As reported in the Florida Bar News, the Florida Legislature is looking at ways to address Clerk funding struggles. Sen. Doug Broxson, R-Pensacola, said he is working with Rep. Fentrice Driskell, D-Tampa, on a proposal that would address license reinstatement.
The Senate Judiciary committee addressed provisions to “modify the standard terms of a payment plan for individuals who owe money and establish a $25 minimum monthly payment and limit the down payment to 10% of the amount owed or $100, whichever is less.”
Clerk Alvarez-Sowles of Pasco County noted that” every clerk sponsors an “Operation Green Light” at least once a year that offers motorists some debt forgiveness, but the programs vary, she said. “What we would like to be able to do as clerks is to negotiate that debt and to settle it,” she said. “We are working on language.”
“We are thankful that last year the Legislature provided us the framework to begin fixing the challenges that have affected the system that funds our services,” Florida Court Clerks & Comptrollers President Angelina “Angel” Colonneso said in a statement issued after the committee hearing. “Clerks of Court are committed to continuing to build on this foundation with a new set of creative solutions laid out in SB 552 and HB 397, and we look forward to working with our legislative partners to move these bills forward to better safeguard our services for residents.”