Florida Senate - 2018                          SENATOR AMENDMENT
       Bill No. CS/HB 7061, 1st Eng.
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì483720ÃÎ483720                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                Floor: 1/AE/2R         .           Floor: CA            
             03/08/2018 08:00 PM       .      03/09/2018 10:13 PM       
       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————




       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
       Senator Brandes moved the following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Section 25.025, Florida Statutes, is created to
    6  read:
    7         25.025 Headquarters.—
    8         (1)(a) A Supreme Court justice who permanently resides
    9  outside Leon County shall, if he or she so requests, have a
   10  district court of appeal courthouse, a county courthouse, or
   11  other appropriate facility in his or her district of residence
   12  designated as his or her official headquarters pursuant to s.
   13  112.061. This official headquarters may serve only as the
   14  justice’s private chambers.
   15         (b)A justice for whom an official headquarters is
   16  designated in his or her district of residence under this
   17  subsection is eligible for subsistence at a rate to be
   18  established by the Chief Justice for each day or partial day
   19  that the justice is at the headquarters of the Supreme Court for
   20  the conduct of the business of the court. In addition to the
   21  subsistence allowance, a justice is eligible for reimbursement
   22  for transportation expenses as provided in s. 112.061(7) for
   23  travel between the justice’s official headquarters and the
   24  headquarters of the Supreme Court for the conduct of the
   25  business of the court.
   26         (c) Payment of subsistence and reimbursement for
   27  transportation expenses relating to travel between a justice’s
   28  official headquarters and the headquarters of the Supreme Court
   29  shall be made to the extent appropriated funds are available, as
   30  determined by the Chief Justice.
   31         (2) The Chief Justice shall coordinate with each affected
   32  justice and other state and local officials as necessary to
   33  implement paragraph (1)(a).
   34         (3)(a)This section does not require a county to provide
   35  space in a county courthouse for a justice. A county may enter
   36  into an agreement with the Supreme Court governing the use of
   37  space in a county courthouse.
   38         (b) The Supreme Court may not use state funds to lease
   39  space in a district court of appeal courthouse, county
   40  courthouse, or other facility to allow a justice to establish an
   41  official headquarters pursuant to subsection (1).
   42         Section 2. Effective January 1, 2020, section 26.012,
   43  Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   44         26.012 Jurisdiction of circuit court.—
   45         (1)(a)The appellate jurisdiction of the circuit courts
   46  includes: Circuit courts shall have jurisdiction of
   47         1. Appeals from county courts court orders or judgments in
   48  actions at law in which the matter in controversy does not
   49  exceed the sum of $15,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and
   50  attorney fees. This limit must be adjusted every 5 years after
   51  January 1, 2020, to reflect the rate of inflation or deflation
   52  as indicated in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban
   53  Consumers, U.S. City Average, All Items, or successor reports as
   54  reported by the United States Department of Labor, Bureau of
   55  Labor Statistics, or its successor. The adjustments must be
   56  rounded to the nearest $5,000.
   57         2. Appeals from county court orders or judgments in
   58  misdemeanor cases.
   59         3. Appeals of county court orders and judgments relating to
   60  family law matters and other matters within the jurisdiction of
   61  the county court under s. 34.01(2).
   62         4. Appeals from final administrative orders of local
   63  government code enforcement boards.
   64         (b) The appellate jurisdiction of the circuit courts does
   65  not include except appeals of county court orders or judgments
   66  that: declaring
   67         1.Declare invalid a state statute or a provision of the
   68  State Constitution. and except orders or judgments of a county
   69  court which
   70         2. Are certified by the county court to the district court
   71  of appeal to be of great public importance and which are
   72  accepted by the district court of appeal for review. Circuit
   73  courts shall have jurisdiction of appeals from final
   74  administrative orders of local government code enforcement
   75  boards.
   76         (2) Circuit courts They shall have exclusive original
   77  jurisdiction:
   78         (a) In all actions at law not cognizable by the county
   79  courts;
   80         (b) Of proceedings relating to the settlement of the
   81  estates of decedents and minors, the granting of letters
   82  testamentary, guardianship, involuntary hospitalization, the
   83  determination of incompetency, and other jurisdiction usually
   84  pertaining to courts of probate;
   85         (c) In all cases in equity including all cases relating to
   86  juveniles except traffic offenses as provided in chapters 316
   87  and 985;
   88         (d) Of all felonies and of all misdemeanors arising out of
   89  the same circumstances as a felony which is also charged;
   90         (e) In all cases involving legality of any tax assessment
   91  or toll or denial of refund, except as provided in s. 72.011;
   92         (f) In actions of ejectment; and
   93         (g) In all actions involving the title and boundaries of
   94  real property.
