| 1 | A bill to be entitled |
| 2 | An act relating to regulation of the paralegal profession; |
| 3 | requiring the Florida Supreme Court to establish a program |
| 4 | to require the licensure of paralegals practicing in this |
| 5 | state; requiring that the Supreme Court establish minimum |
| 6 | standards and qualifications and provide for continuing |
| 7 | education, certification, and professional conduct; |
| 8 | requiring the Supreme Court to create an independent board |
| 9 | to assist in the regulation of paralegals; providing |
| 10 | penalties for unlicensed practice; providing an effective |
| 11 | date. |
| 12 |
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| 13 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
| 14 |
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| 15 | Section 1. (1) The Florida Supreme Court shall establish |
| 16 | a program to require the licensure of paralegals practicing in |
| 17 | this state. |
| 18 | (2) The program shall define the scope of paralegal |
| 19 | practice; provide mandatory minimum standards and procedures for |
| 20 | initial qualifications; and provide requirements for continuing |
| 21 | education, certification, and professional conduct. |
| 22 | (3) The Supreme Court shall establish license application |
| 23 | fees and license renewal fees, which may not exceed $100 each. |
| 24 | The revenues generated from such fees shall be used solely to |
| 25 | administer the program and shall be set at a level that does not |
| 26 | exceed the amount necessary to ensure the continued operation of |
| 27 | the program. |
| 28 | (4) The Supreme Court shall create an independent board to |
| 29 | adopt rules, establish procedures, and assist the Supreme Court |
| 30 | in administering this section. |
| 31 | (5) Upon implementation of the program, any person who |
| 32 | practices as a paralegal in this state without first obtaining a |
| 33 | license, holds himself or herself out as a paralegal, or uses |
| 34 | the title "paralegal" without being licensed as a paralegal in |
| 35 | this state commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as |
| 36 | provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084, Florida |
| 37 | Statutes. |
| 38 | Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011. |