person;

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (d)  Any person or group of persons who directly or

 2  indirectly control, are controlled by, or are under common

 3  control with such other person;

 4         (e)  Any person who directly or indirectly acquires all

 5  or substantially all of the other assets of such other person;

 6         (f)  Any officer, director, trustee, partner, owner,

 7  manager, joint venturer, or employee of such other person or a

 8  person performing duties similar to persons in such positions;

 9  or

10         (g)  Any person who has an officer, director, trustee,

11  partner, or joint venturer in common with such person.

12         Section 3.  Section 440.077, Florida Statutes, is

13  amended to read:

14         440.077  When a corporate officer or member of a

15  limited liability company rejects chapter, effect.--An officer

16  of a corporation or member of a limited liability company who

17  is permitted to elect an exemption under this chapter and who

18  elects to be exempt from the provisions of this chapter may

19  not recover benefits under this chapter.

20         Section 4.  Subsection (1) of section 440.093, Florida

21  Statutes, is amended to read:

22         440.093  Mental and nervous injuries.--

23         (1)  A mental or nervous injury due to stress, fright,

24  or excitement only is not an injury by accident arising out of

25  the employment. Nothing in this section shall be construed to

26  allow for the payment of benefits under this chapter for

27  mental or nervous injuries without an accompanying physical

28  injury requiring medical treatment, except in instances of

29  sexual battery or robbery which arise out of and in the course

30  of employment. A physical injury resulting from mental or

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  nervous injuries unaccompanied by physical trauma requiring

 2  medical treatment shall not be compensable under this chapter.

 3         Section 5.  Subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section

 4  440.105, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (8) is

 5  added to that section, to read:

 6         440.105  Prohibited activities; reports; penalties;

 7  limitations.--

 8         (2)  Whoever violates any provision of this subsection

 9  commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as

10  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

11         (a)  It shall be unlawful for any employer to

12  knowingly:

13         1.  Coerce or attempt to coerce, as a precondition to

14  employment or otherwise, an employee to obtain a certificate

15  of election of exemption pursuant to s. 440.05.

16         2.  Discharge or refuse to hire an employee or job

17  applicant because the employee or applicant has filed a claim

18  for benefits under this chapter.

19         3.  Discharge, discipline, or take any other adverse

20  personnel action against any employee for disclosing

21  information to the department or any law enforcement agency

22  relating to any violation or suspected violation of any of the

23  provisions of this chapter or rules promulgated hereunder.

24         4.  Violate a stop-work order issued by the department

25  pursuant to s. 440.107.

26         (b)  It shall be unlawful for any insurance entity to

27  revoke or cancel a workers' compensation insurance policy or

28  membership because an employer has returned an employee to

29  work or hired an employee who has filed a workers'

30  compensation claim.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (3)  Whoever violates any provision of this subsection

 2  commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as

 3  provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083.

 4         (a)  It shall be unlawful for any employer to knowingly

 5  fail to update applications for coverage as required by s.

 6  440.381(1) and department rules within 7 days after the

 7  reporting date for any change in the required information, or

 8  to post notice of coverage pursuant to s. 440.40.

 9         (b)  It shall be unlawful for any employer to knowingly

10  participate in the creation of the employment relationship in

11  which the employee has used any false, fraudulent, or

12  misleading oral or written statement as evidence of identity.

13         (b)(c)  It is unlawful for any attorney or other

14  person, in his or her individual capacity or in his or her

15  capacity as a public or private employee, or for any firm,

16  corporation, partnership, or association to receive any fee or

17  other consideration or any gratuity from a person on account

18  of services rendered for a person in connection with any

19  proceedings arising under this chapter, unless such fee,

20  consideration, or gratuity is approved by a judge of

21  compensation claims or by the Deputy Chief Judge of

22  Compensation Claims.

23         (4)  Whoever violates any provision of this subsection

24  commits insurance fraud, punishable as provided in paragraph

25  (f).

26         (a)  It shall be unlawful for any employer to

27  knowingly:

28         1.  Present or cause to be presented any false,

29  fraudulent, or misleading oral or written statement to any

30  person as evidence of compliance with s. 440.38.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         2.  Make a deduction from the pay of any employee

 2  entitled to the benefits of this chapter for the purpose of

 3  requiring the employee to pay any portion of premium paid by

 4  the employer to a carrier or to contribute to a benefit fund

 5  or department maintained by such employer for the purpose of

 6  providing compensation or medical services and supplies as

 7  required by this chapter.

 8         3.  Fail to secure payment of compensation if required

 9  to do so by this chapter.

10         (b)  It shall be unlawful for any person:

11         1.  To knowingly make, or cause to be made, any false,

12  fraudulent, or misleading oral or written statement for the

13  purpose of obtaining or denying any benefit or payment under

14  this chapter.

15         2.  To present or cause to be presented any written or

16  oral statement as part of, or in support of, a claim for

17  payment or other benefit pursuant to any provision of this

18  chapter, knowing that such statement contains any false,

19  incomplete, or misleading information concerning any fact or

20  thing material to such claim.

21         3.  To prepare or cause to be prepared any written or

22  oral statement that is intended to be presented to any

23  employer, insurance company, or self-insured program in

24  connection with, or in support of, any claim for payment or

25  other benefit pursuant to any provision of this chapter,

26  knowing that such statement contains any false, incomplete, or

27  misleading information concerning any fact or thing material

28  to such claim.

29         4.  To knowingly assist, conspire with, or urge any

30  person to engage in activity prohibited by this section.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         5.  To knowingly make any false, fraudulent, or

 2  misleading oral or written statement, or to knowingly omit or

 3  conceal material information, required by s. 440.185 or s.

 4  440.381, for the purpose of obtaining workers' compensation

 5  coverage or for the purpose of avoiding, delaying, or

 6  diminishing the amount of payment of any workers' compensation

 7  premiums.

 8         6.  To knowingly misrepresent or conceal payroll,

 9  classification of workers, or information regarding an

10  employer's loss history which would be material to the

11  computation and application of an experience rating

12  modification factor for the purpose of avoiding or diminishing

13  the amount of payment of any workers' compensation premiums.

14         7.  To knowingly present or cause to be presented any

15  false, fraudulent, or misleading oral or written statement to

16  any person as evidence of compliance with s. 440.38, as

17  evidence of eligibility for a certificate of exemption under

18  s. 440.05.

19         8.  To knowingly violate a stop-work order issued by

20  the department pursuant to s. 440.107.

21         9.  To knowingly present or cause to be presented any

22  false, fraudulent, or misleading oral or written statement to

23  any person as evidence of identity for the purpose of

24  obtaining employment or filing or supporting a claim for

25  workers' compensation benefits.

