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TALLAHASSEE, FL – Attorney General Bill McCollum today thanked members of the Florida Legislature for working with him to increase transparency and accountability, promote public safety, and protect the rights of Florida citizens. The Attorney General also urged the Governor to sign the rest of his priority bills into law.

“As the 2010 legislative session comes to an end, I applaud Florida lawmakers for their leadership and perseverance during these challenging economic times,” said Attorney General McCollum.
“Together with the Legislature, we improved the oversight of Florida’s pension funds, ensured that recoveries to the public from contingency fee lawsuits would be maximized, strengthened our authority over debt collectors, and put additional protections in place for our vulnerable populations.”

The Attorney General’s priorities included the following pieces of legislation:

Transparency In Private Attorney Contracting Act, (SB 712/HB 437) – This legislation protects the public’s interests by requiring common-sense provisions such as posting contracts and payments online, keeping detailed time records for private attorneys’ hours, and maintaining sensible limits on payouts to private attorneys when the Attorney General’s office chooses to hire outside firms on a contingency fee basis. The Attorney General’s Office has already implemented the bill’s provisions, and the bill was signed into law earlier this month.

Sponsors: Sen. John Thrasher and Rep. Eric Eisnaugle

Individual Mandate Language (SB 2434/HB 1143) – This amendment, included in HB 1143, states that no individual shall be mandated by the federal government to purchase health insurance or be penalized with a fine or tax. It also provides a statutory basis upon which the Attorney General can protect the rights of individuals as related to federal health insurance mandates.

Sponsors: Sen. Andy Gardiner and Rep. Matt Hudson

State Board of Administration Reform Bill (SB 1078/HB 1307) – This legislation expands the Investment Advisory Council by three additional appointments; requires the State Board of Administration (SBA), by statute, to produce a set of financial statements for the pension plans and subject those financial statements to an independent audit; and provides the SBA clear statutory authority to further formalize and strengthen the ethics restrictions currently in SBA policy and applicable to SBA staff.

Sponsors: Sen. Jeremy Ring and Rep. Rob Schenck

Debt Collection (SB 2086/HB 7233) – To better protect consumers from debt relief services fraud and unscrupulous conduct by debt collectors, the Attorney General worked with the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee and the House General Government Policy Council on a proposed legislation to address debt collection abuses. This legislation strengthens the Attorney General’s authority to pursue violations of the debt collection statute. It also enhances the Office of Financial Regulation’s ability to pursue debt collection agencies involved in bad practices.

Sponsors: Sen. Garrett Richter, Rep. Baxter Troutman, Rep. Pat Patterson, and Rep. Tom Grady

Ex-Felons Licensure (SB 1520/HB 7069) – The Attorney General’s public safety focus addressed licensure of ex-felons and public safety. The Attorney General worked with the Legislature to develop more stringent licensing guidelines for ex-felons who seek to work with vulnerable Floridians, including residents of nursing homes and children in day care facilities.

Sponsors: Sen. Ronda Storms and Rep. Will Snyder