ENROLLED
       2024 Legislature             CS for CS for SB 736, 1st Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                              2024736er
    1  
    2         An act relating to services provided by the Department
    3         of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles or its agents;
    4         amending s. 319.28, F.S.; providing that a certain
    5         affidavit establishes a presumption of ownership and
    6         right of possession to a motor vehicle or mobile home
    7         when the previous owner of the motor vehicle or mobile
    8         home died testate; providing that the application for
    9         certificate of title does not need to be accompanied
   10         by a will or other testamentary instrument; amending
   11         s. 319.29, F.S.; prohibiting the department or a tax
   12         collector from charging a fee for reissuance of
   13         certain certificates of title; amending s. 320.03,
   14         F.S.; requiring tax collectors in specified political
   15         subdivisions to appoint a general lines agency as an
   16         agent for the tax collector for certain purposes upon
   17         petition by the agent in charge of the general lines
   18         agency; providing requirements for a general lines
   19         agency appointed as an agent for a tax collector;
   20         authorizing the department to adopt rules to
   21         administer this section; amending s. 320.06, F.S.;
   22         authorizing permanent registration of certain rental
   23         trucks; authorizing the department to deem a license
   24         plate with reduced dimensions to be necessary to
   25         accommodate trailers; amending s. 320.084, F.S.;
   26         authorizing certain disabled veterans to be issued a
   27         military license plate or specialty license plate in
   28         lieu of a “DV” license plate; requiring the veteran to
   29         pay all fees associated with the license plate;
   30         specifying applicable fees; providing applicability;
   31         amending s. 320.131, F.S.; authorizing the department
   32         to design, issue, and regulate the use of temporary
   33         tags when the existing owner of a vehicle has
   34         submitted an application to transfer a valid out-of
   35         state title that is subject to a lien; authorizing the
   36         department to design, issue, and regulate the use of
   37         temporary tags when an active-duty military
   38         servicemember who has a valid Florida driver license
   39         provides evidence satisfactory to the department that
   40         he or she is deployed outside this state; providing
   41         the period of validity of such temporary tags;
   42         removing provisions requiring a written, notarized
   43         request for the purchase of a temporary tag;
   44         conforming provisions to changes made by the act;
   45         providing effective dates.
   46          
   47  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   48  
   49         Section 1. Present paragraphs (c) and (d) of subsection (1)
   50  of section 319.28, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as
   51  paragraphs (d) and (e), respectively, and a new paragraph (c) is
   52  added to that subsection, to read:
   53         319.28 Transfer of ownership by operation of law.—
   54         (1)
   55         (c)If the previous owner died testate and the application
   56  for a certificate of title is made by, and accompanied by an
   57  affidavit attested by, a Florida-licensed attorney in good
   58  standing with The Florida Bar, such affidavit shall, for
   59  purposes of paragraph (a), establish a presumption of ownership,
   60  absent information received to the contrary, and right of
   61  possession to the motor vehicle or mobile home, so long as the
   62  affidavit sets forth the rightful heir or heirs and the attorney
   63  attests in the affidavit that such heir or heirs are lawfully
   64  entitled to the rights of ownership and possession of the motor
   65  vehicle or mobile home. It is not necessary for the application
   66  for certificate of title filed under this paragraph to be
   67  accompanied by a copy of the will or other testamentary
   68  instrument.
   69         Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 319.29, Florida
   70  Statutes, is amended to read:
   71         319.29 Lost or destroyed certificates.—
   72         (3) If, following the issuance of an original, duplicate,
   73  or corrected certificate of title by the department, the
   74  certificate is lost in transit and is not delivered to the
   75  addressee, the owner of the motor vehicle or mobile home, or the
   76  holder of a lien thereon, may, within 180 days of the date of
   77  issuance of the title, apply to the department for reissuance of
   78  the certificate of title. An No additional fee may not shall be
   79  charged by the department or a tax collector, as agent for the
   80  department, for reissuance under this subsection.
   81         Section 3. Effective July 1, 2025, subsection (11) is added
   82  to section 320.03, Florida Statutes, to read:
   83         320.03 Registration; duties of tax collectors;
   84  International Registration Plan.—
   85         (11)(a)In political subdivisions with a population of 1.9
   86  million or greater, pursuant to the 2020 census, upon petition
   87  by the agent in charge of a general lines agency licensed
   88  pursuant to chapter 626 and appointed to write motor vehicle
   89  insurance, the tax collector must appoint such agency as an
   90  agent for the tax collector for purposes of issuing registration
   91  certificates, registration license plates, validation stickers,
   92  and mobile home stickers to applicants, excluding issuance of
   93  registration or trip permits pursuant to s. 320.0715.