26         (c)  It shall be unlawful for any physician licensed

27  under chapter 458, osteopathic physician licensed under

28  chapter 459, chiropractic physician licensed under chapter

29  460, podiatric physician licensed under chapter 461,

30  optometric physician licensed under chapter 463, or any other

31  practitioner licensed under the laws of this state to


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  knowingly and willfully assist, conspire with, or urge any

 2  person to fraudulently violate any of the provisions of this

 3  chapter.

 4         (d)  It shall be unlawful for any person or

 5  governmental entity licensed under chapter 395 to maintain or

 6  operate a hospital in such a manner so that such person or

 7  governmental entity knowingly and willfully allows the use of

 8  the facilities of such hospital by any person, in a scheme or

 9  conspiracy to fraudulently violate any of the provisions of

10  this chapter.

11         (e)  It shall be unlawful for any attorney or other

12  person, in his or her individual capacity or in his or her

13  capacity as a public or private employee, or any firm,

14  corporation, partnership, or association, to knowingly assist,

15  conspire with, or urge any person to fraudulently violate any

16  of the provisions of this chapter.

17         (f)  If the monetary value of any violation of this

18  subsection:

19         1.  Is less than $20,000, the offender commits a felony

20  of the third degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

21  775.083, or s. 775.084.

22         2.  Is $20,000 or more, but less than $100,000, the

23  offender commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as

24  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084.

25         3.  Is $100,000 or more, the offender commits a felony

26  of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

27  775.083, or s. 775.084.

28         (8)  As a condition of receiving compensation as

29  provided in this chapter, an employee must execute a waiver

30  authorizing the carrier to verify or determine through the

31  Agency for Workforce Innovation whether an employing unit is


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  reporting such an employee as an employee while the carrier is

 2  concurrently paying workers' compensation benefits to the

 3  employee.

 4         Section 6.  Subsection (4) of section 440.106, Florida

 5  Statutes, is amended to read:

 6         440.106  Civil remedies; administrative penalties.--

 7         (4)  The department or the Office of Insurance

 8  Regulation shall report any contractor determined in violation

 9  of requirements of this chapter to the appropriate state

10  licensing board for disciplinary action.

11         Section 7.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (7) of section

12  440.107, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

13         440.107  Department powers to enforce employer

14  compliance with coverage requirements.--

15         (7)

16         (b)  Stop-work orders and penalty assessment orders

17  issued under this section against a corporation, limited

18  liability company, partnership, or sole proprietorship shall

19  be in effect against any successor corporation or business

20  entity that has one or more of the same principals, or

21  officers, or members as the corporation, or partnership, or

22  limited liability company against which the stop-work order

23  was issued and are engaged in the same or equivalent trade or

24  activity.

25         Section 8.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (2) and

26  subsections (11) and (15) of section 440.13, Florida Statutes,

27  are amended to read:

28         440.13  Medical services and supplies; penalty for

29  violations; limitations.--

30         (2)  MEDICAL TREATMENT; DUTY OF EMPLOYER TO FURNISH.--

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (b)  The employer shall provide appropriate

 2  professional or nonprofessional attendant care performed only

 3  at the direction and control of a physician when such care is

 4  medically necessary. The physician shall prescribe such care

 5  in writing. The employer or carrier shall not be responsible

 6  for such care until the prescription for attendant care is

 7  received by the employer and carrier, which shall specify the

 8  time periods for such care, the level of care required, and

 9  the type of assistance required. A prescription for attendant

10  care shall not prescribe such care retroactively. The value of

11  nonprofessional attendant care provided by a family member

12  must be determined as follows:

13         1.  If the family member is not employed or if the

14  family member is employed and is providing attendant care

15  services during hours that he or she is not engaged in

16  employment, the per-hour value equals the federal minimum

17  hourly wage.

18         2.  If the family member is employed and elects to

19  leave that employment to provide attendant or custodial care,

20  the per-hour value of that care equals the per-hour value of

21  the family member's former employment, not to exceed the

22  per-hour value of such care available in the community at

23  large. A family member or a combination of family members

24  providing nonprofessional attendant care under this paragraph

25  may not be compensated for more than a total of 12 hours per

26  day.

27         3.  If the family member remains employed while

28  providing attendant or custodial care, the per-hour value of

29  that care equals the per-hour value of the family member's

30  employment, not to exceed the per-hour value of such care

31  available in the community at large.


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  

 2  Failure of the carrier to timely comply with this subsection

 3  shall be a violation of this chapter and the carrier shall be

 4  subject to penalties as provided for in s. 440.525.

 5         (11)  AUDITS.--

 6         (a)  The Agency for Health Care Administration may

 7  investigate health care providers to determine whether

 8  providers are complying with this chapter and with rules

 9  adopted by the agency, whether the providers are engaging in

10  overutilization, whether providers are engaging in improper

11  billing practices, and whether providers are adhering to

12  practice parameters and protocols established in accordance

13  with this chapter. If the agency finds that a health care

14  provider has improperly billed, overutilized, or failed to

15  comply with agency rules or the requirements of this chapter,

16  including, but not limited to, practice parameters and

17  protocols established in accordance with this chapter, it must

18  notify the provider of its findings and may determine that the

19  health care provider may not receive payment from the carrier

20  or may impose penalties as set forth in subsection (8) or

21  other sections of this chapter. If the health care provider

22  has received payment from a carrier for services that were

23  improperly billed, that constitute overutilization, or that

24  were outside practice parameters or protocols established in

25  accordance with this chapter, it must return those payments to

26  the carrier. The agency may assess a penalty not to exceed

27  $500 for each overpayment that is not refunded within 30 days

28  after notification of overpayment by the agency or carrier.

29         (b)  The department shall monitor carriers as provided

30  in this chapter and the Office of Insurance Regulation shall

31  audit insurers and group self-insurance funds as provided in


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  s. 624.3161, to determine if medical bills are paid in

 2  accordance with this section and rules of the department and

 3  Financial Services Commission, respectively. Any employer, if

 4  self-insured, or carrier found by the department or Office of

 5  Insurance Regulation not to be within 90 percent compliance as

 6  to the payment of medical bills after July 1, 1994, must be

 7  assessed a fine not to exceed 1 percent of the prior year's

 8  assessment levied against such entity under s. 440.51 for

 9  every quarter in which the entity fails to attain 90-percent

10  compliance. The department shall fine or otherwise discipline

11  an employer or carrier, pursuant to this chapter or rules

12  adopted by the department, and the Office of Insurance

13  Regulation shall fine or otherwise discipline an insurer or

14  group self-insurance fund pursuant to the insurance code or

15  rules adopted by the Financial Services Commission, for each

16  late payment of compensation that is below the minimum

17  95-percent performance standard. Any carrier that is found to

18  be not in compliance in subsequent consecutive quarters must

19  implement a medical-bill review program approved by the

20  department or office, and an insurer or group self-insurance

21  fund is subject to disciplinary action by the Office of

22  Insurance Regulation.

23         (b)(c)  The agency has exclusive jurisdiction to decide

24  any matters concerning reimbursement, to resolve any

25  overutilization dispute under subsection (7), and to decide

26  any question concerning overutilization under subsection (8),

27  which question or dispute arises after January 1, 1994.

