Bill Summaries: Consumer Protections
Consumer Report Security Freezes HB 953, by Representative Harrison, PASSED. The companion bill was SB 1302, by Senator Brandes. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2018-062, Laws of Florida, effective July 1, 2018. AARP supported this legislation. The legislation prohibits a consumer reporting agency from charging a fee for placing, temporarily lifting or removing a security freeze on an existing credit report or on a record created to identify a protected consumer (a person younger than 16 years of age or a person represented by a guardian or other advocate). See Voting Record CS/CS/CS/SB 920, by Senator Bradley, PASSED. The companion bill was CS/CS/HB 857, by Representatives Grant (J) and Cruz. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2018-026, Laws of Florida, effective July 1, 2019. AARP opposed this legislation. The legislation permits deferred presentment installment transactions (“payday loans”) to double the current maximum loan amounts to $1,000, to lengthen the maximum durations of the loans from 60 days to 90 days and to exempt the loans from certain underwriting requirements, such as determining the borrowers’ ability to repay. Despite AARP’s request to veto the legislation, the Governor approved it. See Voting Record for CS/CS/CS/SB 920 p.57-58; CS/CS/HB 857 p. 59. Consumer Finance CS/SB 386, by Senator Garcia, PASSED. The companion bill was CS/HB 239, by Representative Fine. This legislation is now Chapter No. 2018-017, effective July 1, 2018. AARP monitored this legislation. The legislation permits borrowers to repay consumer finance loans on a biweekly, semimonthly or monthly basis, rather than only on a monthly basis. If agreed to in writing by the borrower, lenders may impose delinquency charges up to $15 for payments in default for at least 10 days. See Voting Record for SB CS/386 p.60; CS/HB 239 p. 61. Notaries Public for HB 953 p.54-55; SB 1302 p.56. Deferred Presentment Transactions CS/SB 1042, by Senator Brandes, FAILED. The companion bill was CS/CS/HB 771, by Representative Grant (J). AARP supported this legislation. The legislation would have authorized electronic wills and would have regulated how they could be executed, stored and admitted to probate. Notary publics could have registered to provide online notary services (in-and out-of-state). See Voting Record for CS/SB 1042 p.61; CS/CS/HB 771 p.62. Elder Abuse Fatality Review Teams CS/HB 259, by Representative Watson (B), FAILED. The companion bill was CS/SB 422, by Senator Gibson. AARP supported this legislation. The legislation would have created a multidisciplinary, multiagency elder abuse fatality review team in each judicial circuit (20). The teams would have reviewed fatal incidents involving elder abuse and would have made policy recommendations to help prevent future incidents. See Voting Record for CS/HB 259 p.63; CS/SB 422 p.63.
42
Made with FlippingBook Annual report maker