Florida Senate - 2025 COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
Bill No. SB 1348
Ì623408(Î623408
LEGISLATIVE ACTION
Senate . House
Comm: RCS .
04/02/2025 .
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The Committee on Transportation (Trumbull) recommended the
following:
1 Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
2
3 Delete everything after the enacting clause
4 and insert:
5 Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 319.24, Florida
6 Statutes, is amended to read:
7 319.24 Issuance in duplicate; delivery; liens and
8 encumbrances.—
9 (2) A duly authorized person shall sign the original
10 certificate of title and each corrected certificate and, if
11 there are no liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle or
12 mobile home, as shown in the records of the department or as
13 shown in the application, must shall deliver the certificate to
14 the applicant or to another person as directed by the applicant
15 or person, agent, or attorney submitting such application. Tax
16 collectors, as authorized agents of the department, may deliver
17 original certificates of title and corrected certificates by
18 mail or make such certificates available to applicants at tax
19 collectors’ offices. The motor vehicle dealer license number
20 must be submitted to the department when a dealer applies for or
21 receives a duplicate title. The current odometer reading must be
22 submitted on an application for a duplicate title. If there are
23 one or more liens or encumbrances on the motor vehicle or mobile
24 home, the certificate must shall be delivered by the department
25 to the first lienholder as shown by department records or to the
26 owner as indicated in the notice of lien filed by the first
27 lienholder pursuant to s. 319.27. If the notice of lien filed by
28 the first lienholder indicates that the certificate should be
29 delivered to the first lienholder, the department must shall
30 deliver to the first lienholder, along with the certificate, a
31 form to be subsequently used by the lienholder as a
32 satisfaction. If the notice of lien filed by the first
33 lienholder directs the certificate of title to be delivered to
34 the owner, then, upon delivery of the certificate of title by
35 the department to the owner, the department must shall deliver
36 to the first lienholder confirmation of the receipt of the
37 notice of lien and the date the certificate of title was issued
38 to the owner at the owner’s address shown on the notice of lien
39 and a form to be subsequently used by the lienholder as a
40 satisfaction. If the application for certificate shows the name
41 of a first lienholder different from the name of the first
42 lienholder as shown by the records of the department or if the
43 application does not show the name of a judgment lienholder as
44 shown by the records of the department, the certificate may
45 shall not be issued to any person until after all parties who
46 appear to hold a lien and the applicant for the certificate have
47 been notified of the conflict in writing by the department by
48 certified mail. If the parties do not amicably resolve the
49 conflict within 10 days from the date such notice was mailed,
50 then the department must shall serve notice in writing by
51 certified mail on all persons appearing to hold liens on that
52 particular vehicle, including the applicant for the certificate,
53 to show cause within 15 days from the date the notice is mailed
54 why it should not issue and deliver the certificate to the
55 person indicated in the notice of lien filed by the lienholder
56 whose name appears in the application as the first lienholder
57 without showing any lien or liens as outstanding other than
58 those appearing in the application or those which may have been
59 filed subsequent to the filing of the application for the
60 certificate. If, within the 15-day period, any person other than
61 the lienholder shown in the application or a party filing a
62 subsequent lien, in answer to such notice to show cause, appears
63 in person or by a representative, or responds in writing, and
64 files a written statement under oath that his or her lien on
65 that particular vehicle is still outstanding, the department may
66 shall not issue the certificate to anyone until after such
67 conflict has been settled by the lien claimants involved or by a
68 court of competent jurisdiction. If the conflict is not settled
69 amicably within 10 days of the final date for filing an answer
70 to the notice to show cause, the complaining party must shall
71 have 10 days to obtain a ruling, or a stay order, from a court
72 of competent jurisdiction; if no ruling or stay order is issued
73 and served on the department within the 10-day period, it must
74 shall issue the certificate showing no liens except those shown
75 in the application or thereafter filed to the original applicant
76 if there are no liens shown in the application and none are
77 thereafter filed, or to the person indicated in the notice of
78 lien filed by the lienholder whose name appears in the
79 application as the first lienholder if there are liens shown in
80 the application or thereafter filed. A duplicate certificate or
81 corrected certificate may shall only show such lien or liens as
82 were shown in the application and subsequently filed liens that
83 may be outstanding.