28         (c)(d)  The following agency actions do not constitute

29  agency action subject to review under ss. 120.569 and 120.57

30  and do not constitute actions subject to s. 120.56: referral

31  by the entity responsible for utilization review; a decision


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  by the agency to refer a matter to a peer review committee;

 2  establishment by a health care provider or entity of

 3  procedures by which a peer review committee reviews the

 4  rendering of health care services; and the review proceedings,

 5  report, and recommendation of the peer review committee.

 6         (15)  PRACTICE PARAMETERS.--The practice parameters and

 7  protocols mandated under this chapter shall be the practice

 8  parameters and protocols of the National Guideline

 9  Clearinghouse, as of May 1, 2004, sponsored adopted by the

10  United States Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality in

11  partnership with the American Medical Association and the

12  American Association of Health Plans, or any other nationally

13  recognized organization that, in conjunction with appropriate

14  medical societies or organizations, makes available practice

15  parameters or clinical practice guidelines effect on January

16  1, 2003.

17         Section 9.  Subsection (4) of section 440.14, Florida

18  Statutes, is amended to read:

19         440.14  Determination of pay.--

20         (4)  Upon termination of the employee or upon

21  termination of the payment of fringe benefits of any employee

22  who is collecting indemnity benefits pursuant to s. 440.15(2)

23  or (3), the employer shall within 7 days of such termination

24  file a corrected 13-week wage statement reflecting the wages

25  paid and the fringe benefits that had been paid to the injured

26  employee, as provided in s. 440.02(28) s. 440.02(27).

27         Section 10.  Paragraphs (b) and (e) of subsection (1)

28  and subsection (6) of section 440.15, Florida Statutes, are

29  amended to read:

30  

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         440.15  Compensation for disability.--Compensation for

 2  disability shall be paid to the employee, subject to the

 3  limits provided in s. 440.12(2), as follows:

 4         (1)  PERMANENT TOTAL DISABILITY.--

 5         (b)  In the following cases, an injured employee is

 6  presumed to be permanently and totally disabled unless the

 7  employer or carrier establishes that the employee is

 8  physically capable of engaging in at least sedentary

 9  employment within a 50-mile radius of the employee's

10  residence:

11         1.  Spinal cord injury involving severe paralysis of an

12  arm, a leg, or the trunk;

13         2.  Amputation of an arm, a hand, a foot, or a leg

14  involving the effective loss of use of that appendage;

15         3.  Severe brain or closed-head injury as evidenced by:

16         a.  Severe sensory or motor disturbances;

17         b.  Severe communication disturbances;

18         c.  Severe complex integrated disturbances of cerebral

19  function;

20         d.  Severe episodic neurological disorders; or

21         e.  Other severe brain and closed-head injury

22  conditions at least as severe in nature as any condition

23  provided in sub-subparagraphs a.-d.;

24         4.  Second-degree or third-degree burns of 25 percent

25  or more of the total body surface or third-degree burns of 5

26  percent or more to the face and hands; or

27         5.  Total or industrial blindness.

28  

29  In all other cases, in order to obtain permanent total

30  disability benefits, the employee must establish that he or

31  she is not able to engage in at least sedentary employment,


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  within a 50-mile radius of the employee's residence, due to

 2  his or her physical limitation. Entitlement to such benefits

 3  shall cease when the employee reaches age 75, unless the

 4  employee is not eligible for social security benefits under 42

 5  U.S.C. s. 402 or s. 423 because the employee's compensable

 6  injury has prevented the employee from working sufficient

 7  quarters to be eligible for such benefits, notwithstanding any

 8  age limits. If the accident occurred on or after the employee

 9  reaches age 70, benefits shall be payable during the

10  continuance of permanent total disability, not to exceed 5

11  years following the determination of permanent total

12  disability. Only claimants with catastrophic injuries or

13  claimants who are incapable of engaging in employment, as

14  described in this paragraph, are eligible for permanent total

15  benefits. In no other case may permanent total disability be

16  awarded.

17         (e)1.  The employer's or carrier's right to conduct

18  vocational evaluations or testing pursuant to s. 440.491 by

19  the employer's or carrier's chosen rehabilitation advisor or

20  provider continues even after the employee has been accepted

21  or adjudicated as entitled to compensation under this chapter

22  and costs for such evaluations and testing shall be borne by

23  the employer or carrier, respectively. This right includes,

24  but is not limited to, instances in which such evaluations or

25  tests are recommended by a treating physician or independent

26  medical-examination physician, instances warranted by a change

27  in the employee's medical condition, or instances in which the

28  employee appears to be making appropriate progress in

29  recuperation. This right may not be exercised more than once

30  every calendar year.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         2.  The carrier must confirm the scheduling of the

 2  vocational evaluation or testing in writing, and must notify

 3  the employee and the employee's counsel, if any, at least 7

 4  days before the date on which vocational evaluation or testing

 5  is scheduled to occur.

 6         3.  The employer or carrier may withhold payment of

 7  benefits for permanent total disability or supplements for any

 8  period during which the employee willfully fails or refuses to

 9  appear without good cause for the scheduled vocational

10  evaluation or testing.

11         (6)  EMPLOYEE REFUSES EMPLOYMENT.--If an injured

12  employee refuses employment suitable to the capacity thereof,

13  offered to or procured therefor, such employee shall not be

14  entitled to any compensation at any time during the

15  continuance of such refusal unless at any time in the opinion

16  of the judge of compensation claims such refusal is

17  justifiable. Time periods for the payment of benefits in

18  accordance with this section shall be counted in determining

19  the limitation of benefits as provided for in paragraphs

20  (2)(a), (3)(c), and (4)(e) (4)(b).

21         Section 11.  Paragraph (b) of subsection (6), paragraph

22  (b) of subsection (8), and subsections (15), (16), and (17) of

23  section 440.20, Florida Statutes, are amended to read:

24         440.20  Time for payment of compensation and medical

25  bills; penalties for late payment.--

26         (6)

27         (b)  For medical services provided on or after January

28  1, 2004, the department shall require that all medical,

29  hospital, pharmacy, or dental bills properly submitted by the

30  provider, except for bills that are disallowed or denied by

31  the carrier or its authorized vendor in accordance with


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  department rule, are timely paid within 45 calendar days after

 2  the carrier's receipt of the bill. Any carrier that is found

 3  to be in noncompliance in the subsequent, consecutive 3-month

 4  period must implement a medical-bill review program approved

 5  by the department, and an insurer or group self-insurance fund

 6  is subject to disciplinary action by the Office of Insurance

 7  Regulation. The department shall impose penalties for late

 8  payments or disallowances or denials of medical, hospital,

 9  pharmacy, or dental bills that are below a minimum 95 percent

10  timely performance standard. The carrier shall pay to the

11  Workers' Compensation Administration Trust Fund a penalty of:

12         1.  Twenty-five dollars for each bill below the 95

13  percent timely performance standard, but meeting a 90 percent

14  timely standard.

