Electronic Legal Documents House Bill 409 and Companion Senate Bill 548 The legislation authorizes execution and use of electronic wills, creates registration requirements for online notaries, and authorizes third parties to rely on notaries’ electronic journals and records as evidence of valid powers- of-attorney. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2019-71, Laws of Florida, effective January 1, 2020.
PASSED AARP Supported
Sponsored by Representatives Grant
(J) and Perez and Senator Brandes
Voting Record on Pg 70
Public Utility Storm Protection Plans Senate Bill 796 and Companion House Bill 797 Currently, electric investor-owned utilities (IOUs) charge ratepayers for storm hardening activities (undergrounding power lines, vegetation management, replacing power poles, etc.) through the base rate (the per-kilowatt-hour charges on a monthly bill). These costs are reviewed and evaluated every 4-6 years by the Public Service Commission (PSC), which creates rate stability for consumers. This legislation creates an annual recovery clause (additional charge) that will allow IOUs to collect costs for storm hardening and allow them to earn an additional profit. The legislation is now Chapter No. 2019- 158, Laws of Florida, effective upon becoming law.
PASSED AARP Opposed
Sponsored by Senator Gruters and Representative Fine
Voting Record on Pg 73
AARP argued that the legislation will cause a significant annual increase in electric bills and that the intent of the bill could have been be achieved by keeping the recovery of costs in the base rate, therefore avoiding annual rate increases.
Consumer Finance Loans Senate Bill 874 and Companion House Bill 469 The legislation would have established the “Access to Responsible Credit Pilot Program.” The proposal would have increased the permissible interest rate for loans under Florida’s Consumer Finance Act. Under the pilot program, the loan amount would have been from $300 to $7,500, with a maximum fixed interest rate of 36% per annum. The duration of a loan would have been 120 days to 60 months. Guardianship Senate Bill 1338 and Companion House Bill 1085 Currently, a court is required to dismiss a petition to determine incapacity if a majority (2 out of 3) of the examining committee members conclude that the examinee is not incapacitated in any respect. The legislation would have required a unanimous (3 out of 3) conclusion by the examining committee to dismiss a petition.
FAILED AARP Opposed Sponsored by Senator Rouson and Representative Fernandez-Barquin
Voting Record on Pg 76
FAILED AARP Supported
Sponsored by Senator Rodriguez (J) and Representative Geller
Voting Record on Pg 78
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Consumer Protection
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