84 Section 2. Present subsection (4) of section 319.29,
85 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (5), and a new
86 subsection (4) is added to that section, to read:
87 319.29 Lost or destroyed certificates.—
88 (4) An application for a duplicate copy of a certificate of
89 title may be fulfilled by the tax collector acting as an
90 authorized agent of the department. Upon the applicant’s
91 request, the duplicate copy may be issued by the tax collector
92 and provided to the applicant at the tax collector’s office or
93 mailed by the tax collector to the applicant’s address.
94 Section 3. Subsection (1) of section 320.031, Florida
95 Statutes, is amended to read:
96 320.031 Mailing or delivery of registration certificates,
97 license plates, and validation stickers.—
98 (1) The department and the tax collectors of the several
99 counties of the state, as agents of the department, may at the
100 request of the applicant deliver in person or use United States
101 mail service to deliver registration certificates and renewals
102 thereof, duplicate registration certificates, license plates,
103 mobile home stickers, and validation stickers to applicants.
104 Section 4. Paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of section
105 320.0848, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
106 320.0848 Persons who have disabilities; issuance of
107 disabled parking permits; temporary permits; permits for certain
108 providers of transportation services to persons who have
109 disabilities.—
110 (1)
111 (d) The department shall renew the disabled parking permit
112 of a any person certified as permanently disabled on the
113 previous application for a subsequent 4-year period without
114 requiring the person to provide another certificate of
115 disability or United States Department of Veterans Affairs Form
116 Letter 27-333, or its equivalent, as applicable. After such 4
117 year period, the department shall renew the disabled parking
118 permit if the person provides a certificate of disability issued
119 within the last 12 months pursuant to this subsection. A veteran
120 who has been previously evaluated and certified by the United
121 States Department of Veterans Affairs or any branch of the
122 United States Armed Forces as permanently and totally disabled
123 from a service-connected disability may provide a United States
124 Department of Veterans Affairs Form Letter 27-333, or its
125 equivalent, issued within the last 12 months in lieu of a
126 certificate of disability.
127 Section 5. Subsections (1) and (5) of section 322.02,
128 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
129 322.02 Legislative intent; administration.—
130 (1) The Legislature finds that over the past several years
131 the department and individual county tax collectors have entered
132 into contracts for the delivery of full and limited driver
133 license services where such contractual relationships best
134 served the public interest through state administration and
135 enforcement and local government implementation. It is the
136 intent of the Legislature that the complete transition of all
137 driver license issuance services to tax collectors who are
138 constitutional officers under s. 1(d), Art. VIII of the State
139 Constitution be completed no later than June 30, 2027 2015. The
140 transition of services to appointed charter county tax
141 collectors may occur on a limited basis as directed by the
142 department.
143 (5) The tax collector in and for his or her county is may
144 be designated the exclusive agent of the department to implement
145 and administer the provisions of this chapter as provided by s.
146 322.135.
147 Section 6. Subsections (3) and (4) of section 322.12,
148 Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
149 322.12 Examination of applicants.—
150 (3)(a) For an applicant for a Class E driver license, such
151 examination must shall include all of the following:
152 1.(a) A test of the applicant’s eyesight given by the
153 driver license examiner designated by the department or by a
154 licensed ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician.
155 2.(b) A test of the applicant’s hearing given by a driver
156 license examiner or a licensed physician.