15         2.  Fifty dollars for each bill below a 90 percent

16  timely performance standard.

17         (8)

18         (b)  In order to ensure carrier compliance under this

19  chapter, the office shall monitor, audit, and investigate the

20  performance of carriers. The department office shall require

21  that all compensation benefits are timely paid in accordance

22  with this section. The department office shall impose

23  penalties for late payments of compensation that are below a

24  minimum 95 percent timely payment performance standard. The

25  carrier shall pay to the Workers' Compensation Administration

26  Trust Fund a penalty of:

27         1.  Fifty dollars per number of installments of

28  compensation below the 95 percent timely payment performance

29  standard and equal to or greater than a 90 percent timely

30  payment performance standard.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         2.  One hundred dollars per number of installments of

 2  compensation below a 90 percent timely payment performance

 3  standard.

 4  

 5  This section does not affect the imposition of any penalties

 6  or interest due to the claimant. If a carrier contracts with a

 7  servicing agent to fulfill its administrative responsibilities

 8  under this chapter, the payment practices of the servicing

 9  agent are deemed the payment practices of the carrier for the

10  purpose of assessing penalties against the carrier.

11         (15)(a)  The office shall examine on an ongoing basis

12  claims files in accordance with s. 624.3161 and may impose

13  fines pursuant to s. 624.310(5) and this chapter in order to

14  identify questionable claims-handling techniques, questionable

15  patterns or practices of claims, or a pattern of repeated

16  unreasonably controverted claims by carriers, as defined in s.

17  440.02, providing services to employees pursuant to this

18  chapter. If the office finds such questionable techniques,

19  patterns, or repeated unreasonably controverted claims as

20  constitute a general business practice of a carrier, as

21  defined in s. 440.02, the office shall take appropriate action

22  so as to bring such general business practices to a halt

23  pursuant to s. 440.38(3) or may impose penalties pursuant to

24  s. 624.4211. The department and office may initiate

25  investigations of questionable techniques, patterns,

26  practices, or repeated unreasonably controverted claims. The

27  Financial Services Commission may by rule establish forms and

28  procedures for corrective action plans and for auditing

29  carriers.

30         (b)  As to any examination, investigation, or hearing

31  being conducted under this chapter, the department and office:


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         1.  May administer oaths, examine and cross-examine

 2  witnesses, receive oral and documentary evidence; and

 3         2.  Shall have the power to subpoena witnesses, compel

 4  their attendance and testimony, and require by subpoena the

 5  production of books, papers, records, files, correspondence,

 6  documents, or other evidence which is relevant to the inquiry.

 7         (c)  If any person refuses to comply with any such

 8  subpoena or to testify as to any matter concerning which she

 9  or he may be lawfully interrogated, the Circuit Court of Leon

10  County or of the county wherein such examination,

11  investigation, or hearing is being conducted, or of the county

12  wherein such person resides, may, on the application of the

13  department or the office, issue an order requiring such person

14  to comply with the subpoena and to testify.

15         (d)  Subpoenas shall be served, and proof of such

16  service made, in the same manner as if issued by a circuit

17  court. Witness fees, costs, and reasonable travel expenses, if

18  claimed, shall be allowed the same as for testimony in a

19  circuit court.

20         (e)  The department shall publish annually a report

21  which indicates the promptness of first payment of

22  compensation records of each carrier or self-insurer so as to

23  focus attention on those carriers or self-insurers with poor

24  payment records for the preceding year. The department and the

25  office shall take appropriate steps so as to cause such poor

26  carrier payment practices to halt pursuant to s. 440.38(3). In

27  addition, the department shall take appropriate action so as

28  to halt such poor payment practices of self-insurers. "Poor

29  payment practice" means a practice of late payment sufficient

30  to constitute a general business practice.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1         (f)  The Financial Services Commission, in consultation

 2  with the department, shall adopt rules providing guidelines to

 3  carriers, as defined in s. 440.02, self-insurers, and

 4  employers to indicate behavior that may be construed as

 5  questionable claims-handling techniques, questionable patterns

 6  of claims, repeated unreasonably controverted claims, or poor

 7  payment practices.

 8         (16)  No penalty assessed under this section may be

 9  recouped by any carrier or self-insurer in the rate base, the

10  premium, or any rate filing. The office shall enforce this

11  subsection.

12         (17)  The Financial Services Commission may by rule

13  establish audit procedures and set standards for the Automated

14  Carrier Performance System.

15         Section 12.  Subsection (2) of section 440.381, Florida

16  Statutes, is amended to read:

17         440.381  Application for coverage; reporting payroll;

18  payroll audit procedures; penalties.--

19         (2)  Submission of an application that contains false,

20  misleading, or incomplete information provided with the

21  purpose of avoiding or reducing the amount of premiums for

22  workers' compensation coverage is a felony of the second

23  degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or

24  s. 775.084. The application must contain a statement that the

25  filing of an application containing false, misleading, or

26  incomplete information provided with the purpose of avoiding

27  or reducing the amount of premiums for workers' compensation

28  coverage is a felony of the third degree, punishable as

29  provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. The

30  application must contain a sworn statement by the employer

31  attesting to the accuracy of the information submitted and


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  acknowledging the provisions of former s. 440.37(4). The

 2  application must contain a sworn statement by the agent

 3  attesting that the agent explained to the employer or officer

 4  the classification codes that are used for premium

 5  calculations.

 6         Section 13.  Subsections (1), (2), and (3) of section

 7  440.525, Florida Statutes, are amended, and subsection (5) is

 8  added to that section, to read:

 9         440.525  Examination and investigation of carriers and

10  claims-handling entities.--

11         (1)  The department and office may examine, or

12  investigate any carrier, third-party administrator, servicing

13  agent, or other claims-handling entity as often as is

14  warranted to ensure that it is fulfilling its obligations

15  under this chapter.

16         (2)  An examination may cover any period of the

17  carrier's, third-party administrator's, servicing agent's, or

18  other claims-handling entity's operations since the last

19  previous examination. An investigation based upon a reasonable

20  belief by the department that a material violation of this

21  chapter has occurred may cover any time period, but may not

22  predate the last examination by more than 5 years. The

23  department may by rule establish procedures, standards, and

24  protocols for examinations and investigations. If the

25  department finds any violation of this chapter, it may impose

26  administrative penalties pursuant to this chapter. If the

27  department finds any self-insurer in violation of this

28  chapter, it may take action pursuant s. 440.38(3).

