Florida HB 599: Consultant Pharmacists

Bill Text

HB 599 2026

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb599-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S

A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to U-visa certification policy; 2
creating s. 908.112, F.S.; defining terms; specifying 3
duties of certifying officials from certifying 4
agencies concerning certification forms in support of 5
U-visa applications; providing a rebuttable 6
presumption; requiring a certifying official from a 7
certifying agency that denies a certification to 8
provide the petitioner with specified written notice; 9
requiring certifying agencies to grant or deny 10
requests for certifications within specified 11
timeframes; authorizing applicants to petition the 12
circuit court if the certifying agency fails to 13
respond within those timeframes; prohibiting 14
certifying agencies and certifying officials from 15
disclosing the immigration status of victims or 16
persons seeking a certification; providing initial and 17
annual reporting requirements; providing immunity for 18
certifying officials; specifying duties of certifying 19
agencies; providing an effective date. 20
21
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 22
23
Section 1. Section 908.112, Florida Statutes, is created 24
to read: 25

HB 599 2026

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908.112 U-visa certification policy.— 26
(1) As used in this section, the term: 27
(a) "Certification form" means Form I-918, Supplement B, U 28
Nonimmigrant Status Certification as required by 8 U.S.C. s. 29
1184(p). 30
(b) "Certifying agency" means a state or local law 31
enforcement agency, a prosecutor, a judge, or any other 32
governmental agency that has criminal, civil, administrative, 33
investigative, or prosecutorial authority. 34
(c) "Certifying official" means any of the following: 35
1. The head of the certifying agency. 36
2. A person in a supervisory role who has been 37
specifically designated by the head of the certifying agency to 38
issue Form I-918 Supplement B certifications on behalf of the 39
agency. 40
3. A judge. 41
4. Any other certifying official described in 8 C.F.R. s. 42
214.14(a)(3). 43
(d) "Petitioner" means a person who requests a 44
certification, including indirect and bystander victims. 45
(e) "Qualifying criminal activity" means an offense for 46
which the elements are substantially similar to an offense 47
described in 8 U.S.C. s. 1101(a)(15)(U)(iii) of the Immigration 48
and Nationality Act or the attempt, solicitation, or conspiracy 49
to commit such an offense. Qualifying criminal activity pursuant 50

HB 599 2026

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to 8 U.S.C. s. 1011(a)(15)(U)(iii) includes, but is not limited 51
to, the following crimes: 52
1. Rape. 53
2. Torture. 54
3. Human trafficking. 55
4. Incest. 56
5. Domestic violence. 57
6. Sexual assault. 58
7. Abusive sexual contact. 59
8. Prostitution. 60
9. Sexual Exploitation. 61
10. Female genital mutilation. 62
11. Being held hostage. 63
12. Peonage. 64
13. Perjury. 65
14. Involuntary servitude. 66
15. Slavery. 67
16. Kidnapping. 68
17. Abduction. 69
18. Unlawful criminal restraint. 70
19. False imprisonment. 71
20. Blackmail. 72
21. Extortion. 73
22. Manslaughter. 74
23. Murder. 75

HB 599 2026

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24. Felonious assault. 76
25. Witness tampering. 77
26. Obstruction of justice. 78
27. Fraud in foreign labor contracting. 79
28. Stalking. 80
(2) Upon the request of a petitioner or a victim's family 81
member, a certifying official from a certifying agency must 82
certify victim helpfulness on the Form I-918 Supplement B 83
certification if the victim was a victim of a qualifying 84
criminal activity and has been helpful, is being helpful, or is 85
likely to be helpful to the detection or investigation or 86
prosecution of such qualifying criminal activity. 87
(3) For purposes of determining helpfulness pursuant to 88
subsection (2), there is a rebuttable presumption that a victim 89
is helpful, has been helpful, or is likely to be helpful to the 90
detection or investigation or prosecution of that qualifying 91
criminal activity if the victim has not refused or failed to 92
provide information and assistance reasonably requested by law 93
enforcement. 94
(4) The certifying official shall fully complete and sign 95
the Form I-918 Supplement B certification and, regarding victim 96
helpfulness, include specific details about the nature of the 97
crime investigated or prosecuted and a detailed description of 98
the victim's helpfulness or likely helpfulness to the detection, 99
investigation, or prosecution of the