   95         (3) The circuit court may issue injunctions.
   96         (4) The chief judge of a circuit may authorize a county
   97  court judge to order emergency hospitalizations pursuant to part
   98  I of chapter 394 in the absence from the county of the circuit
   99  judge; and the county court judge has shall have the power to
  100  issue all temporary orders and temporary injunctions necessary
  101  or proper to the complete exercise of such jurisdiction.
  102         (5) A circuit court is a trial court.
  103         Section 3. Subsection (2) of section 28.241, Florida
  104  Statutes, is amended to read:
  105         28.241 Filing fees for trial and appellate proceedings.—
  106         (2)(a) Upon the institution of any appellate proceeding
  107  from any lower court to the circuit court of any such county,
  108  including appeals filed by a county or municipality as provided
  109  in s. 34.041(5), or from the circuit court to an appellate court
  110  of the state, the clerk shall charge and collect from the party
  111  or parties instituting such appellate proceedings:
  112         1. A filing fee not to exceed $280 for filing a notice of
  113  appeal from the county court to the circuit court for a claim of
  114  $15,000 or less.
  115         2. A filing fee not to exceed $400 for filing a notice of
  116  appeal from the county court to the circuit court for a claim of
  117  more than $15,000. The clerk shall remit $250 of each filing fee
  118  collected under this subparagraph to the Department of Revenue
  119  for deposit into the General Revenue Fund, and the clerk shall
  120  remit $50 of each such filing fee to the Department of Revenue
  121  for deposit into the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund to fund
  122  court operations as authorized in the General Appropriations
  123  Act. The clerk shall retain an account of each such remittance.
  124         3.and, In addition to the filing fee required under s.
  125  25.241 or s. 35.22, $100 for filing a notice of appeal from the
  126  circuit court to the district court of appeal or to the Supreme
  127  Court.
  128         (b) If the party is determined to be indigent, the clerk
  129  shall defer payment of the fee required by this subsection.
  130         Section 4. Subsection (1) of section 29.008, Florida
  131  Statutes, is amended to read:
  132         29.008 County funding of court-related functions.—
  133         (1) Counties are required by s. 14, Art. V of the State
  134  Constitution to fund the cost of communications services,
  135  existing radio systems, existing multiagency criminal justice
  136  information systems, and the cost of construction or lease,
  137  maintenance, utilities, and security of facilities for the
  138  circuit and county courts, public defenders’ offices, state
  139  attorneys’ offices, guardian ad litem offices, and the offices
  140  of the clerks of the circuit and county courts performing court
  141  related functions. For purposes of this section, the term
  142  “circuit and county courts” includes the offices and staffing of
  143  the guardian ad litem programs, and the term “public defenders’
  144  offices” includes the offices of criminal conflict and civil
  145  regional counsel. The county designated under s. 35.05(1) as the
  146  headquarters for each appellate district shall fund these costs
  147  for the appellate division of the public defender’s office in
  148  that county. For purposes of implementing these requirements,
  149  the term:
  150         (a) “Facility” means reasonable and necessary buildings and
  151  office space and appurtenant equipment and furnishings,
  152  structures, real estate, easements, and related interests in
  153  real estate, including, but not limited to, those for the
  154  purpose of housing legal materials for use by the general public
  155  and personnel, equipment, or functions of the circuit or county
  156  courts, public defenders’ offices, state attorneys’ offices, and
  157  court-related functions of the office of the clerks of the
  158  circuit and county courts and all storage. The term “facility”
  159  includes all wiring necessary for court reporting services. The
  160  term also includes access to parking for such facilities in
  161  connection with such court-related functions that may be
  162  available free or from a private provider or a local government
  163  for a fee. The office space provided by a county may not be less
  164  than the standards for space allotment adopted by the Department
  165  of Management Services, except this requirement applies only to
  166  facilities that are leased, or on which construction commences,
  167  after June 30, 2003. County funding must include physical
  168  modifications and improvements to all facilities as are required
  169  for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. Upon
  170  mutual agreement of a county and the affected entity in this
  171  paragraph, the office space provided by the county may vary from
  172  the standards for space allotment adopted by the Department of
  173  Management Services.
  174         1. As of July 1, 2005, equipment and furnishings shall be
  175  limited to that appropriate and customary for courtrooms,
  176  hearing rooms, jury facilities, and other public areas in
  177  courthouses and any other facility occupied by the courts, state
  178  attorneys, public defenders, guardians ad litem, and criminal
  179  conflict and civil regional counsel. Court reporting equipment
  180  in these areas or facilities is not a responsibility of the
  181  county.