157 3.(c) A test of the applicant’s ability to read and
158 understand highway signs regulating, warning, and directing
159 traffic; his or her knowledge of the traffic laws of this state,
160 including laws regulating driving under the influence of alcohol
161 or controlled substances, driving with an unlawful blood-alcohol
162 level, and driving while intoxicated; and his or her knowledge
163 of the effects of alcohol and controlled substances upon persons
164 and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle while under the
165 influence of alcohol or controlled substances. At least 25
166 questions within the bank of test questions must address bicycle
167 and pedestrian safety.
168 4.(d) An actual demonstration of ability to exercise
169 ordinary and reasonable control in the operation of a motor
170 vehicle.
171 (b) An applicant who is found to have cheated during, or to
172 have otherwise circumvented, any portion of the examination must
173 retake the examination.
174 (4)(a) The examination for an applicant for a commercial
175 driver license must shall include all of the following:
176 1. A test of the applicant’s eyesight given by a driver
177 license examiner designated by the department or by a licensed
178 ophthalmologist, optometrist, or physician. and
179 2. A test of the applicant’s hearing given by a driver
180 license examiner or a licensed physician.
181 3. The examination shall also include A test of the
182 applicant’s ability to read and understand highway signs
183 regulating, warning, and directing traffic; his or her knowledge
184 of the traffic laws of this state pertaining to the class of
185 motor vehicle which he or she is applying to be licensed to
186 operate, including laws regulating driving under the influence
187 of alcohol or controlled substances, driving with an unlawful
188 blood-alcohol level, and driving while intoxicated; his or her
189 knowledge of the effects of alcohol and controlled substances
190 and the dangers of driving a motor vehicle after having consumed
191 alcohol or controlled substances; and his or her knowledge of
192 any special skills, requirements, or precautions necessary for
193 the safe operation of the class of vehicle which he or she is
194 applying to be licensed to operate.
195 4. In addition, the examination shall include An actual
196 demonstration of the applicant’s ability to exercise ordinary
197 and reasonable control in the safe operation of a motor vehicle
198 or combination of vehicles of the type covered by the license
199 classification which the applicant is seeking, including an
200 examination of the applicant’s ability to perform an inspection
201 of his or her vehicle.
202 (b)(a) The portion of the examination required under
203 subparagraph (a)4. which tests an applicant’s safe driving
204 ability shall be administered by the department or by an entity
205 authorized by the department to administer such examination,
206 pursuant to s. 322.56. Such examination shall be administered at
207 a location approved by the department.
208 (c)(b) A person who seeks to retain a hazardous-materials
209 endorsement must, upon renewal, pass the test for such
210 endorsement as specified in s. 322.57(1)(e), if the person has
211 not taken and passed the hazardous-materials test within 2 years
212 preceding his or her application for a commercial driver license
213 in this state.
214 (d) An applicant who is found to have cheated during, or to
215 have otherwise circumvented, any portion of the examination must
216 retake the examination.
217 Section 7. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section
218 322.135, Florida Statutes, is amended, and paragraph (d) is
219 added to that subsection, to read:
220 322.135 Driver license agents.—
221 (1) The department shall, upon application, authorize by
222 interagency agreement any or all of the tax collectors who are
223 constitutional officers under s. 1(d), Art. VIII of the State
224 Constitution in the several counties of the state, subject to
225 the requirements of law, in accordance with rules of the
226 department, to serve as its agent for the provision of specified
227 driver license services.
228 (a) These services shall be limited to the issuance of
229 driver licenses and identification cards as authorized by this
230 chapter, transactions for which may be processed by the tax
231 collector using the department’s online license and registration
232 portal.
233 (d) A tax collector may offer a licensee or prospective
234 licensee the option to increase the amount of his or her
235 transaction to the next whole dollar amount in order to donate
236 the amount of the increase to a charity registered with the
237 Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services.
