December 1, 2015

Tallahassee, Fla. – Associated Industries of Florida (AIF) today released the following statement, attributable to its Senior Vice President of State and Federal Affairs Brewster Bevis, regarding language in Senate Bill 720 and House Bill 559, which limits public notice when self-storage facilities sell a renter’s property for past rent.

“Provisions in SB 720 and HB 559 significantly limit public notice when self-storage facilities sell a renter’s property for past rent by allowing facilities to only notice the auction in a ‘commercially-reasonable manner.’  This means only three bidders must be present for an auction or register for an online sale.  Under this proposed language, the facility could only provide notice on their own website if they choose.

“Public notice in newspapers casts the broadest possible net and Floridians rely on newspapers to provide this type of critical information.  By removing this important consumer protection, property rights and the rights of lienholders are gravely diminished.

“We urge members of the Senate Judiciary Committee and House Subcommittee on Business & Professions to consider the important role the broadest possible public notice plays in protecting owners and lienholders as they deliberate this week.  We strongly urge members to reject language that diminishes the current tried-and-true system of public notice in Florida’s marketplace.”

SB 720 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday, December 1, 2015, at 4 p.m. EST and HB 559 is scheduled for a hearing in the House Subcommittee on Business & