27 laws signed by Governor Rick Scott will go into effect on October 1st. Here is a sampling:
- HB 115 requires a judge found misusing his or her position to perform 250 hours of community service and make restitution.
- HB 467 and HB 469 create public-records exemptions that protect the identity of human-trafficking victims and shield the location of safe houses for victims of sexual exploitation.
- SB 538 makes it a first-degree misdemeanor to “sexually cyber-harass” by posting sexually explicit images of other people without their consent.
- HB 889 changes the health care surrogate law so individuals can designate surrogates to act on their behalf while he/she is still competent and able to make decisions. It also allows parents or legal guardians of minors to name a health surrogate in case the parent or guardian cannot be contacted.
- HB 897 adds five synthetic drugs to the Schedule I list of controlled substances.
- HB 7055 highway safety bill includes a measure allowing golf carts to use two-lane county roads if approved by municipalities and requires an 18-inch-square, red flag on all loads that extend more than 4 feet from the back of vehicles.