Florida Senate - 2008 CS for SB 1882

By the Committee on Transportation and Economic Development Appropriations; and Senator Fasano

606-06477A-08 20081882c1

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A bill to be entitled

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An act relating to the Department of Highway Safety and

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Motor Vehicles; amending s. 17.61, F.S.; deleting the DUI

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Programs Coordination Trust Fund from the list of funds

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invested by the Chief Financial Officer; amending s.

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215.20, F.S.; deleting certain trust funds from the list

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of funds subject to a 0.3 percent service charge; amending

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s. 319.001, F.S.; defining the term "certificate of

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title"; amending s. 319.40, F.S.; authorizing the

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department to issue electronic certificates of title for

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motor vehicles and to provide notification through e-mail;

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amending s. 320.08, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

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the expenditure of the nonrefundable motorcycle safety

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education fee; amending s. 320.95, F.S.; authorizing the

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department to provide notification through e-mail;

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amending s. 322.025, F.S.; revising provisions relating to

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the implementation of programs to improve driving ability

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to conform to changes made by the act; amending s.

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322.0255, F.S.; deleting the requirement that the

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department reimburse organizations that provide a

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motorcycle safety education course to certain students;

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amending s. 322.271, F.S.; authorizing the department to

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waive the hearing process for a person whose license has

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been suspended, cancelled, or revoked; providing

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exceptions; amending s. 322.293, F.S.; requiring that DUI

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programs be administered by the department and paid for by

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revenues collected by such programs; providing that such

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revenues be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating

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Trust Fund; amending s. 328.30, F.S.; authorizing the

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department to issue electronic certificates of title to

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vessels and to provide notification through e-mail;

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amending s. 328.80, F.S.; authorizing the Fish and

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Wildlife Conservation Commission to provide notification

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through e-mail; amending ss. 316.251 and 501.976, F.S.;

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conforming cross-references; 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.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section

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17.61, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     17.61  Chief Financial Officer; powers and duties in the

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investment of certain funds.--

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     (3)

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     (c)  Except as provided in this paragraph and except for

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moneys described in paragraph (d), the following agencies shall

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not invest trust fund moneys as provided in this section, but

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shall retain such moneys in their respective trust funds for

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investment, with interest appropriated to the General Revenue

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Fund, pursuant to s. 17.57:

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     1.  The Agency for Health Care Administration, except for

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the Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

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     2.  The Agency for Persons with Disabilities, except for:

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     a.  The Federal Grants Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

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     3.  The Department of Children and Family Services, except

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for:

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     a.  The Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Refugee Assistance Trust Fund.

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     c.  The Social Services Block Grant Trust Fund.

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     d.  The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

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     e.  The Working Capital Trust Fund.

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     4.  The Department of Community Affairs, only for the

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Operating Trust Fund.

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     5.  The Department of Corrections.

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     6.  The Department of Elderly Affairs, except for:

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     a.  The Federal Grants Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

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     7.  The Department of Health, except for:

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     a.  The Federal Grants Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Grants and Donations Trust Fund.

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     c.  The Maternal and Child Health Block Grant Trust Fund.

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     d.  The Tobacco Settlement Trust Fund.

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     8.  The Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles,

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only for:

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     a. The DUI Programs Coordination Trust Fund.

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     b. the Security Deposits Trust Fund.

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     9.  The Department of Juvenile Justice.

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     10.  The Department of Law Enforcement.

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     11.  The Department of Legal Affairs.

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     12.  The Department of State, only for:

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     a.  The Grants and Donations Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Records Management Trust Fund.

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     13.  The Executive Office of the Governor, only for:

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     a.  The Economic Development Transportation Trust Fund.

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     b.  The Economic Development Trust Fund.

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     14.  The Florida Public Service Commission, only for the

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Florida Public Service Regulatory Trust Fund.

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     15.  The Justice Administrative Commission.

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     16.  The state courts system.

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     Section 2.  Paragraphs (q) through (u) of subsection (4) of

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section 215.20, Florida Statutes, as amended by section 3 of

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chapter 2007-14, Laws of Florida, are redesignated as paragraphs

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(p) through (t), and paragraphs (m) through (p) of that

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subsection are amended, to read:

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     215.20  Certain income and certain trust funds to contribute

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to the General Revenue Fund.--

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     (4)  The income of a revenue nature deposited in the

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following described trust funds, by whatever name designated, is

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that from which the appropriations authorized by subsection (3)

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shall be made:

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     (m) Within the Department of Highway Safety and Motor

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Vehicles, the DUI Programs Coordination Trust Fund.

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     (m)(n) Within the Department of Legal Affairs, the Crimes

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Compensation Trust Fund.