29  Examinations or investigations by the department may address,

30  but are not limited to addressing, patterns or practices of

31  unreasonable delay in claims handling; timeliness and accuracy


                                  34

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  of payments and reports under ss. 440.13, 440.16, and 440.185,

 2  and 440.20; examination of claims files to determine whether

 3  there are questionable claims handling practices or a pattern

 4  of unreasonably controverted claims; or patterns or practices

 5  of harassment, coercion, or intimidation of claimants. The

 6  department may also specify by rule the documentation to be

 7  maintained for each claim file.

 8         (3)  As to any examination or investigation conducted

 9  under this chapter, the department shall have the power to

10  conduct onsite inspections of claims records and documentation

11  of a carrier, third-party administrator, servicing agent, or

12  other claims-handling entity, and conduct interviews, both

13  sworn and unsworn, of claims-handling personnel or other

14  witness. Carriers, third-party administrators, servicing

15  agents, and other claims-handling entities shall make all

16  claims records, documentation, communication, and

17  correspondence available to department personnel during

18  regular business hours. If any person fails to comply with a

19  request for production of records or documents or fails to

20  produce an employee or other witness for interview, the

21  department may compel production or attendance by subpoena.

22  The results of an examination or investigation shall be

23  provided to the carrier, third-party administrator, servicing

24  agent, or other claims-handling entity in a written report

25  setting forth the basis for any violations that are asserted.

26  Such report is agency action for purposes of chapter 120, and

27  the aggrieved party may request a proceeding under s. 120.57

28  with regard to the findings and conclusion of the report.

29         (5)  No penalty assessed under this section may be

30  recouped by any carrier or self-insurer in the rate base, the

31  


                                  35

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  premium, or any rate filing. The office shall enforce this

 2  subsection.

 3         Section 14.  Paragraphs (c), (e), and (g) of subsection

 4  (3) of section 921.0022, Florida Statutes, are amended to

 5  read:

 6         921.0022  Criminal Punishment Code; offense severity

 7  ranking chart.--

 8         (3)  OFFENSE SEVERITY RANKING CHART

 9  

10  Florida           Felony

11  Statute           Degree             Description

12  

13                              (c)  LEVEL 3

14  119.10(3)          3rd      Unlawful use of confidential

15                              information from police reports.

16  316.066(3)(d)-(f)  3rd      Unlawfully obtaining or using

17                              confidential crash reports.

18  316.193(2)(b)      3rd      Felony DUI, 3rd conviction.

19  316.1935(2)        3rd      Fleeing or attempting to elude

20                              law enforcement officer in marked

21                              patrol vehicle with siren and

22                              lights activated.

23  319.30(4)          3rd      Possession by junkyard of motor

24                              vehicle with identification

25                              number plate removed.

26  319.33(1)(a)       3rd      Alter or forge any certificate of

27                              title to a motor vehicle or

28                              mobile home.

29  319.33(1)(c)       3rd      Procure or pass title on stolen

30                              vehicle.

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  319.33(4)          3rd      With intent to defraud, possess,

 2                              sell, etc., a blank, forged, or

 3                              unlawfully obtained title or

 4                              registration.

 5  327.35(2)(b)       3rd      Felony BUI.

 6  328.05(2)          3rd      Possess, sell, or counterfeit

 7                              fictitious, stolen, or fraudulent

 8                              titles or bills of sale of

 9                              vessels.

10  328.07(4)          3rd      Manufacture, exchange, or possess

11                              vessel with counterfeit or wrong

12                              ID number.

13  370.12(1)(e)5.     3rd      Taking, disturbing, mutilating,

14                              destroying, causing to be

15                              destroyed, transferring, selling,

16                              offering to sell, molesting, or

17                              harassing marine turtles, marine

18                              turtle eggs, or marine turtle

19                              nests in violation of the Marine

20                              Turtle Protection Act.

21  370.12(1)(e)6.     3rd      Soliciting to commit or

22                              conspiring to commit a violation

23                              of the Marine Turtle Protection

24                              Act.

25  376.302(5)         3rd      Fraud related to reimbursement

26                              for cleanup expenses under the

27                              Inland Protection Trust Fund.

28  400.903(3)         3rd      Operating a clinic without a

29                              license or filing false license

30                              application or other required

31                              information.


                                  37

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  440.105(3)(b)      3rd      Receipt of fee or consideration

 2                              without approval by judge of

 3                              compensation claims.

 4  440.105(4)(f)1.    3rd      Workers' compensation insurance

 5                              fraud; property value less than

 6                              $20,000.

 7  440.1051(3)        3rd      False report of workers'

 8                              compensation fraud or retaliation

 9                              for making such a report.

10  501.001(2)(b)      2nd      Tampers with a consumer product

11                              or the container using materially

12                              false/misleading information.

13  624.401(4)(a)      3rd      Transacting insurance without a

14                              certificate of authority.

15  624.401(4)(b)1.    3rd      Transacting insurance without a

16                              certificate of authority; premium

17                              collected less than $20,000.

18  626.902(1)(a) & (b)3rd      Representing an unauthorized

19                              insurer.

20  697.08             3rd      Equity skimming.

21  790.15(3)          3rd      Person directs another to

22                              discharge firearm from a vehicle.

23  796.05(1)          3rd      Live on earnings of a prostitute.

24  806.10(1)          3rd      Maliciously injure, destroy, or

25                              interfere with vehicles or

26                              equipment used in firefighting.

27  806.10(2)          3rd      Interferes with or assaults

28                              firefighter in performance of

29                              duty.

30  

31  


                                  38

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  810.09(2)(c)       3rd      Trespass on property other than

 2                              structure or conveyance armed

 3                              with firearm or dangerous weapon.

 4  812.014(2)(c)2.    3rd      Grand theft; $5,000 or more but

 5                              less than $10,000.

 6  812.0145(2)(c)     3rd      Theft from person 65 years of age

 7                              or older; $300 or more but less

 8                              than $10,000.

 9  815.04(4)(b)       2nd      Computer offense devised to

10                              defraud or obtain property.

11  817.034(4)(a)3.    3rd      Engages in scheme to defraud

12                              (Florida Communications Fraud

13                              Act), property valued at less

14                              than $20,000.

15  817.233            3rd      Burning to defraud insurer.

16  817.234(8)(b)-(c)  3rd      Unlawful solicitation of persons

17                              involved in motor vehicle

18                              accidents.

19  817.234(11)(a)     3rd      Insurance fraud; property value

20                              less than $20,000.

21  817.236            3rd      Filing a false motor vehicle

22                              insurance application.

23  817.2361           3rd      Creating, marketing, or

24                              presenting a false or fraudulent

25                              motor vehicle insurance card.

26  817.413(2)         3rd      Sale of used goods as new.

27  817.505(4)         3rd      Patient brokering.

28  828.12(2)          3rd      Tortures any animal with intent

29                              to inflict intense pain, serious

30                              physical injury, or death.

31  


                                  39

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  831.28(2)(a)       3rd      Counterfeiting a payment

 2                              instrument with intent to defraud

 3                              or possessing a counterfeit

 4                              payment instrument.

