Title XLIV, Civil Rights

The commission created by s. 760.03 is assigned to the Department of Management Services. The commission, in the performance of its duties pursuant to the Florida Civil Rights Act of 1992, shall not be subject to control, supervision, or direction by the Department of Management …

The commission shall promote and encourage fair treatment and equal opportunity for all persons regardless of race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status and mutual understanding and respect among all members of all economic, social, r…

Within the limitations provided by law, the commission shall have the following powers:(1) To maintain offices in the State of Florida.(2) To meet and exercise its powers at any place within the state.(3) To promote the creation of, and to provide continuing technical assistance …

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize and honor those persons, living or dead, who have made significant contributions to this state as leaders in the struggle for equality and justice for all persons.(2)(a) There is hereby established the Florida Civil Rights Hall…

Any violation of any Florida statute that makes unlawful discrimination because of race, color, religion, gender, pregnancy, national origin, age, handicap, or marital status in the areas of education, employment, or public accommodations gives rise to a cause of action for all r…

All persons are entitled to the full and equal enjoyment of the goods, services, facilities, privileges, advantages, and accommodations of any place of public accommodation without discrimination or segregation on the ground of race, color, national origin, sex, pregnancy, handic…

(1) It is an unlawful employment practice for an employer:(a) To discharge or to fail or refuse to hire any individual, or otherwise to discriminate against any individual with respect to compensation, terms, conditions, or privileges of employment, because of such individual’s r…

(1) Any person aggrieved by a violation of ss. 760.01-760.10 may file a complaint with the commission, within 365 days of the alleged violation, naming the employer, employment agency, labor organization, or joint labor-management committee, or, in the case of an alleged violatio…

Sections 760.20-760.37 may be cited as the “Fair Housing Act.”History.—s. 1, ch. 83-221.

It is the policy of this state to provide, within constitutional limitations, for fair housing throughout the state.History.—s. 2, ch. 83-221.

As used in ss. 760.20-760.37, the term:(1) “Commission” means the Florida Commission on Human Relations.(2) “Covered multifamily dwelling” means:(a) A building which consists of four or more units and has an elevator; or(b) The ground floor units of a building which consists of f…

(1) It is unlawful to refuse to sell or rent after the making of a bona fide offer, to refuse to negotiate for the sale or rental of, or otherwise to make unavailable or deny a dwelling to any person because of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or re…

It is unlawful to deny any person access to, or membership or participation in, any multiple-listing service, real estate brokers’ organization, or other service, organization, or facility relating to the business of selling or renting dwellings, or to discriminate against him or…

(1) It is unlawful for any bank, building and loan association, insurance company, or other corporation, association, firm, or enterprise the business of which consists in whole or in part of the making of commercial real estate loans to deny a loan or other financial assistance …

It is unlawful to discriminate in land use decisions or in the permitting of development based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status, or religion, or, except as otherwise provided by law, based on the source of financing of a development or proposed de…

(1) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term:(a) “Emotional support animal” means an animal that does not require training to do work, perform tasks, provide assistance, or provide therapeutic emotional support by virtue of its presence which alleviates one or more identifi…

(1)(a) Nothing in ss. 760.23, 760.25, and 760.27 applies to:1. Any single-family house sold or rented by its owner, provided such private individual owner does not own more than three single-family houses at any one time. In the case of the sale of a single-family house by a priv…

(1) The authority and responsibility for administering ss. 760.20-760.37 is in the commission.(2) The commission may delegate any of its functions, duties, and powers to its employees, including functions, duties, and powers with respect to investigating, conciliating, hearing, d…

The commission shall:(1) Make studies with respect to the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices in representative urban, suburban, and rural communities throughout the state.(2) Publish and disseminate reports, recommendations, and information derived from such st…

(1) In conducting an investigation, the commission shall have access at all reasonable times to premises, records, documents, individuals, and other evidence or possible sources of evidence and may examine, record, and copy such materials and take and record the testimony or stat…

(1) Any person who claims to have been injured by a discriminatory housing practice or who believes that he or she will be injured by a discriminatory housing practice that is about to occur may file a complaint with the commission. Complaints shall be in writing and contain such…

(1) An aggrieved person may commence a civil action no later than 2 years after an alleged discriminatory housing practice has occurred. However, the court shall continue a civil case brought under this section or s. 760.34 before bringing it to trial if the court believes that t…

Any conciliation agreement arising out of conciliation efforts by the Florida Commission on Human Relations pursuant to the Fair Housing Act must be agreed to by the respondent and the complainant and is subject to the approval of the commission. Notwithstanding the provisions of…