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     (n)(o) Within the Department of Management Services:

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     1.  The Administrative Trust Fund.

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     2.  The Architects Incidental Trust Fund.

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     3.  The Bureau of Aircraft Trust Fund.

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     4.  The Florida Facilities Pool Working Capital Trust Fund.

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     5.  The Grants and Donations Trust Fund.

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     6.  The Police and Firefighters' Premium Tax Trust Fund.

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     7.  The Public Employees Relations Commission Trust Fund.

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     8.  The State Personnel System Trust Fund.

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     9.  The Supervision Trust Fund.

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     10.  The Working Capital Trust Fund.

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     (o)(p) Within the Department of Revenue:

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     1.  The Additional Court Cost Clearing Trust Fund.

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     2.  The Administrative Trust Fund.

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     3.  The Certification Program Trust Fund.

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     4.  The Fuel Tax Collection Trust Fund.

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     5.  The Local Alternative Fuel User Fee Clearing Trust Fund.

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     6.  The Local Option Fuel Tax Trust Fund.

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     7.  The Motor Vehicle Rental Surcharge Clearing Trust Fund.

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     8.  The Motor Vehicle Warranty Trust Fund.

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     9.  The Oil and Gas Tax Trust Fund.

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     10.  The Operations Trust Fund.

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     11.  The Severance Tax Solid Mineral Trust Fund.

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     12.  The State Alternative Fuel User Fee Clearing Trust

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Fund.

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     13.  All taxes levied on motor fuels other than gasoline

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levied pursuant to the provisions of s. 206.87(1)(a).

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The enumeration of the foregoing moneys or trust funds shall not

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prohibit the applicability thereto of s. 215.24 should the

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Governor determine that for the reasons mentioned in s. 215.24

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the money or trust funds should be exempt herefrom, as it is the

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purpose of this law to exempt income from its force and effect

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when, by the operation of this law, federal matching funds or

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contributions or private grants to any trust fund would be lost

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to the state.

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     Section 3.  Present subsections (1) through (11) of section

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319.001, Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (2)

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through (12), respectively, and a new subsection (1) is added to

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that section, to read:

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     319.001  Definitions.--As used in this chapter, the term:

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     (1) "Certificate of title" means the record that evidences

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ownership of a motor vehicle, whether a paper certificate

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authorized by the department or a certificate consisting of

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information stored electronically in the department's database.

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     Section 4.  Section 319.40, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     319.40  Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.--The

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department may: is authorized to

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     (1) Accept any application provided for under this chapter

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by electronic or telephonic means.

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     (2) Issue an electronic certificate of title in lieu of

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printing a paper title.

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     (3) Collect and use e-mail addresses of motor vehicle

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owners in lieu of providing notification through the regular

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mail.

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     Section 5.  Paragraph (c) of subsection (1) of section

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320.08, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:

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     320.08  License taxes.--Except as otherwise provided herein,

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there are hereby levied and imposed annual license taxes for the

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operation of motor vehicles, mopeds, motorized bicycles as

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defined in s. 316.003(2), and mobile homes, as defined in s.

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320.01, which shall be paid to and collected by the department or

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its agent upon the registration or renewal of registration of the

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following:

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     (1)  MOTORCYCLES and MOPEDS.--

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     (c)  Upon registration of any motorcycle, motor-driven

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cycle, or moped there shall be paid in addition to the license

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taxes specified in this subsection a nonrefundable motorcycle

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safety education fee in the amount of $2.50. The proceeds of the

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such additional fee shall be deposited in the Highway Safety

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Operating Trust Fund and be used exclusively to fund a motorcycle

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driver improvement program implemented pursuant to s. 322.025, or

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the Florida Motorcycle Safety Education Program established in s.

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322.0255, or the general operation of the department.

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     Section 6.  Section 320.95, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     320.95  Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.--The

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department may: is authorized to

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     (1) Accept any application provided for under this chapter

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by electronic or telephonic means.

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     (2) Collect and use e-mail addresses of vehicle registrants

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in lieu of providing notification through the regular mail.

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     Section 7.  Subsection (1) of section 322.025, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     322.025  Driver improvement.--

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     (1)  The department may implement programs to improve the

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driving ability of the drivers of this state. Such programs may

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include, but are shall not be limited to, safety awareness

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campaigns, driver training, and licensing improvement. Motorcycle

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driver improvement programs implemented pursuant to this section

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or s. 322.0255 shall be funded by the motorcycle safety education

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fee collected pursuant to s. 320.08(1)(c), which shall be

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deposited in the Highway Safety Operating Trust Fund of the

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department and appropriated for that purpose.