 5  831.29             2nd      Possession of instruments for

 6                              counterfeiting drivers' licenses

 7                              or identification cards.

 8  838.021(3)(b)      3rd      Threatens unlawful harm to public

 9                              servant.

10  843.19             3rd      Injure, disable, or kill police

11                              dog or horse.

12  860.15(3)          3rd      Overcharging for repairs and

13                              parts.

14  870.01(2)          3rd      Riot; inciting or encouraging.

15  893.13(1)(a)2.     3rd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

16                              cannabis (or other s.

17                              893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1., (2)(c)2.,

18                              (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5., (2)(c)6.,

19                              (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8., (2)(c)9.,

20                              (3), or (4) drugs).

21  893.13(1)(d)2.     2nd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver s.

22                              893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1., (2)(c)2.,

23                              (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5., (2)(c)6.,

24                              (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8., (2)(c)9.,

25                              (3), or (4) drugs within 1,000

26                              feet of university.

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  893.13(1)(f)2.     2nd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver s.

 2                              893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1., (2)(c)2.,

 3                              (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5., (2)(c)6.,

 4                              (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8., (2)(c)9.,

 5                              (3), or (4) drugs within 1,000

 6                              feet of public housing facility.

 7  893.13(6)(a)       3rd      Possession of any controlled

 8                              substance other than felony

 9                              possession of cannabis.

10  893.13(7)(a)8.     3rd      Withhold information from

11                              practitioner regarding previous

12                              receipt of or prescription for a

13                              controlled substance.

14  893.13(7)(a)9.     3rd      Obtain or attempt to obtain

15                              controlled substance by fraud,

16                              forgery, misrepresentation, etc.

17  893.13(7)(a)10.    3rd      Affix false or forged label to

18                              package of controlled substance.

19  893.13(7)(a)11.    3rd      Furnish false or fraudulent

20                              material information on any

21                              document or record required by

22                              chapter 893.

23  893.13(8)(a)1.     3rd      Knowingly assist a patient, other

24                              person, or owner of an animal in

25                              obtaining a controlled substance

26                              through deceptive, untrue, or

27                              fraudulent representations in or

28                              related to the practitioner's

29                              practice.

30  

31  


                                  41

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  893.13(8)(a)2.     3rd      Employ a trick or scheme in the

 2                              practitioner's practice to assist

 3                              a patient, other person, or owner

 4                              of an animal in obtaining a

 5                              controlled substance.

 6  893.13(8)(a)3.     3rd      Knowingly write a prescription

 7                              for a controlled substance for a

 8                              fictitious person.

 9  893.13(8)(a)4.     3rd      Write a prescription for a

10                              controlled substance for a

11                              patient, other person, or an

12                              animal if the sole purpose of

13                              writing the prescription is a

14                              monetary benefit for the

15                              practitioner.

16  918.13(1)(a)       3rd      Alter, destroy, or conceal

17                              investigation evidence.

18  944.47(1)(a)1.-2.  3rd      Introduce contraband to

19                              correctional facility.

20  944.47(1)(c)       2nd      Possess contraband while upon the

21                              grounds of a correctional

22                              institution.

23  985.3141           3rd      Escapes from a juvenile facility

24                              (secure detention or residential

25                              commitment facility).

26                              (e)  LEVEL 5

27  316.027(1)(a)      3rd      Accidents involving personal

28                              injuries, failure to stop;

29                              leaving scene.

30  316.1935(4)        2nd      Aggravated fleeing or eluding.

31  


                                  42

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  322.34(6)          3rd      Careless operation of motor

 2                              vehicle with suspended license,

 3                              resulting in death or serious

 4                              bodily injury.

 5  327.30(5)          3rd      Vessel accidents involving

 6                              personal injury; leaving scene.

 7  381.0041(11)(b)    3rd      Donate blood, plasma, or organs

 8                              knowing HIV positive.

 9  440.10(1)(g)       2nd      Failure to obtain workers'

10                              compensation coverage.

11  440.105(4)(f)2.    2nd      Workers' compensation insurance

12                              fraud; property value $20,000 or

13                              more but less than $100,000.

14  440.105(5)         2nd      Unlawful solicitation for the

15                              purpose of making workers'

16                              compensation claims.

17  440.381(2)         2nd      Submission of false, misleading,

18                              or incomplete information with

19                              the purpose of avoiding or

20                              reducing workers' compensation

21                              premiums.

22  624.401(4)(b)2.    2nd      Transacting insurance without a

23                              certificate or authority; premium

24                              collected $20,000 or more but

25                              less than $100,000.

26  626.902(1)(c)      2nd      Representing an unauthorized

27                              insurer; repeat offender.

28  790.01(2)          3rd      Carrying a concealed firearm.

29  790.162            2nd      Threat to throw or discharge

30                              destructive device.

31  


                                  43

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  790.163(1)         2nd      False report of deadly explosive

 2                              or weapon of mass destruction.

 3  790.221(1)         2nd      Possession of short-barreled

 4                              shotgun or machine gun.

 5  790.23             2nd      Felons in possession of firearms

 6                              or electronic weapons or devices.

 7  800.04(6)(c)       3rd      Lewd or lascivious conduct;

 8                              offender less than 18 years.

 9  800.04(7)(c)       2nd      Lewd or lascivious exhibition;

10                              offender 18 years or older.

11  806.111(1)         3rd      Possess, manufacture, or dispense

12                              fire bomb with intent to damage

13                              any structure or property.

14  812.0145(2)(b)     2nd      Theft from person 65 years of age

15                              or older; $10,000 or more but

16                              less than $50,000.

17  812.015(8)         3rd      Retail theft; property stolen is

18                              valued at $300 or more and one or

19                              more specified acts.

20  812.019(1)         2nd      Stolen property; dealing in or

21                              trafficking in.

22  812.131(2)(b)      3rd      Robbery by sudden snatching.

23  812.16(2)          3rd      Owning, operating, or conducting

24                              a chop shop.

25  817.034(4)(a)2.    2nd      Communications fraud, value

26                              $20,000 to $50,000.

27  817.234(11)(b)     2nd      Insurance fraud; property value

28                              $20,000 or more but less than

29                              $100,000.

30  

31  


                                  44

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  817.2341(1),

 2   (2)(a)&(3)(a)     3rd      Filing false financial

 3                              statements, making false entries

 4                              of material fact or false

 5                              statements regarding property

 6                              values relating to the solvency

 7                              of an insuring entity.

 8  817.568(2)(b)      2nd      Fraudulent use of personal

 9                              identification information; value

10                              of benefit, services received,

11                              payment avoided, or amount of

12                              injury or fraud, $5,000 or more

13                              or use of personal identification

14                              information of 10 or more

15                              individuals.

16  817.625(2)(b)      2nd      Second or subsequent fraudulent

17                              use of scanning device or

18                              reencoder.

