Bill Text: FL S0254 | 2024 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Picketing or Protesting in or Near Health Care Facilities

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2024-03-08 - Died in Criminal Justice [S0254 Detail]

Download: Florida-2024-S0254-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2024                                     SB 254
       
       
        
       By Senator Book
       
       
       
       
       
       35-00368-24                                            2024254__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to picketing or protesting in or near
    3         health care facilities; creating s. 810.16, F.S.;
    4         defining the term “health care facility”; prohibiting
    5         a person from picketing or protesting inside of or
    6         within a specified distance of a health care facility
    7         with specified intent; providing criminal penalties;
    8         requiring a specified warning before an arrest for a
    9         violation; providing an effective date.
   10          
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 810.16, Florida Statutes, is created to
   14  read:
   15         810.16 Picketing or protesting in or near health care
   16  facility.—
   17         (1) As used in this section, the term “health care
   18  facility” has the same meaning as health care provider or health
   19  care facility as defined in s. 817.505(2).
   20         (2) It is unlawful for a person to picket or protest inside
   21  of or within 150 feet of a health care facility with the intent
   22  to harass or disturb an individual in or about such facility or
   23  to disturb or disrupt the operations of the facility.
   24         (3) A person who violates this section commits a
   25  misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
   26  775.082 or s. 775.083.
   27         (4) Before a person may be arrested for a violation of this
   28  section, a law enforcement officer as defined in s. 943.10(1) or
   29  a local, state, federal, or military law enforcement agency must
   30  go as near to the person as may be done with safety and must
   31  command any person picketing or protesting inside of or within
   32  150 feet of the health care facility to immediately and
   33  peaceably disperse. If any such person does not thereupon
   34  immediately and peaceably disperse, he or she may be arrested
   35  for a violation of this section.
   36         Section 2. This act shall take effect October 1, 2024.