   94         (b)A general lines agency appointed as an agent for a tax
   95  collector under this subsection:
   96         1.Must provide a performance bond of $2 million to the
   97  department;
   98         2.Must provide audited financial statements, from a
   99  certified public accountant licensed to practice in this state,
  100  for each of the previous 2 years demonstrating that the agency
  101  has produced policy premiums in excess of $500 million in each
  102  of the previous 2 years;
  103         3.May not offer such services at more than five locations
  104  in each county where the agency has a branch office;
  105         4.Is subject to all provisions of law as though such agent
  106  is a private tag agency or agent, except where the context
  107  clearly indicates otherwise.
  108         (c)The department may adopt rules to administer this
  109  subsection, including, but not limited to, rules establishing
  110  information that must be contained in a petition to offer
  111  services under this subsection and information that must be
  112  contained in the audited financial statements and enforcement
  113  authority for noncompliance.
  114         Section 4. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) and paragraph
  115  (a) of subsection (3) of section 320.06, Florida Statutes, are
  116  amended to read:
  117         320.06 Registration certificates, license plates, and
  118  validation stickers generally.—
  119         (1)
  120         (b)1. Registration license plates bearing a graphic symbol
  121  and the alphanumeric system of identification shall be issued
  122  for a 10-year period. At the end of the 10-year period, upon
  123  renewal, the plate shall be replaced. The department shall
  124  extend the scheduled license plate replacement date from a 6
  125  year period to a 10-year period. The fee for such replacement is
  126  $28, $2.80 of which shall be paid each year before the plate is
  127  replaced, to be credited toward the next $28 replacement fee.
  128  The fees shall be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating
  129  Trust Fund. A credit or refund may not be given for any prior
  130  years’ payments of the prorated replacement fee if the plate is
  131  replaced or surrendered before the end of the 10-year period,
  132  except that a credit may be given if a registrant is required by
  133  the department to replace a license plate under s.
  134  320.08056(8)(a). With each license plate, a validation sticker
  135  shall be issued showing the owner’s birth month, license plate
  136  number, and the year of expiration or the appropriate renewal
  137  period if the owner is not a natural person. The validation
  138  sticker shall be placed on the upper right corner of the license
  139  plate. The license plate and validation sticker shall be issued
  140  based on the applicant’s appropriate renewal period. The
  141  registration period is 12 months, the extended registration
  142  period is 24 months, and all expirations occur based on the
  143  applicant’s appropriate registration period. Rental vehicles
  144  taxed pursuant to s. 320.08(6)(a) and rental trucks taxed
  145  pursuant to s. 320.08(3)(a), (b), and (c) and (4)(a)-(d) may
  146  elect a permanent registration period, provided payment of the
  147  appropriate license taxes and fees occurs annually.
  148         2. A vehicle that has an apportioned registration shall be
  149  issued an annual license plate and a cab card that denote the
  150  declared gross vehicle weight for each apportioned jurisdiction
  151  in which the vehicle is authorized to operate. This subparagraph
  152  expires June 30, 2024.
  153         3. Beginning July 1, 2024, a vehicle registered in
  154  accordance with the International Registration Plan must be
  155  issued a license plate for a 3-year period. At the end of the 3
  156  year period, upon renewal, the license plate must be replaced.
  157  Each license plate must include a validation sticker showing the
  158  month of expiration. A cab card denoting the declared gross
  159  vehicle weight for each apportioned jurisdiction must be issued
  160  annually. The fee for an original or a renewal cab card is $28,
  161  which must be deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  162  Fund. If the license plate is damaged or worn, it may be
  163  replaced at no charge by applying to the department and
  164  surrendering the current license plate.
  165         4. In order to retain the efficient administration of the
  166  taxes and fees imposed by this chapter, the 80-cent fee increase
  167  in the replacement fee imposed by chapter 2009-71, Laws of
  168  Florida, is negated as provided in s. 320.0804.
  169         (3)(a) Registration license plates must be made of metal
  170  specially treated with a retroreflection material, as specified
  171  by the department. The registration license plate is designed to
  172  increase nighttime visibility and legibility and must be at
  173  least 6 inches wide and not less than 12 inches in length,
  174  unless a plate with reduced dimensions is deemed necessary by
  175  the department to accommodate motorcycles, mopeds, or similar
  176  smaller vehicles, or trailers. Validation stickers must also be
  177  treated with a retroreflection material, must be of such size as
  178  specified by the department, and must adhere to the license
  179  plate. The registration license plate must be imprinted with a
  180  combination of bold letters and numerals or numerals, not to
  181  exceed seven digits, to identify the registration license plate
  182  number. The license plate must be imprinted with the word
  183  “Florida” at the top and the name of the county in which it is
  184  sold, the state motto, or the words “Sunshine State” at the
  185  bottom. Apportioned license plates must have the word
  186  “Apportioned” at the bottom, and license plates issued for
  187  vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(3)(d), (4)(m) or (n), (5)(b) or
  188  (c), or (14) must have the word “Restricted” at the bottom.
