Attorney General Bondi Declares 2012 Legislative Session a Win for Increased Public Safety and Consumer Protection

TALLAHASSEE, Fla.–Attorney General Pam Bondi today commended the Legislature for passing legislation that increases public safety and consumer protection for Floridians. This legislative session, Attorney General Bondi prioritized bills that: create a task force to study the growing problem of prescription drug-addicted newborns; strengthen criminal penalties for human trafficking; ban new forms of synthetic drugs; and increase consumer protections governing timeshare resales.

“The Legislature has given us much-needed tools to protect our citizens’ physical and financial safety,” said Attorney General Pam Bondi. “I commend the Legislature for their commitment to protecting Floridians.” (unless they are a “deadbeat”)

The Attorney General’s priorities included the following bills:

  • Statewide Task Force on Prescription Drug Abuse and Newborns (SB 402/HB 227) –The task force will be charged with examining the scope of neo-natal withdrawal syndrome, the costs associated with caring for babies, the long term effects of, and strategies for preventing prescription drug abuse by expectant mothers. The task force legislation was sponsored by Senator Joe Negron and Representative Kelli Stargel.
  • Human Trafficking (SB 1880/HB 7049) –The bill increases criminal penalties against those who engage in human trafficking and provides the Office of Statewide Prosecution with jurisdiction to pursue human trafficking cases. The human trafficking legislation was sponsored by Senator Anitere Flores and Representative William Snyder.
  • Synthetic Drugs (SB 1502/HB 1175) –Following last year’s “bath salts” bill, this bill adds new forms of synthetic marijuana and stimulants to the list of controlled substances that are illegal under Florida law. The synthetic drugs legislation was sponsored by Senator Greg Evers and Representative Clay Ingram.
  • Timeshare Resale Fraud (SB 1408/HB 1001) –The bill gives the Attorney General’s Office more enforcement tools to pursue timeshare resale companies engaged in unfair and deceptive trade practices. Examples of the provisions that the Legislature passed to prevent these misrepresentations include: prohibitions of misrepresenting a pre-existing interest in the owner’s timeshare and misleading costumers about the success rate of the advertiser’s sales; stringent cancellation, refund and disclosure requirements; and a penalty not to exceed $15,000 per violation.This legislation was sponsored by Senator Andy Gardiner and Representative Eric Eisnaugle.

SOURCE: http://www.myfloridalegal.com

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