HB 45 — Hope Cards for Persons Issued Orders of Protection

F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB45CS/HB45 2024 A bill to be entitled An act relating to Hope Cards for persons issued orders of protection;

requiring the clerksOffice of the circuitState court,Courts Administrator, in consultation with theothers, Office of the Attorney General, to develop and implement the Hope Card Program;

authorizingrequiring certainthe personsclerks toof requestthe acircuit Hopecourts Cardto afterimplement athe specifiedprogram; date;

specifyingauthorizing whencertain andpersons howto apply for a personHope mayCard requestafter a Hopespecified Card;date;

requiring clerks'applications officesfor to create a Hope Card andto providebe suchavailable cardonline toand petitionersin withinthe aclerks' specifiedoffices; time frame;

requiring clerks' offices to mail, by certified mail, a Hope Card to petitioners within a specified time frame;

amending s.

741.315, F.S.;

authorizing a person protected by an injunction for protection issued by a court of a foreign state to apply for and receive a Hope Card even if the person does not register the order for protection in this state;

SectionPage 1.1of 6 CODING:

Section 741.311, Florida Statutes, is created to read:

741.311 Hope Card Program for persons issued orders of protection.— (1) The clerks of the circuit court, in consultation with Page 1of 4 CODING:

hb0045-02-c2hb0045-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB45CS/HB45 2024 theSection Office1. of the Attorney General, shall develop and implement the Hope Card Program, which provides for the issuance of a Hope Card to any person who has been issued an order of protection by a county or circuit court in this state.

(2)Section Beginning741.311, OctoberFlorida 1,Statutes, 2024,is acreated personto whoread: has been issued a final judgment on injunction for protection under s.

741.311 Hope Card Program for persons issued orders of protection.— (1) The Office of the State Courts Administrator, in consultation with the Office of the Attorney General and the clerks of the circuit courts through their association, shall develop the Hope Card Program, which provides for the issuance of a Hope Card to any person who has been issued an order of protection by a county or circuit court in this state, or by a court of a foreign state pursuant to s.

741.315.

The clerks of the circuit courts shall implement the Hope Card Program.

(2) Beginning July 1, 2024, a person who has been issued a final judgment on injunction for protection under s.

825.1035 may requestapply for a Hope Card fromwith the clerk of the court of the circuit inwhere which the orderpetition for an injunction for protection was entered.initially filed.

A person mayprotected requestby a Hopeforeign Card at the time the final judgment on injunction for protection is issued or at any other time before the expiration of the order forunder protection.s.

(3)741.315 Aftermay thesubmit courtan hasapplication issued a final judgment on injunction for protection and within 3 business days after receipt of a request for a Hope Card,Card theto any clerk of the court shallin create the Hopestate. Card and provide it to the petitioner.

(4)A Theperson clerkmay ofapply for a Hope Card at the courttime maythe notfinal assessjudgment aon feeinjunction for protection is issued or at any other time before the issuanceexpiration of athe Hopeorder Card.of protection.

(5)(3) A Hope Card isapplications validmust forbe 2available yearson after the datewebsite of issuanceeach clerk of the finalcourt orderand orpaper theapplications expirationmust datePage of2of the6 injunction,CODING: whichever is earlier.

A Hope Card may be renewed after the 2-year period if the injunction is still in effect.

(6) A Hope Card issued under the program must be a durable, wallet-sized card containing all of the following information:

Page 2of 4 CODING:

hb0045-02-c2hb0045-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/CS/HB45CS/HB45 2024 (a)also Thebe respondent'savailable nameat andthe dateclerk's ofoffice. birth.

(b)After Thethe namecourt has issued an injunction for protection and datewithin 24 hours after receipt of birthan application, the clerk of the court shall mail the Hope Card to the petitioner orby protectedcertified person.mail.

(c)(4) InformationThe regardingclerk of the issuingcourt court;may not assess a fee for the issuance of a Hope Card.

(5) A Hope Card is valid for 2 years after the date of issuance or the expiration date of the injunction for protection, whichever is earlier.

A Hope Card may be renewed after the 2-year period if the injunction for protection is still in effect.

(6) A Hope Card issued under the program must be a durable, laminated, wallet-sized card containing all of the following information:

(a) The respondent's name, date of birth, height, weight, sex, race, eye color, hair color, and any other distinguishing features or characteristics of the respondent.

(b) The petitioner's name and date of birth and the names and dates of birth of any minor children protected under the order.

(c) The name and date of birth, if applicable, of any other person or animal protected under the order.

(d) Pertinent information about the order of protection, including, but not limited to, the issuing court;

and the expirationPage date,3of if6 any,CODING: of the order of protection.

(d)Words Thestrickenare datedeletions; of issuance and the expiration date of the Hope Card.

(7)words Aunderlined personare who,additions. having actual knowledge that he or she is not protected by an injunction that is currently in force and effect, knowingly and willfully presents to another person a Hope Card or other document purporting to be a Hope Card for the purpose of evidencing the existence of an injunction, commits a misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.

hb0045-01-c1 F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S CS/HB45 2024 expiration date, if any, of the order of protection;