It is unlawful to coerce, intimidate, threaten, or interfere with any person in the exercise of, or on account of her or his having exercised, or on account of her or his having aided or encouraged any other person in the exercise of any right granted under ss. 760.20-760.37. Thi…

(1) As used in this section, the term:(a) “DNA analysis” means the medical and biological examination and analysis of a person’s DNA to identify the presence and composition of genes in that person’s body. The term includes DNA typing and genetic testing.(b) “DNA sample” means an…

(1) The Legislature finds and declares that persons infected or believed to be infected with human immunodeficiency virus have suffered and will continue to suffer irrational and scientifically unfounded discrimination. The Legislature further finds and declares that society itse…

(1) Whenever any person, whether or not acting under color of law, interferes by threats, intimidation, or coercion, or attempts to interfere by threats, intimidation, or coercion, with the exercise or enjoyment by any other person of rights secured by the State Constitution or l…

(1) It is unlawful for a person to discriminate against any individual because of race, color, religion, gender, national origin, handicap, age above the age of 21, or marital status in evaluating an application for membership in a club that has more than 400 members, that provid…

(1) For the purposes of this section, the term “prisoner” means any person incarcerated or detained in any jail, prison, or other correctional facility, who is accused of, convicted of, sentenced for, or adjudicated delinquent for, violations of criminal law or the terms and cond…

(1) It is the intent of the Legislature to recognize the importance of balance in the appointment of minority and nonminority persons to membership on statutorily created decisionmaking and regulatory boards, commissions, councils, and committees, and to promote that balance thro…

(1) There is hereby established the Center for Environmental Equity and Justice.(2) The purpose of the center is to conduct and facilitate research, develop policies, and engage in education, training, and community outreach with respect to environmental equity and justice issues…

This act may be cited as the “Religious Freedom Restoration Act of 1998.”History.—s. 1, ch. 98-412.

As used in this act:(1) “Government” or “state” includes any branch, department, agency, instrumentality, or official or other person acting under color of law of the state, a county, special district, municipality, or any other subdivision of the state.(2) “Demonstrates” means t…

(1) The government shall not substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion, even if the burden results from a rule of general applicability, except that government may substantially burden a person’s exercise of religion only if it demonstrates that application of the burd…

The prevailing plaintiff in any action or proceeding to enforce a provision of this act is entitled to reasonable attorney’s fees and costs to be paid by the government.History.—s. 4, ch. 98-412.

(1) This act applies to all state law, and the implementation of that law, whether statutory or otherwise, and whether adopted before or after the enactment of this act.(2) State law adopted after the date of the enactment of this act is subject to this act unless such law explic…

(1) The following individuals or entities may not be required to solemnize any marriage or provide services, accommodations, facilities, goods, or privileges for a purpose related to the solemnization, formation, or celebration of any marriage if such an action would cause the in…

As used in this chapter:(1) “Advance directive” means a witnessed written document or oral statement in which instructions are given by a principal or in which the principal’s desires are expressed concerning any aspect of the principal’s health care or health information, and in…

(1) The Legislature finds that every competent adult has the fundamental right of self-determination regarding decisions pertaining to his or her own health, including the right to choose or refuse medical treatment. This right is subject to certain interests of society, such as …

Any advance directive made prior to October 1, 1999, shall be given effect as executed, provided such directive was legally effective when written.History.—s. 2, ch. 92-199; s. 18, ch. 99-331.

(1) An advance directive may be amended or revoked at any time by a competent principal:(a) By means of a signed, dated writing;(b) By means of the physical cancellation or destruction of the advance directive by the principal or by another in the principal’s presence and at the …

(1) The patient’s family, the health care facility, or the primary physician, or any other interested person who may reasonably be expected to be directly affected by the surrogate or proxy’s decision concerning any health care decision may seek expedited judicial intervention pu…

The provisions of this chapter are cumulative to the existing law regarding an individual’s right to consent, or refuse to consent, to medical treatment and do not impair any existing rights or responsibilities which a health care provider, a patient, including a minor, competent…

(1) This chapter shall not be construed to repeal by implication any provision of s. 766.103, the Florida Medical Consent Law. For all purposes, the Florida Medical Consent Law shall be considered an alternative to provisions of this section.(2) Procedures provided in this chapte…

The making of an advance directive pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall not affect the sale, procurement, or issuance of any policy of life insurance, nor shall such making of an advance directive be deemed to modify the terms of an existing policy of life insurance. …

(1) A health care facility, provider, or other person who acts under the direction of a health care facility or provider is not subject to criminal prosecution or civil liability, and will not be deemed to have engaged in unprofessional conduct, as a result of carrying out a heal…