UPDATE: Bill Becomes Law

Earlier this week, Governor Charlie Crist signed into law SB 904. That bill creates a statutory scheme for parenting coordinators, streamlines relocation litigation, clarifies the modification standard for cases involving parental responsibility, timesharing and parenting plans and establishes clearly the professionals capable of making parenting plan recommendations. This is especially remarkable in a year when little more than 10% of the over 2,000 filed bills passed both houses of the Legislature.

Pending Bill on Children's Issues

The Children's Issues Bill (CS/CS/CS/SB 904) was sent to Governor Crist on Wednesday, June 3, 2009. It is now awaiting the Governor's signature. Some of the highlights of this bill include:

* The bill recognizes and authorizes the parenting coordination process and provides long-overdue qualifications for those serving as parenting coordinators and standards and safeguards for the process itself.

* The bill corrects a mistaken interpretation of last year's parenting bill that modification actions no longer required a showing of a substantial, material and unanticipated change in circumstances.

* The bill provides needed clarification that there is no presumption for or against any particular time-sharing schedule.

* The bill clarifies and streamlines the process to be followed when a parent seeks to relocate his or her residence.

Pending Bills Will Increase Filing Fees

Today, I received a letter from our locally elected, Clerk of Court, Ken Burke. He advises that 2 bills which passed the recent legislative session and are awaiting the Governor's signature cause some serious concerns. The bills in question are Senate Bills 1718 and 2108.

The first bill will dramatically increase filing fees by instituting a graduated scale for real property or mortgage foreclosure cases where, in some cases, filing fees may be as high as $1,900. The bill also greatly reduces the operational funding for Clerks statewide which will result in severe staff reductions and necessarily impact service levels.

The second bill restricts spending for technology initiatives that would enable the Clerk to further streamline work processes and increase office efficiency.

While these bills address items that may not be very glamorous they have real impact on all of us and fundamental right to access and effectively utilize the Court system. We need the system to civilly resolve disputes. I know that our Pinellas County Clerk’s Office is committed to providing exceptional service in all areas of operation under Mr. Burke's leadership.

Consider if you would like to help let Governor Crist know the negative impact of these bills, and if so, get involved and send him a letter. The address is: Office of Governor Charlie Crist, State of Florida, The Capitol, 400 S. Monroe St., Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001

New legislation

For those of you following developments in the family law arena, check out Florida Senate Bill 2532. According to the Senate's website Governor Crist signed the bill late last month. It appears to encompass a great variety of changes to existing law in this area. One of the most interesting aspects of practicing law is the fact that the law itself is not static but is constantly being written, revised and interpreted. It makes our work anything but dull!