19  825.1025(4)        3rd      Lewd or lascivious exhibition in

20                              the presence of an elderly person

21                              or disabled adult.

22  827.071(4)         2nd      Possess with intent to promote

23                              any photographic material, motion

24                              picture, etc., which includes

25                              sexual conduct by a child.

26  839.13(2)(b)       2nd      Falsifying records of an

27                              individual in the care and

28                              custody of a state agency

29                              involving great bodily harm or

30                              death.

31  


                                  45

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  843.01             3rd      Resist officer with violence to

 2                              person; resist arrest with

 3                              violence.

 4  874.05(2)          2nd      Encouraging or recruiting another

 5                              to join a criminal street gang;

 6                              second or subsequent offense.

 7  893.13(1)(a)1.     2nd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

 8                              cocaine (or other s.

 9                              893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d),

10                              (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4.

11                              drugs).

12  893.13(1)(c)2.     2nd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

13                              cannabis (or other s.

14                              893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1., (2)(c)2.,

15                              (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5., (2)(c)6.,

16                              (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8., (2)(c)9.,

17                              (3), or (4) drugs) within 1,000

18                              feet of a child care facility,

19                              school, or state, county, or

20                              municipal park or publicly owned

21                              recreational facility or

22                              community center.

23  893.13(1)(d)1.     1st      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

24                              cocaine (or other s.

25                              893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d),

26                              (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4.

27                              drugs) within 1,000 feet of

28                              university.

29  

30  

31  


                                  46

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  893.13(1)(e)2.     2nd      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

 2                              cannabis or other drug prohibited

 3                              under s. 893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1.,

 4                              (2)(c)2., (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5.,

 5                              (2)(c)6., (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8.,

 6                              (2)(c)9., (3), or (4) within

 7                              1,000 feet of property used for

 8                              religious services or a specified

 9                              business site.

10  893.13(1)(f)1.     1st      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

11                              cocaine (or other s.

12                              893.03(1)(a), (1)(b), (1)(d), or

13                              (2)(a), (2)(b), or (2)(c)4.

14                              drugs) within 1,000 feet of

15                              public housing facility.

16  893.13(4)(b)       2nd      Deliver to minor cannabis (or

17                              other s. 893.03(1)(c), (2)(c)1.,

18                              (2)(c)2., (2)(c)3., (2)(c)5.,

19                              (2)(c)6., (2)(c)7., (2)(c)8.,

20                              (2)(c)9., (3), or (4) drugs).

21                              (g)  LEVEL 7

22  316.027(1)(b)      2nd      Accident involving death, failure

23                              to stop; leaving scene.

24  316.193(3)(c)2.    3rd      DUI resulting in serious bodily

25                              injury.

26  327.35(3)(c)2.     3rd      Vessel BUI resulting in serious

27                              bodily injury.

28  

29  

30  

31  


                                  47

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  402.319(2)         2nd      Misrepresentation and negligence

 2                              or intentional act resulting in

 3                              great bodily harm, permanent

 4                              disfiguration, permanent

 5                              disability, or death.

 6  409.920(2)         3rd      Medicaid provider fraud.

 7  440.105(4)(f)3.    1st      Workers' compensation insurance

 8                              fraud, the amount of the claim or

 9                              premium $100,000 or more.

10  456.065(2)         3rd      Practicing a health care

11                              profession without a license.

12  456.065(2)         2nd      Practicing a health care

13                              profession without a license

14                              which results in serious bodily

15                              injury.

16  458.327(1)         3rd      Practicing medicine without a

17                              license.

18  459.013(1)         3rd      Practicing osteopathic medicine

19                              without a license.

20  460.411(1)         3rd      Practicing chiropractic medicine

21                              without a license.

22  461.012(1)         3rd      Practicing podiatric medicine

23                              without a license.

24  462.17             3rd      Practicing naturopathy without a

25                              license.

26  463.015(1)         3rd      Practicing optometry without a

27                              license.

28  464.016(1)         3rd      Practicing nursing without a

29                              license.

30  465.015(2)         3rd      Practicing pharmacy without a

31                              license.


                                  48

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  466.026(1)         3rd      Practicing dentistry or dental

 2                              hygiene without a license.

 3  467.201            3rd      Practicing midwifery without a

 4                              license.

 5  468.366            3rd      Delivering respiratory care

 6                              services without a license.

 7  483.828(1)         3rd      Practicing as clinical laboratory

 8                              personnel without a license.

 9  483.901(9)         3rd      Practicing medical physics

10                              without a license.

11  484.013(1)(c)      3rd      Preparing or dispensing optical

12                              devices without a prescription.

13  484.053            3rd      Dispensing hearing aids without a

14                              license.

15  494.0018(2)        1st      Conviction of any violation of

16                              ss. 494.001-494.0077 in which the

17                              total money and property

18                              unlawfully obtained exceeded

19                              $50,000 and there were five or

20                              more victims.

21  560.123(8)(b)1.    3rd      Failure to report currency or

22                              payment instruments exceeding

23                              $300 but less than $20,000 by

24                              money transmitter.

25  560.125(5)(a)      3rd      Money transmitter business by

26                              unauthorized person, currency or

27                              payment instruments exceeding

28                              $300 but less than $20,000.

29  

30  

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  655.50(10)(b)1.    3rd      Failure to report financial

 2                              transactions exceeding $300 but

 3                              less than $20,000 by financial

 4                              institution.

 5  782.051(3)         2nd      Attempted felony murder of a

 6                              person by a person other than the

 7                              perpetrator or the perpetrator of

 8                              an attempted felony.

 9  782.07(1)          2nd      Killing of a human being by the

10                              act, procurement, or culpable

11                              negligence of another

12                              (manslaughter).

13  782.071            2nd      Killing of human being or viable

14                              fetus by the operation of a motor

15                              vehicle in a reckless manner

16                              (vehicular homicide).

17  782.072            2nd      Killing of a human being by the

18                              operation of a vessel in a

19                              reckless manner (vessel

20                              homicide).

21  784.045(1)(a)1.    2nd      Aggravated battery; intentionally

22                              causing great bodily harm or

23                              disfigurement.

24  784.045(1)(a)2.    2nd      Aggravated battery; using deadly

25                              weapon.

26  784.045(1)(b)      2nd      Aggravated battery; perpetrator

27                              aware victim pregnant.

28  784.048(4)         3rd      Aggravated stalking; violation of

29                              injunction or court order.

30  784.07(2)(d)       1st      Aggravated battery on law

31                              enforcement officer.


                                  50

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  784.074(1)(a)      1st      Aggravated battery on sexually

 2                              violent predators facility staff.

 3  784.08(2)(a)       1st      Aggravated battery on a person 65

 4                              years of age or older.

 5  784.081(1)         1st      Aggravated battery on specified

 6                              official or employee.

 7  784.082(1)         1st      Aggravated battery by detained

 8                              person on visitor or other

 9                              detainee.

10  784.083(1)         1st      Aggravated battery on code

11                              inspector.