  182         2. Equipment and furnishings under this paragraph in
  183  existence and owned by counties on July 1, 2005, except for that
  184  in the possession of the clerks, for areas other than
  185  courtrooms, hearing rooms, jury facilities, and other public
  186  areas in courthouses and any other facility occupied by the
  187  courts, state attorneys, and public defenders, shall be
  188  transferred to the state at no charge. This provision does not
  189  apply to any communications services as defined in paragraph
  190  (f).
  191         (b) “Construction or lease” includes, but is not limited
  192  to, all reasonable and necessary costs of the acquisition or
  193  lease of facilities for all judicial officers, staff, jurors,
  194  volunteers of a tenant agency, and the public for the circuit
  195  and county courts, the public defenders’ offices, state
  196  attorneys’ offices, and for performing the court-related
  197  functions of the offices of the clerks of the circuit and county
  198  courts. This includes expenses related to financing such
  199  facilities and the existing and future cost and bonded
  200  indebtedness associated with placing the facilities in use.
  201         (c) “Maintenance” includes, but is not limited to, all
  202  reasonable and necessary costs of custodial and groundskeeping
  203  services and renovation and reconstruction as needed to
  204  accommodate functions for the circuit and county courts, the
  205  public defenders’ offices, and state attorneys’ offices and for
  206  performing the court-related functions of the offices of the
  207  clerks of the circuit and county court and for maintaining the
  208  facilities in a condition appropriate and safe for the use
  209  intended.
  210         (d) “Utilities” means all electricity services for light,
  211  heat, and power; natural or manufactured gas services for light,
  212  heat, and power; water and wastewater services and systems,
  213  stormwater or runoff services and systems, sewer services and
  214  systems, all costs or fees associated with these services and
  215  systems, and any costs or fees associated with the mitigation of
  216  environmental impacts directly related to the facility.
  217         (e) “Security” includes but is not limited to, all
  218  reasonable and necessary costs of services of law enforcement
  219  officers or licensed security guards and all electronic,
  220  cellular, or digital monitoring and screening devices necessary
  221  to ensure the safety and security of all persons visiting or
  222  working in a facility; to provide for security of the facility,
  223  including protection of property owned by the county or the
  224  state; and for security of prisoners brought to any facility.
  225  This includes bailiffs while providing courtroom and other
  226  security for each judge and other quasi-judicial officers.
  227         (f) “Communications services” are defined as any reasonable
  228  and necessary transmission, emission, and reception of signs,
  229  signals, writings, images, and sounds of intelligence of any
  230  nature by wire, radio, optical, audio equipment, or other
  231  electromagnetic systems and includes all facilities and
  232  equipment owned, leased, or used by judges, clerks, public
  233  defenders, state attorneys, guardians ad litem, criminal
  234  conflict and civil regional counsel, and all staff of the state
  235  courts system, state attorneys’ offices, public defenders’
  236  offices, and clerks of the circuit and county courts performing
  237  court-related functions. Such system or services shall include,
  238  but not be limited to:
  239         1. Telephone system infrastructure, including computer
  240  lines, telephone switching equipment, and maintenance, and
  241  facsimile equipment, wireless communications, cellular
  242  telephones, pagers, and video teleconferencing equipment and
  243  line charges. Each county shall continue to provide access to a
  244  local carrier for local and long distance service and shall pay
  245  toll charges for local and long distance service.
