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What Floridians need to know about the new laws going into effect July 1

Ana Ceballos and Gabriela Henriquez Stoikow, Miami Herald on

Published in News & Features

MIAMI — Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a spate of new laws that are scheduled to take effect on Monday.

There is a measure that creates littering fines for kids and adults who release balloons into the sky, and another that prohibits local governments from setting rules meant to protect outside workers from the risks of extreme heat. A new bill now allows Florida residents to legally kill bears if they feel the animal posed an immediate threat to their lives.

Here are some of the most notable state laws that take effect immediately:

Changes to child labor laws: A new law will allow 16- and 17-year-olds to work additional hours on Sundays and holidays. Teens who are homeschooled or attend virtual school will be the most impacted, as the new law exempts them from all regulations restricting when teenagers can work.

No protections for outdoor workers: Despite record-high temperatures across Florida, a new law now prohibits city and county governments from setting standards to protect workers from the increasing risks of extreme heat. The new law will effectively kill an effort in Miami-Dade County to require employers to provide water, rest and shade to outdoor workers on hot days. The state currently has no standards for such protections.

Watch out, bears: Floridians can now shoot and kill bears in self-defense or to protect their pet. A person would avoid civil or criminal penalties for using lethal force against a bear as long as they did not intentionally or recklessly place themselves in a dangerous situation. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission would need to be notified within 24 hours after the incident, and the commission would be in charge of disposing of the bear.

 

No more releases of balloons: Children across Florida who are 7 years and older won’t be able to send their Christmas and New Year’s Eve wishes to the heavens by releasing balloons into the sky. Under a new law, those who intentionally release balloons inflated with a gas lighter than air will be committing littering and will face a $150 fine. Children 6 years and younger are exempt from this regulation along with people working on behalf of a government agency releasing balloons for scientific purposes, hot air balloons recovered after launching and balloons released indoors. The bill received almost unanimous support and is part of an effort to curb pollution.

Police oversight panels defanged: A new law will now limit civilian oversight panels in more than 20 Florida counties and cities from looking into citizen complaints against the behavior of law enforcement officers. Some boards, which make recommendations about discipline, were created by voters, others by government officials following policing controversies.

New penalties for car racing: A year after street racers closed roads and highways in Miami-Dade, a new law is increasing the fines for participating in car racing across Florida. Fines now range between $500 to $7,500 depending on how many times a person has committed the same offense. The law also increases the penalties from misdemeanors to felonies contingent upon how many times a person has committed the same offense, allows for the revocation of a driver’s license for four years and lets law enforcement seize any vehicle used in drag racing, street takeovers, stunt driving, competitions, contests, tests or exhibitions.

Driving without a license: A new bill modifies the criminal penalties for driving without a valid driver’s license. Under the new law, upon a first conviction, a person faces a misdemeanor of the second degree. A second conviction leads to a misdemeanor of the first degree and a third or subsequent conviction is punishable with a misdemeanor of the first degree and a minimum of 10 days in jail.

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