  189  License plates issued for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(12)
  190  must be imprinted with the word “Florida” at the top and the
  191  word “Dealer” at the bottom unless the license plate is a
  192  specialty license plate as authorized in s. 320.08056.
  193  Manufacturer license plates issued for vehicles taxed under s.
  194  320.08(12) must be imprinted with the word “Florida” at the top
  195  and the word “Manufacturer” at the bottom. License plates issued
  196  for vehicles taxed under s. 320.08(5)(d) or (e) must be
  197  imprinted with the word “Wrecker” at the bottom. Any county may,
  198  upon majority vote of the county commission, elect to have the
  199  county name removed from the license plates sold in that county.
  200  The state motto or the words “Sunshine State” shall be printed
  201  in lieu thereof. A license plate issued for a vehicle taxed
  202  under s. 320.08(6) may not be assigned a registration license
  203  number, or be issued with any other distinctive character or
  204  designation, that distinguishes the motor vehicle as a for-hire
  205  motor vehicle.
  206         Section 5. Subsection (1) of section 320.084, Florida
  207  Statutes, is amended, and subsection (6) is added to that
  208  section, to read:
  209         320.084 Free motor vehicle license plate to certain
  210  disabled veterans.—
  211         (1) One free “DV” motor vehicle license number plate shall
  212  be issued by the department for use on any motor vehicle owned
  213  or leased by any disabled veteran who has been a resident of
  214  this state continuously for the preceding 5 years or has
  215  established a domicile in this state as provided by s.
  216  222.17(1), (2), or (3), and who has been honorably discharged
  217  from the United States Armed Forces, upon application,
  218  accompanied by proof that:
  219         (a) A vehicle was initially acquired through financial
  220  assistance by the United States Department of Veterans Affairs
  221  or its predecessor specifically for the purchase of an
  222  automobile;
  223         (b) The applicant has been determined by the United States
  224  Department of Veterans Affairs or its predecessor to have a
  225  service-connected 100-percent disability rating for
  226  compensation; or
  227         (c) The applicant has been determined to have a service
  228  connected disability rating of 100 percent and is in receipt of
  229  disability retirement pay from any branch of the United States
  230  Armed Services.
  231         (6)(a)A disabled veteran who meets the requirements of
  232  subsection (1) may be issued, in lieu of the “DV” license plate,
  233  a military license plate for which he or she is eligible or a
  234  specialty license plate. A disabled veteran electing a military
  235  license plate or specialty license plate under this subsection
  236  must pay all applicable fees related to such license plate,
  237  except for fees otherwise waived under subsections (1) and (4).
  238         (b)A military license plate or specialty license plate
  239  elected under this subsection:
  240         1.Does not provide the protections or rights afforded by
  241  ss. 316.1955, 316.1964, 320.0848, 526.141, and 553.5041.
  242         2.Is not eligible for the international symbol of
  243  accessibility as described in s. 320.0842.
  244         Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 320.131, Florida
  245  Statutes, is amended, and paragraphs (m) and (n) are added to
  246  subsection (1) of that section, to read:
  247         320.131 Temporary tags.—
  248         (1) The department is authorized and empowered to design,
  249  issue, and regulate the use of temporary tags to be designated
  250  “temporary tags” for use in the following cases:
  251         (m)When the existing owner of a vehicle has submitted an
  252  application to transfer a valid out-of-state title that is
  253  subject to a lien. A temporary tag issued for this purpose shall
  254  be valid for 60 days.
  255         (n)When an active-duty military servicemember who has a
  256  valid Florida driver license provides evidence satisfactory to
  257  the department that he or she is deployed outside this state. A
  258  temporary tag issued for this purpose shall be valid for 60
  259  days.
  260  
  261  Further, the department is authorized to disallow the purchase
  262  of temporary tags by licensed dealers, common carriers, or
  263  financial institutions in those cases where abuse has occurred.
  264         (2) The department may is authorized to sell temporary
  265  tags, in addition to those listed above, to its their agents and
  266  where need is demonstrated by a consumer complainant. The fee
  267  for a temporary tag issued under this section shall be $2 each.
  268  One dollar from each tag sold shall be deposited into the Brain
  269  and Spinal Cord Injury Program Trust Fund, with the remaining
  270  proceeds being deposited into the Highway Safety Operating Trust
  271  Fund. Agents of the department shall sell temporary tags for $2
  272  each and shall charge the service charge authorized by s. 320.04
  273  per transaction, regardless of the quantity sold. Requests for
  274  purchase of temporary tags to the department or its agents shall
  275  be made, where applicable, on letterhead stationery and
  276  notarized. Except as specifically provided otherwise, a
  277  temporary tag issued under this section shall be valid for 30
  278  days, and no more than two shall be issued to the same person
  279  for the same vehicle.
  280         Section 7. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this
  281  act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2024.