  246         2. All computer networks, systems and equipment, including
  247  computer hardware and software, modems, printers, wiring,
  248  network connections, maintenance, support staff or services
  249  including any county-funded support staff located in the offices
  250  of the circuit court, county courts, state attorneys, public
  251  defenders, guardians ad litem, and criminal conflict and civil
  252  regional counsel; training, supplies, and line charges necessary
  253  for an integrated computer system to support the operations and
  254  management of the state courts system, the offices of the public
  255  defenders, the offices of the state attorneys, the guardian ad
  256  litem offices, the offices of criminal conflict and civil
  257  regional counsel, and the offices of the clerks of the circuit
  258  and county courts; and the capability to connect those entities
  259  and reporting data to the state as required for the transmission
  260  of revenue, performance accountability, case management, data
  261  collection, budgeting, and auditing purposes. The integrated
  262  computer system shall be operational by July 1, 2006, and, at a
  263  minimum, permit the exchange of financial, performance
  264  accountability, case management, case disposition, and other
  265  data across multiple state and county information systems
  266  involving multiple users at both the state level and within each
  267  judicial circuit and be able to electronically exchange judicial
  268  case background data, sentencing scoresheets, and video evidence
  269  information stored in integrated case management systems over
  270  secure networks. Once the integrated system becomes operational,
  271  counties may reject requests to purchase communications services
  272  included in this subparagraph not in compliance with standards,
  273  protocols, or processes adopted by the board established
  274  pursuant to former s. 29.0086.
  275         3. Courier messenger and subpoena services.
  276         4. Auxiliary aids and services for qualified individuals
  277  with a disability which are necessary to ensure access to the
  278  courts. Such auxiliary aids and services include, but are not
  279  limited to, sign language interpretation services required under
  280  the federal Americans with Disabilities Act other than services
  281  required to satisfy due-process requirements and identified as a
  282  state funding responsibility pursuant to ss. 29.004, 29.005,
  283  29.006, and 29.007, real-time transcription services for
  284  individuals who are hearing impaired, and assistive listening
  285  devices and the equipment necessary to implement such
  286  accommodations.
  287         (g) “Existing radio systems” includes, but is not limited
  288  to, law enforcement radio systems that are used by the circuit
  289  and county courts, the offices of the public defenders, the
  290  offices of the state attorneys, and for court-related functions
  291  of the offices of the clerks of the circuit and county courts.
  292  This includes radio systems that were operational or under
  293  contract at the time Revision No. 7, 1998, to Art. V of the
  294  State Constitution was adopted and any enhancements made
  295  thereafter, the maintenance of those systems, and the personnel
  296  and supplies necessary for operation.
  297         (h) “Existing multiagency criminal justice information
  298  systems” includes, but is not limited to, those components of
  299  the multiagency criminal justice information system as defined
  300  in s. 943.045, supporting the offices of the circuit or county
  301  courts, the public defenders’ offices, the state attorneys’
  302  offices, or those portions of the offices of the clerks of the
  303  circuit and county courts performing court-related functions
  304  that are used to carry out the court-related activities of those
  305  entities. This includes upgrades and maintenance of the current
  306  equipment, maintenance and upgrades of supporting technology
  307  infrastructure and associated staff, and services and expenses
  308  to assure continued information sharing and reporting of
  309  information to the state. The counties shall also provide
  310  additional information technology services, hardware, and
  311  software as needed for new judges and staff of the state courts
  312  system, state attorneys’ offices, public defenders’ offices,
  313  guardian ad litem offices, and the offices of the clerks of the
  314  circuit and county courts performing court-related functions.
  315  
  316  This subsection applies only to matters relating to court
  317  funding and may not be construed to enhance, limit, or define
  318  the authority of any court.
  319         Section 5. Subsection (4) is added to section 30.15,
  320  Florida Statutes, to read:
  321         30.15 Powers, duties, and obligations.—
  322         (4)(a)In accordance with each county’s obligation under s.
  323  14, Art. V of the State Constitution and s. 29.008 to fund
  324  security for the trial court facilities, each county sheriff
  325  shall coordinate with the board of county commissioners and the
  326  chief judge of the circuit where the county is located on the
  327  development of a comprehensive plan for the provision of
  328  security for trial court facilities. Each sheriff shall retain
  329  authority over the operational control and provision of law
  330  enforcement services associated with the plan. The chief judge
  331  of the circuit shall retain decisionmaking authority to ensure
  332  the protection of due process rights, including, but not limited
  333  to, the scheduling and conduct of trial and other judicial
  334  proceedings, as part of his or her responsibility for the
  335  administrative supervision of trial courts under s. 43.26.
  336         (b)Sheriffs and their deputies, employees, and contractors
  337  are officers of the court when providing security for trial
  338  court facilities under this subsection.
