SESSION WATCH
Died HOUSE · SESSION 2026

No. HB 6527

Relief/Patricia Ermini/Lee County Sheriff's Office
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SPONSOR
Hart-Lowman
FILED BY
Dianne Hart-Lowman — District 63, Democrat [search donations]
EFFECTIVE
upon becoming a law
DIED IN
Rules

Filed under Local Government.

PROVIDED SUMMARY

Relief/Patricia Ermini/Lee County Sheriff's Office; Provides appropriation to compensate Patricia Ermini for injuries sustained as result of negligence of Lee County Sheriff's Office; provides limitation on payment of attorney fees. CLAIM: $626,769

Full bill text →

Plain English Summary

AI-GENERATED
Directs the Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund to pay Ermini $626,769.93.

The Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund must appropriate $626,769.93 from unencumbered funds and pay it to Patricia Ermini as compensation for injuries and damages, acting on behalf of its insured, the Lee County Sheriff's Office.

The act first declares the facts recited in its preamble to be true, legislatively closing off dispute over the underlying events before ordering payment.

The payment is defined as the sole compensation for all present and future claims from the same incident, so Ermini cannot bring a further claim over these injuries later.

Attorney fees connected to the claim are capped at 25 percent of the total amount awarded, though the cap does not mention lobbying fees.

KEY PROVISIONS
§ 1 Directs the sheriffs' self-insurance fund to pay Ermini's claim majors. 2

AIThe Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund, rather than Lee County directly, must appropriate $626,769.93 from funds not otherwise encumbered and draw a warrant paying Patricia Ermini for her injuries and damages.

“The Florida Sheriffs Risk Management Fund is authorized and directed to appropriate from funds not otherwise encumbered and to draw a warrant” bill text, line 218 →
§ 2 Makes the payment sole compensation for the claim majors. 3

AIBars Patricia Ermini from bringing any further claim over the same injuries once this payment is made, whether that claim would arise now or later.

“intended to provide the sole compensation for all present and future claims arising out of the factual situation described in this act” bill text, line 226 →
§ 3 Confirms the fund pays as the sheriff's office's insurer moderates. 3

AIStates that the Self-Insurance Fund's payment is made on behalf of its insured, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, under the same sovereign-immunity statute that would govern a direct county payment.

“on behalf of its insured, the Lee County Sheriff's Office, pursuant to s. 768.28, Florida Statutes” bill text, line 205 →
§ 4 Caps attorney fees at 25 percent of the award moderates. 3

AILimits the attorney fees that may be paid in connection with this claim to no more than 25 percent of the $626,769.93 awarded, leaving the remainder for Ermini.

“The total amount paid for attorney fees relating to this claim may not exceed 25 percent of the total amount awarded under this act” bill text, line 229 →
§ 5 Declares the preamble's facts legally true moderates. 1

AILegislatively establishes the injury narrative recited in the act's preamble as fact, removing it from further dispute before the payment is ordered.

“The facts stated in the preamble to this act are found and declared to be true” bill text, line 216 →
TIMELINE
3/13/2026
Died in Rules
2/26/2026
Received
2/26/2026
Referred to Rules
2/25/2026
In Messages
2/25/2026
Passed; YEAS 113, NAYS 0
2/25/2026
Read 3rd time
2/25/2026
Added to Third Reading Calendar
2/25/2026
Read 2nd time
2/19/2026
Bill added to Special Order Calendar (2/25/2026)
2/3/2026
Added to Second Reading Calendar
2/3/2026
Bill released to House Calendar
2/3/2026
Reported out of Judiciary Committee
2/3/2026
Favorable by Judiciary Committee
1/30/2026
Added to Judiciary Committee agenda
1/29/2026
Now in Judiciary Committee
1/29/2026
Reported out of Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/29/2026
Favorable by Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/27/2026
Added to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee agenda
1/13/2026
1st Reading (Original Filed Version)
1/12/2026
Now in Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/12/2026
Referred to Judiciary Committee
1/12/2026
Referred to Civil Justice & Claims Subcommittee
1/6/2026
Filed
17 EARLIER →
STAFF ANALYSES