12  790.07(4)          1st      Specified weapons violation

13                              subsequent to previous conviction

14                              of s. 790.07(1) or (2).

15  790.16(1)          1st      Discharge of a machine gun under

16                              specified circumstances.

17  790.165(2)         2nd      Manufacture, sell, possess, or

18                              deliver hoax bomb.

19  790.165(3)         2nd      Possessing, displaying, or

20                              threatening to use any hoax bomb

21                              while committing or attempting to

22                              commit a felony.

23  790.166(3)         2nd      Possessing, selling, using, or

24                              attempting to use a hoax weapon

25                              of mass destruction.

26  790.166(4)         2nd      Possessing, displaying, or

27                              threatening to use a hoax weapon

28                              of mass destruction while

29                              committing or attempting to

30                              commit a felony.

31  


                                  51

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  796.03             2nd      Procuring any person under 16

 2                              years for prostitution.

 3  800.04(5)(c)1.     2nd      Lewd or lascivious molestation;

 4                              victim less than 12 years of age;

 5                              offender less than 18 years.

 6  800.04(5)(c)2.     2nd      Lewd or lascivious molestation;

 7                              victim 12 years of age or older

 8                              but less than 16 years; offender

 9                              18 years or older.

10  806.01(2)          2nd      Maliciously damage structure by

11                              fire or explosive.

12  810.02(3)(a)       2nd      Burglary of occupied dwelling;

13                              unarmed; no assault or battery.

14  810.02(3)(b)       2nd      Burglary of unoccupied dwelling;

15                              unarmed; no assault or battery.

16  810.02(3)(d)       2nd      Burglary of occupied conveyance;

17                              unarmed; no assault or battery.

18  812.014(2)(a)      1st      Property stolen, valued at

19                              $100,000 or more; cargo stolen

20                              valued at $50,000 or more;

21                              property stolen while causing

22                              other property damage; 1st degree

23                              grand theft.

24  812.014(2)(b)3.    2nd      Property stolen, emergency

25                              medical equipment; 2nd degree

26                              grand theft.

27  812.0145(2)(a)     1st      Theft from person 65 years of age

28                              or older; $50,000 or more.

29  

30  

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  812.019(2)         1st      Stolen property; initiates,

 2                              organizes, plans, etc., the theft

 3                              of property and traffics in

 4                              stolen property.

 5  812.131(2)(a)      2nd      Robbery by sudden snatching.

 6  812.133(2)(b)      1st      Carjacking; no firearm, deadly

 7                              weapon, or other weapon.

 8  817.234(8)(a)      2nd      Solicitation of motor vehicle

 9                              accident victims with intent to

10                              defraud.

11  817.234(9)         2nd      Organizing, planning, or

12                              participating in an intentional

13                              motor vehicle collision.

14  817.234(11)(c)     1st      Insurance fraud; property value

15                              $100,000 or more.

16  817.2341(2)(b)&

17   (3)(b)            1st      Making false entries of material

18                              fact or false statements

19                              regarding property values

20                              relating to the solvency of an

21                              insuring entity which are a

22                              significant cause of the

23                              insolvency of that entity.

24  825.102(3)(b)      2nd      Neglecting an elderly person or

25                              disabled adult causing great

26                              bodily harm, disability, or

27                              disfigurement.

28  825.103(2)(b)      2nd      Exploiting an elderly person or

29                              disabled adult and property is

30                              valued at $20,000 or more, but

31                              less than $100,000.


                                  53

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  827.03(3)(b)       2nd      Neglect of a child causing great

 2                              bodily harm, disability, or

 3                              disfigurement.

 4  827.04(3)          3rd      Impregnation of a child under 16

 5                              years of age by person 21 years

 6                              of age or older.

 7  837.05(2)          3rd      Giving false information about

 8                              alleged capital felony to a law

 9                              enforcement officer.

10  838.015            2nd      Bribery.

11  838.016            2nd      Unlawful compensation or reward

12                              for official behavior.

13  838.021(3)(a)      2nd      Unlawful harm to a public

14                              servant.

15  838.22             2nd      Bid tampering.

16  872.06             2nd      Abuse of a dead human body.

17  893.13(1)(c)1.     1st      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

18                              cocaine (or other drug prohibited

19                              under s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b),

20                              (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or

21                              (2)(c)4.) within 1,000 feet of a

22                              child care facility, school, or

23                              state, county, or municipal park

24                              or publicly owned recreational

25                              facility or community center.

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  


                                  54

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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  893.13(1)(e)1.     1st      Sell, manufacture, or deliver

 2                              cocaine or other drug prohibited

 3                              under s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b),

 4                              (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or

 5                              (2)(c)4., within 1,000 feet of

 6                              property used for religious

 7                              services or a specified business

 8                              site.

 9  893.13(4)(a)       1st      Deliver to minor cocaine (or

10                              other s. 893.03(1)(a), (1)(b),

11                              (1)(d), (2)(a), (2)(b), or

12                              (2)(c)4. drugs).

13  893.135(1)(a)1.    1st      Trafficking in cannabis, more

14                              than 25 lbs., less than 2,000

15                              lbs.

16  893.135(1)(b)1.a.  1st      Trafficking in cocaine, more than

17                              28 grams, less than 200 grams.

18  893.135(1)(c)1.a.  1st      Trafficking in illegal drugs,

19                              more than 4 grams, less than 14

20                              grams.

21  893.135(1)(d)1.    1st      Trafficking in phencyclidine,

22                              more than 28 grams, less than 200

23                              grams.

24  893.135(1)(e)1.    1st      Trafficking in methaqualone, more

25                              than 200 grams, less than 5

26                              kilograms.

27  893.135(1)(f)1.    1st      Trafficking in amphetamine, more

28                              than 14 grams, less than 28

29                              grams.

30  

31  


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    CS for SB 2268                          Second Engrossed (ntc)



 1  893.135(1)(g)1.a.  1st      Trafficking in flunitrazepam, 4

 2                              grams or more, less than 14

 3                              grams.

 4  893.135(1)(h)1.a.  1st      Trafficking in

 5                              gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB),

 6                              1 kilogram or more, less than 5

 7                              kilograms.

 8  893.135(1)(j)1.a.  1st      Trafficking in 1,4-Butanediol, 1

 9                              kilogram or more, less than 5

10                              kilograms.

11  893.135(1)(k)2.a.  1st      Trafficking in Phenethylamines,

12                              10 grams or more, less than 200

13                              grams.

14  896.101(5)(a)      3rd      Money laundering, financial

15                              transactions exceeding $300 but

16                              less than $20,000.

17  896.104(4)(a)1.    3rd      Structuring transactions to evade

18                              reporting or registration

19                              requirements, financial

20                              transactions exceeding $300 but

21                              less than $20,000.

22         Section 15.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

23  law.

24  

25  

26  

27  

28  

29  

30  

31  


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