  339         Section 6. Section 34.01, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  340  read:
  341         34.01 Jurisdiction of county court.—
  342         (1) County courts shall have original jurisdiction:
  343         (a) In all misdemeanor cases not cognizable by the circuit
  344  courts.;
  345         (b) Of all violations of municipal and county ordinances.;
  346         (c)1. Of all actions at law filed on or before December 31,
  347  2019, in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum
  348  of $15,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney
  349  attorney’s fees, except those within the exclusive jurisdiction
  350  of the circuit courts.; and
  351         2. Of all actions at law filed on or after January 1, 2020,
  352  in which the matter in controversy does not exceed the sum of
  353  $25,000, exclusive of interest, costs, and attorney fees, except
  354  those within the exclusive jurisdiction of the circuit courts.
  355  This limit must be adjusted every 5 years after January 1, 2020,
  356  to reflect the rate of inflation or deflation as indicated in
  357  the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, U.S. City
  358  Average, All Items, or successor reports as reported by the
  359  United States Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics,
  360  or its successor. Such adjustments must be rounded to the
  361  nearest $5,000.
  362  
  363  By December 1, 2018, the State Courts Administrator shall make
  364  recommendations regarding the potential adjustment of county
  365  court jurisdiction to the Governor, the President of the Senate,
  366  and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The
  367  recommendation must include an analysis on workflow, timely
  368  access to court by litigants, and any resulting fiscal impact to
  369  the state as a result of adjusted jurisdictional limits.
  370         (d) Of disputes occurring in the homeowners’ associations
  371  as described in s. 720.311(2)(a), which shall be concurrent with
  372  jurisdiction of the circuit courts.
  373  
  374  The party instituting an action at law under subparagraph (c)2.
  375  in which the amount in controversy exceeds $15,000 shall pay the
  376  filing fees and service charges in the same amounts and in the
  377  same manner as provided in s. 28.241, and the party appealing
  378  any judgment on such action shall pay the filing fees and
  379  service charges in the same amounts and in the same manner as
  380  provided in s. 35.22. The clerk of court shall remit the fees as
  381  provided in those sections.
  382         (2) The county courts shall have jurisdiction previously
  383  exercised by county judges’ courts other than that vested in the
  384  circuit court by s. 26.012, except that county court judges may
  385  hear matters involving dissolution of marriage under the
  386  simplified dissolution procedure pursuant to the Florida Family
  387  Law Rules of Procedure or may issue a final order for
  388  dissolution in cases where the matter is uncontested, and the
  389  jurisdiction previously exercised by county courts, the claims
  390  court, small claims courts, small claims magistrates courts,
  391  magistrates courts, justice of the peace courts, municipal
  392  courts, and courts of chartered counties, including but not
  393  limited to the counties referred to in ss. 9, 10, 11, and 24,
  394  Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1885, as preserved by s.
  395  (6)(e), Art. VIII of the State Constitution of 1968.
  396         (3) Judges of county courts shall also be committing trial
  397  court judges. Judges of county courts shall be coroners unless
  398  otherwise provided by law or by rule of the Supreme Court.
  399         (4) Judges of county courts may hear all matters in equity
  400  involved in any case within the jurisdictional amount of the
  401  county court, except as otherwise restricted by the State
  402  Constitution or the laws of Florida.
  403         (5) A county court is a trial court.
  404         Section 7. Paragraphs (a) and (b) of subsection (1) of
  405  section 34.041, Florida Statutes, are amended, and paragraph (e)
  406  is added to that subsection, to read:
  407         34.041 Filing fees.—
  408         (1)(a) Filing fees are due at the time a party files a
  409  pleading to initiate a proceeding or files a pleading for
  410  relief. Reopen fees are due at the time a party files a pleading
  411  to reopen a proceeding if at least 90 days have elapsed since
  412  the filing of a final order or final judgment with the clerk. If
  413  a fee is not paid upon the filing of the pleading as required
  414  under this section, the clerk shall pursue collection of the fee
  415  pursuant to s. 28.246. Upon the institution of any civil action,
  416  suit, or proceeding in county court, the party shall pay the
  417  following filing fee, not to exceed:
  418         1. For all claims less than $100.....................$50.
  419         2. For all claims of $100 or more but not more than
  420  $500........................................................$75.
  421         3. For all claims of more than $500 but not more than
  422  $2,500.....................................................$170.
  423         4. For all claims of more than $2,500 but not more than
  424  $15,000....................................................$295.