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     Section 8.  Subsection (5) of section 322.0255, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     322.0255  Florida Motorcycle Safety Education Program.--

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     (5) The department may shall, subject to the availability

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of funds, reimburse each organization that provides an approved

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motorcycle safety education course for each student who begins

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the on-cycle portion of the course. This shall include any

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student not required to attend a motorcycle safety education

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course prior to licensure as required in s. 322.12. The amount to

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be reimbursed per student to each course provider shall be

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determined by the department. In order to facilitate such

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determination, each course provider must shall be required to

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submit proof satisfactory to the department of the expected cost

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per student to be incurred by the such course provider. In no

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event shall The amount to be reimbursed per student to any course

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provider may not exceed the expected cost per student. In

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addition to the amount of any reimbursement, each course provider

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that conducts such a course may charge each student a tuition fee

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sufficient to defray the cost of conducting the course. The

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department shall fund the payments required under this subsection

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from the motorcycle safety education fee, as provided in ss.

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320.08 and 322.025.

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     Section 9.  Subsection (2) of section 322.271, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     322.271  Authority to modify revocation, cancellation, or

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suspension order.--

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     (2)(a) At Upon such hearing, the person whose license has

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been suspended, canceled, or revoked may show that such

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suspension, cancellation, or revocation of his or her license

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causes a serious hardship and precludes the person from person's

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carrying out his or her normal business occupation, trade, or

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employment and that the use of the person's license in the normal

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course of his or her business is necessary to the proper support

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of the person or his or her family.

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     (a) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the

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department shall require proof of the successful completion of

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the applicable department-approved driver training course

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operating pursuant to s. 318.1451 or DUI program substance abuse

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education course and evaluation as provided in s. 316.193(5).

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Letters of recommendation from respected business persons in the

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community, law enforcement officers, or judicial officers may

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also be required to determine whether such person should be

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permitted to operate a motor vehicle on a restricted basis for

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business or employment use only and in determining whether such

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person can be trusted to so operate a motor vehicle. If a

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driver's license has been suspended under the point system or

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pursuant to s. 322.2615, the department shall require proof of

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enrollment in the applicable department-approved driver training

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course or licensed DUI program substance abuse education course,

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including evaluation and treatment, if referred, and may require

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letters of recommendation described in this paragraph subsection

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to determine if the driver should be reinstated on a restricted

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basis. If such person fails to complete the approved course

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within 90 days after reinstatement or subsequently fails to

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complete treatment, if applicable, the department shall cancel

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his or her driver's license until the course and treatment, if

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applicable, is successfully completed, notwithstanding the terms

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of the court order or any suspension or revocation of the driving

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privilege. The department may temporarily reinstate the driving

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privilege on a restricted basis upon verification from the DUI

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program that the offender has reentered and is currently

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participating in treatment and has completed the DUI education

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course and evaluation requirement. If the DUI program notifies

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the department of the second failure to complete treatment, the

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department shall reinstate the driving privilege only after

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notice of completion of treatment from the DUI program. The

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privilege of driving on a limited or restricted basis for

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business or employment use may shall not be granted to a person

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who has been convicted of a violation of s. 316.193 until

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completion of the DUI program substance abuse education course

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and evaluations as provided in s. 316.193(5). Except as provided

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in paragraph (b), the privilege of driving on a limited or

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restricted basis for business or employment use may shall not be

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granted to a person whose license is revoked pursuant to s.

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322.28 or suspended pursuant to s. 322.2615 and who has been

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convicted of a violation of s. 316.193 two or more times or whose

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license has been suspended two or more times for refusal to

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submit to a test pursuant to s. 322.2615 or former s. 322.261.

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     (b) The department may waive the hearing process for

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suspensions and revocations upon request by the driver if the

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driver has enrolled or completed the applicable driver training

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course approved pursuant to s. 318.1451 or DUI program substance

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abuse education course and evaluation provided in s. 316.193(5).

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However, the department may not waive the hearing for suspensions

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or revocations that involve death or serious bodily injury,

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multiple convictions for violations of s. 316.193 pursuant to s.

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322.27(5), or a second or subsequent suspension or revocation

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pursuant to the same provision under this chapter. This does not

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preclude the department from requiring a hearing for any

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suspension or revocation that it determines is warranted based on

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the severity of the offense.

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     (c)(b) A person whose license has been revoked for a period

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of 5 years or less pursuant to s. 322.28(2)(a) may, upon the

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expiration of 12 months after the date the said revocation was

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imposed, petition the department for reinstatement of his or her

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driving privilege on a restricted basis. A person whose license

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has been revoked for a period of more than 5 years under s.