238 Section 8. Subsection (4) of section 322.251, Florida
239 Statutes, is amended to read:
240 322.251 Notice of cancellation, suspension, revocation, or
241 disqualification of license.—
242 (4) A person whose privilege to operate a commercial motor
243 vehicle is temporarily disqualified may, upon surrendering his
244 or her commercial driver license, be issued a Class E driver
245 license, valid for the length of his or her unexpired commercial
246 driver license, if eligible, at no cost. Such person may, upon
247 the completion of his or her disqualification, be issued a
248 commercial driver license, of the type disqualified, for the
249 remainder of his or her unexpired license period. Any such
250 person must shall pay the reinstatement fee provided in s.
251 322.21 before being issued a commercial driver license.
252 Section 9. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
253 322.271, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
254 322.271 Authority to modify revocation, cancellation, or
255 suspension order.—
256 (1)
257 (b) A person whose driving privilege has been revoked under
258 s. 322.27(5) may, upon expiration of 12 months from the date of
259 such revocation, petition the department for reinstatement of
260 his or her driving privilege. Upon such petition and after
261 investigation of the person’s qualification, fitness, and need
262 to drive, the department shall hold a hearing pursuant to
263 chapter 120 to determine whether the driving privilege shall be
264 reinstated on a restricted basis solely for business or
265 employment purposes. If such person is granted a limited driving
266 privilege and subsequently violates the conditions of the
267 restricted driving privilege, the restricted driving privilege
268 must be revoked and the person is not eligible for any driving
269 privilege for the remaining duration of the 5-year period after
270 his or her initial license revocation.
271 Section 10. Section 322.66, Florida Statutes, is amended to
272 read:
273 322.66 Vehicles permitted to be driven during driving
274 skills tests.—A person who does not possess a valid driver
275 license may drive a noncommercial or commercial motor vehicle
276 during a driving skills test conducted in accordance with s.
277 322.12(3) and (4)(b) s. 322.12(3) and (4)(a), if the person has
278 passed the vision, hearing, road rules, and road signs tests
279 ordinarily administered to applicants for a Class E license,
280 and, if required, has passed the commercial driver license
281 knowledge and appropriate endorsement tests.
282 Section 11. This act shall take effect July 1, 2026.
283
284 ================= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
285 And the title is amended as follows:
286 Delete everything before the enacting clause
287 and insert:
288 A bill to be entitled
289 An act relating to the Department of Highway Safety
290 and Motor Vehicles; amending s. 319.24, F.S.;
291 authorizing tax collectors to deliver by mail or make
292 available at the tax collector’s office certificates
293 of title; amending s. 319.29, F.S.; providing that
294 certain applications may be fulfilled by the tax
295 collector acting as an authorized agent of the
296 department; amending s. 320.031, F.S.; authorizing the
297 department and tax collectors, as agents of the
298 department, to deliver certain documents, including
299 duplicate registration certificates, in person or by
300 mail; amending s. 320.0848, F.S.; requiring the
301 department to renew certain disabled parking permits
302 for a specified period without requiring certain
303 documentation; amending s. 322.02, F.S.; revising the
304 year by which the Legislature intends that the
305 transition of certain services to certain tax
306 collectors be completed; deleting a provision
307 authorizing such transition of services to appointed
308 charter county tax collectors on a limited basis;
309 providing that the tax collector is, rather than may
310 be, designated the exclusive agent of the department
311 for a specified purpose; amending s. 322.12, F.S.;
312 requiring certain driver license applicants to retake
313 certain examinations; amending s. 322.135, F.S.;
314 authorizing a tax collector to process certain
315 transactions using the department’s online license and
316 registration portal; authorizing a tax collector to
317 offer to a licensee or prospective licensee a certain
318 donation option; amending s. 322.251, F.S.;
319 authorizing the issuance of a Class E driver license
320 to certain persons, if eligible; amending s. 322.271,
321 F.S.; requiring the revocation of a restricted driving
322 privilege for a specified period in certain
323 circumstances; amending s. 322.66, F.S.; conforming a
324 cross-reference; providing an effective date.