  425         5. For all claims of more than $15,000..............$395.
  426         6. In addition, for all proceedings of garnishment,
  427  attachment, replevin, and distress..........................$85.
  428         7.6. Notwithstanding subparagraphs 3. and 6. 5., for all
  429  claims of not more than $1,000 filed simultaneously with an
  430  action for replevin of property that is the subject of the
  431  claim......................................................$125.
  432         8.7. For removal of tenant action	$180.
  433  
  434  The filing fee in subparagraph 7.6. is the total fee due under
  435  this paragraph for that type of filing, and no other filing fee
  436  under this paragraph may be assessed against such a filing.
  437         (b) The first $15 of the filing fee collected under
  438  subparagraph (a)4. and the first $10 of the filing fee collected
  439  under subparagraph (a)8. subparagraph (a)7. shall be deposited
  440  in the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund. By the 10th day of each
  441  month, the clerk shall submit that portion of the fees collected
  442  in the previous month which is in excess of one-twelfth of the
  443  clerk’s total budget for the performance of court-related
  444  functions to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the
  445  Clerks of the Court Trust Fund. An additional filing fee of $4
  446  shall be paid to the clerk. The clerk shall transfer $3.50 to
  447  the Department of Revenue for deposit into the Court Education
  448  Trust Fund and shall transfer 50 cents to the Department of
  449  Revenue for deposit into the Administrative Trust Fund within
  450  the Department of Financial Services to fund clerk education
  451  provided by the Florida Clerks of Court Operations Corporation.
  452  Postal charges incurred by the clerk of the county court in
  453  making service by mail on defendants or other parties shall be
  454  paid by the party at whose instance service is made. Except as
  455  provided in this section, filing fees and service charges for
  456  performing duties of the clerk relating to the county court
  457  shall be as provided in ss. 28.24 and 28.241. Except as
  458  otherwise provided in this section, all filing fees shall be
  459  retained as fee income of the office of the clerk of the circuit
  460  court. Filing fees imposed by this section may not be added to
  461  any penalty imposed by chapter 316 or chapter 318.
  462         (e)Of the first $200 in filing fees payable under
  463  subparagraph (a)5., $195 must be remitted to the Department of
  464  Revenue for deposit into the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund, $4
  465  must be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into
  466  the Administrative Trust Fund within the Department of Financial
  467  Services and used to fund the contract with the Florida Clerks
  468  of Court Operations Corporation created in s. 28.35, and $1 must
  469  be remitted to the Department of Revenue for deposit into the
  470  Administrative Trust Fund within the Department of Financial
  471  Services to fund audits of individual clerks’ court-related
  472  expenditures conducted by the Department of Financial Services.
  473  By the 10th day of each month, the clerk shall submit that
  474  portion of the filing fees collected pursuant to this subsection
  475  in the previous month which is in excess of one-twelfth of the
  476  clerk’s total budget to the Department of Revenue for deposit
  477  into the Clerks of the Court Trust Fund.