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322.28(2)(a) may, upon the expiration of 24 months after the date

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the revocation was imposed, petition the department for

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reinstatement of his or her driving privilege on a restricted

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basis. Reinstatement of the driving privilege pursuant to this

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subsection shall be restricted to business or employment purposes

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only. In addition, the department shall require such persons upon

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reinstatement to have not driven and to have been drug free for

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at least 12 months immediately before prior to such

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reinstatement, to be supervised by a DUI program licensed by the

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department, and to report to the program at least three times a

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year as required by the program for the duration of the

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revocation period for supervision. Such supervision includes

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shall include evaluation, education, referral into treatment, and

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other activities required by the department. Such persons shall

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assume reasonable costs of supervision. If the such person fails

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to comply with the required supervision, the program shall report

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the failure to the department, and the department shall cancel

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the such person's driving privilege. This paragraph does not

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apply to any person whose driving privilege has been permanently

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revoked.

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     (d)(c) For the purpose of this section, a previous

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conviction of driving under the influence, driving while

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intoxicated, driving with an unlawful blood-alcohol level, or any

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other similar alcohol-related or drug-related offense outside

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this state or a previous conviction of former s. 316.1931, former

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s. 316.028, or former s. 860.01 is shall be considered a previous

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conviction for violation of s. 316.193.

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     (e)(d) The department, based upon review of the licensee's

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application for reinstatement, may require the use of an ignition

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interlock device pursuant to s. 322.2715.

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     Section 10.  Section 322.293, Florida Statutes, is amended

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to read:

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     322.293 DUI programs Coordination Trust Fund; assessment;

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disposition.--

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     (1) The DUI programs Coordination Trust Fund shall be

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administered by the department, and the costs of administration

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shall be borne by the revenue collections provided in this

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section the fund. All funds received by the department DUI

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Programs Coordination Trust Fund shall be used solely for the

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purposes set forth in this chapter and for the general operation

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of the department section and s. 322.292. However, if the

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Legislature passes legislation consolidating existing trust funds

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assigned to the department, all funds remaining in and deposited

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to the DUI Programs Coordination Trust Fund shall be transferred

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to the consolidated trust funds, subject to their being earmarked

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for use solely for the purposes set forth in this section and s.

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322.292.

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     (2)  Each DUI program shall assess $12 against each person

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enrolling in a DUI program at the time of enrollment, including

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persons who transfer to or from a program in another state. In

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addition, second and third offenders and those offenders under

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permanent driver's-license revocation who are evaluated for

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eligibility for license restrictions under s. 322.271(2)

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322.271(2)(b) and (4) shall be assessed $12 upon enrollment in

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the program and upon each subsequent anniversary date while they

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are in the program, for the duration of the license period.

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     (3)  All assessments collected under this section shall be

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deposited in the Highway Safety Operating forwarded to the DUI

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Programs Coordination Trust Fund within 30 days after the last

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day of the month in which the assessment was received.

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     Section 11.  Section 328.30, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     328.30  Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.--The

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department may: is authorized to

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     (1) Accept any application provided for under this chapter

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by electronic or telephonic means.

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     (2) Issue an electronic certificate of title in lieu of

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printing a paper title.

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     (3) Collect and use e-mail addresses of vessel owners in

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lieu of providing notification through the regular mail.

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     Section 12.  Section 328.80, Florida Statutes, is amended to

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read:

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     328.80  Transactions by electronic or telephonic means.--The

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Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission may: is authorized to

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     (1) Accept any application provided for under this chapter

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by electronic or telephonic means.

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     (2) Collect and use e-mail addresses of vessel registrants

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in lieu of providing notification through the regular mail.

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     Section 13.  Subsection (2) of section 316.251, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     316.251  Maximum bumper heights.--

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     (2) "New motor vehicles" as defined in s. 319.001

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319.001(8), "antique automobiles" as defined in s. 320.08,

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"horseless carriages" as defined in s. 320.086, and "street rods"

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as defined in s. 320.0863 are shall be excluded from the

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requirements of this section.

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     Section 14.  Subsection (19) of section 501.976, Florida

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Statutes, is amended to read:

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     501.976  Actionable, unfair, or deceptive acts or

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practices.--It is an unfair or deceptive act or practice,

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actionable under the Florida Deceptive and Unfair Trade Practices

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Act, for a dealer to:

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     (19)  Fail to disclose damage to a new motor vehicle, as

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defined in s. 319.001 319.001(8), of which the dealer had actual

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knowledge, if the dealer's actual cost of repairs exceeds the

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threshold amount, excluding replacement items.

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In any civil litigation resulting from a violation of this

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section, when evaluating the reasonableness of an award of

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attorney's fees to a private person, the trial court shall

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consider the amount of actual damages in relation to the time

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spent.

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     Section 15.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2008.

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