Alimony overhaul goes to Scott

BY THE NEWS SERVICE OF FLORIDA

Three years after Gov. Rick Scott vetoed a bill that would have overhauled Florida's alimony laws, a new version landed on his desk Monday. The bill (SB 668), which drew heavy debate during the legislative session that ended March 11, includes setting a formula for judges to use when deciding alimony payment amounts. It also includes a controversial provision dealing with how much time children should spend with their divorced parents. Under the bill, judges would "begin with the premise that a minor child should spend approximately equal amounts of time with each parent" before considering other factors. Senate Appropriations Chairman Tom Lee, R-Brandon, pushed to include such a child-sharing provision in the bill, but the proposal has drawn opposition from the Family Law Section of The Florida Bar. Scott vetoed an alimony overhaul in 2013 because the bill would have applied changes retroactively. This year's bill does not include such a retroactivity provision. Scott was scheduled to meet Monday morning in Tampa with bill sponsor Sen. Kelli Stargel, R-Lakeland, though Scott's schedule did not detail the topics they would discuss. Legislative leaders formally sent the bill Monday to Scott, and he will have 15 days to sign, veto or allow the measure to become law without his signature.