Senate Bill sb0148er

    By Senator Geller
 

An act relating to homeowners' associations;

1
2
3      amending s. 720.304, F.S.; providing that any
4      homeowner may display a United States flag;
5      amending s. 720.3075, F.S.; prohibiting 
6      association documents from placing certain
7      restrictions on the display of a United States
8      flag; providing for retroactive application of
9      the act; providing an effective date.
10
11   Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13   Section 1. Section 720.304, Florida Statutes, is
14   amended to read:
15   720.304 Right of owners to peaceably assemble; display
16    of flag.-- 
17    (1) All common areas and recreational facilities
18    serving any homeowners' association shall be available to
19    parcel owners in the homeowners' association served thereby 
20    and their invited guests for the use intended for such common 
21    areas and recreational facilities. The entity or entities 
22    responsible for the operation of the common areas and 
23    recreational facilities may adopt reasonable rules and 
24    regulations pertaining to the use of such common areas and 
25    recreational facilities. No entity or entities shall
26    unreasonably restrict any parcel owner's right to peaceably 
27    assemble or right to invite public officers or candidates for 
28    public office to appear and speak in common areas and 
29    recreational facilities. 
30    (2) Any homeowner may display one portable, removable
31    United States flag in a respectful manner, regardless of any
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
ENROLLED 2002 Legislature CS for SB 148 

1      declaration rules or requirements dealing with flags or
2      decorations.
3      (3)(2) Any owner prevented from exercising rights 
4      guaranteed by subsection (1) or subsection (2) may bring an
5      action in the appropriate court of the county in which the 
6      alleged infringement occurred, and, upon favorable 
7      adjudication, the court shall enjoin the enforcement of any
8      provision contained in any homeowners' association document or
9      rule that operates to deprive the owner of such rights. 
10    Section 2. Subsection (3) of section 720.3075, Florida 
11    Statutes, is amended to read: 
12    720.3075 Prohibited clauses in association 
13    documents.-- 
14    (3) Homeowners' association documents, including 
15    declarations of covenants, articles of incorporation, or 
16    bylaws, may not preclude the display of one portable
17    removable United States flag by property owners. However, the 
18    flag must be displayed in a respectful manner way and may be
19    subject to reasonable standards for size, placement, and
20    safety, as adopted by the homeowners' association, consistent 
21    with Title 36 U.S.C. chapter 10 and any local ordinances. 
22    Section 3. This act applies retroactively regardless
23    of any declaration rules or requirements of a homeowners'
24    association dealing with flags or decorations.
25    Section 4. This act shall take effect upon becoming a 
26    law. 
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002                 HB 177
    By Representative Sobel

1                      A bill to be entitled
2        An act relating to homeowners' associations;
3        amending s. 720.3075, F.S.; providing that any
4        homeowner may display a United States flag;
5        providing an effective date.
6
7        Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
8
9        Section 1.  Subsection (3) of section 720.3075, Florida
10      Statutes, is amended to read:
11      720.3075  Prohibited clauses in association
12      documents.--
13      (3) Any homeowner may Homeowners' association
14   documents, including declarations of covenants, articles of
15   incorporation, or bylaws, may not preclude the display of one
16      portable, removable United States flag by property owners.
17      However, the flag must be displayed in a respectful way
18      regardless of any documents, declarations of covenants,
19      articles of incorporation, or bylaws of the association
20      dealing with flags or decorationsand may be subject to
21   reasonable standards for size, placement, and safety, as
22   adopted by the homeowners' association, consistent with Title
23   36 U.S.C. chapter 10 and any local ordinances.
24     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
25     law.
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28                          SENATE SUMMARY
29       Provides that any homeowner may display a portable,
            removable United States flag in a respectful way
30       regardless of any association documents, declarations of
           covenants, articles of incorporation, or bylaws of a
31       homeowners' association dealing with flags or decorations. 

        By Representative Baxley

1                     A bill to be entitled
2      An act relating to the United States flag;
3      creating s. 256.15, F.S.; providing that it is
4      unlawful to prohibit the display of the flag of
5      the United States; providing a penalty;
6      providing an effective date.
7
8      Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
9
10         Section 1.  Section 256.15, Florida Statutes, is
11          created to read:
12       256.15  Display of U.S. flag; prohibition unlawful;
13       penalty.--
14      (1)  It is unlawful for any person to prohibit the
15      display of the flag of the United States.
16      (2)  Any person who violates this section commits a
17      misdemeanor of the second degree, punishable as provided in s.
18      775.082 or s. 775.083.
19       Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a
20       law.
21
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23                        SENATE SUMMARY
24   Provides a misdemeanor penalty for prohibiting the
        display of the flag of the United States.