Florida Senate - 2008 SB 1530

By Senator Bennett

21-03273-08 20081530__

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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to access to dwelling units; amending s.

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83.53, F.S.; providing recordkeeping requirements for

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landlords relating to access to dwelling units by direct

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employees; creating s. 83.531, F.S.; requiring landlords

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to obtain criminal history information on certain

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employees; prohibiting landlords from allowing certain

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employees access to dwelling units; providing exceptions;

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providing penalties; providing an effective date.

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

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     Section 1.  Subsection (4) is added to section 83.53,

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Florida Statutes, to read:

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     83.53  Landlord's access to dwelling unit.--

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     (4) The landlord shall maintain a written record, subject

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to inspection by a unit owner upon the unit owner's request, that

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includes:

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     (a) The names of all direct employees of the landlord who

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have access to the dwelling unit.

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     (b) The dates and times that any direct employee of the

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landlord has entered the dwelling unit pursuant to this section.

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     Section 2.  Section 83.531, Florida Statutes, is created to

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read:

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     83.531 Access to dwelling units; prohibitions; penalties.--

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     (1) A landlord shall obtain from the Department of Law

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Enforcement criminal history information concerning any employee

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who has access to the interior portion of a dwelling unit that is

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under a rental agreement.

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     (2) A landlord shall not permit an employee of the landlord

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who has been convicted of a felony in this state to have access

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to the interior portion of a dwelling unit that is under a rental

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agreement unless:

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     (a) The tenant has consented in writing to such access; or

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     (b) The landlord supervises the employee during such

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access.

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     (2) Any landlord who violates this section commits a

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misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

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775.082 or s. 775.083.

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     Section 3.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.