  478         Section 8. Subsection (1) of section 44.108, Florida
  479  Statutes, is amended to read:
  480         44.108 Funding of mediation and arbitration.—
  481         (1) Mediation and arbitration should be accessible to all
  482  parties regardless of financial status. A filing fee of $1 is
  483  levied on all proceedings in the circuit or county courts to
  484  fund mediation and arbitration services which are the
  485  responsibility of the Supreme Court pursuant to the provisions
  486  of s. 44.106. However, the filing fee shall not be levied upon
  487  an appeal from the county court to the circuit court for a claim
  488  of more than $15,000. The clerk of the court shall forward the
  489  moneys collected to the Department of Revenue for deposit in the
  490  State Courts Revenue Trust Fund.
  491         Section 9. Effective upon this act becoming a law,
  492  subsection (3) of section 105.031, Florida Statutes, is amended
  493  to read:
  494         105.031 Qualification; filing fee; candidate’s oath; items
  495  required to be filed.—
  496         (3) QUALIFYING FEE.—
  497         (a) Each candidate qualifying for election to a judicial
  498  office or the office of school board member, except write-in
  499  judicial or school board candidates, shall, during the time for
  500  qualifying, pay to the officer with whom he or she qualifies a
  501  qualifying fee, which shall consist of a filing fee and an
  502  election assessment, or qualify by the petition process. The
  503  amount of the filing fee is 3 percent of the annual salary of
  504  the office sought. The amount of the election assessment is 1
  505  percent of the annual salary of the office sought. Except as
  506  provided in paragraph (b), the Department of State shall
  507  transfer all filing fees to the Department of Legal Affairs for
  508  deposit in the Elections Commission Trust Fund and. the
  509  supervisor of elections shall forward all filing fees to the
  510  Elections Commission Trust Fund. The election assessment shall
  511  be deposited into the Elections Commission Trust Fund. The
  512  annual salary of the office for purposes of computing the
  513  qualifying fee shall be computed by multiplying 12 times the
  514  monthly salary authorized for such office as of July 1
  515  immediately preceding the first day of qualifying. This
  516  paragraph subsection does not apply to candidates qualifying for
  517  retention to judicial office.
  518         (b) Not later than 20 days after the close of qualifying,
  519  the Department of State or the supervisor of elections, as
  520  appropriate, shall refund the full amount of the qualifying fee
  521  to a candidate for the office of circuit court judge or county
  522  court judge who is unopposed at the time the qualifying period
  523  closes.
  524         Section 10. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  525  act and except for this section, which shall take effect upon
  526  becoming a law, this act shall take effect July 1, 2018.
  527  
  528  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  529  And the title is amended as follows:
  530         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  531  and insert:
  532                        A bill to be entitled                      
  533         An act relating to the judicial branch; creating s.
  534         25.025, F.S.; authorizing certain Supreme Court
  535         Justices to have an appropriate facility in their
  536         district of residence designated as their official
  537         headquarters; providing that an official headquarters
  538         may serve only as a justice’s private chambers;
  539         providing that such justices are eligible for a
  540         certain subsistence allowance and reimbursement for
  541         certain transportation expenses; requiring that such
  542         allowance and reimbursement be made to the extent
  543         appropriated funds are available, as determined by the
  544         Chief Justice; requiring the Chief Justice to
  545         coordinate with certain persons in implementing
  546         designations of official headquarters; providing that
  547         a county is not required to provide space for a
  548         justice in a county courthouse; authorizing counties
  549         to enter into agreements with the Supreme Court for
  550         the use of county courthouse space; prohibiting the
  551         Supreme Court from using state funds to lease space in
  552         a facility to allow a justice to establish an official
  553         headquarters; amending s. 26.012, F.S.; revising the
  554         appellate jurisdiction of the circuit court;
  555         specifying the maximum monetary threshold for appeals
  556         from the county court to the circuit court; amending
  557         s. 28.241, F.S.; imposing filing fees for appeals from
  558         county courts to the circuit courts based on the
  559         amount of the claim; requiring the clerk to remit
  560         specified amounts of certain fees to the Department of
  561         Revenue for deposit into the General Revenue Fund and
  562         the State Courts Revenue Trust Fund; requiring the
  563         clerk to retain an account of each such remittance;
  564         amending s. 29.008, F.S.; providing applicability and
  565         construction; amending s. 30.15, F.S.; requiring
  566         county sheriffs to coordinate with the board of county
  567         commissioners and the chief judge of the circuit in
  568         developing a plan for providing trial court facility
  569         security; providing that such sheriffs retain certain
  570         authority relating to such plan; providing that such
  571         chief judge retains certain decisionmaking authority;
  572         specifying that sheriffs and their deputies,
  573         employees, and contractors are officers of the court
  574         when providing security for trial court facilities;
  575         amending s. 34.01, F.S.; increasing the limit of the
  576         amount in controversy in certain actions at law under
  577         which the county court has original jurisdiction;
  578         providing for adjustments to the limit at specified
  579         intervals due to inflation or deflation; requiring the
  580         State Courts Administrator to make certain
  581         recommendations to the Governor and Legislature by a
  582         specified date; specifying filing fees, services
  583         charges, and a requirement for the clerk of court’s
  584         remittal of such fees in actions in which the amount
  585         in controversy exceeds a specified amount; amending s.
  586         34.041, F.S.; providing county court civil filing fees
  587         for claims of a specified value; providing for
  588         distribution of said fees; amending s. 44.108, F.S.;
  589         providing that a certain mediation fee is not
  590         applicable to certain appeals; amending s. 105.031,
  591         F.S.; requiring the appropriate qualifying officer to
  592         refund the qualifying fee to an unopposed candidate
  593         for the office of circuit court judge or county court
  594         judge by a specified date; providing effective dates.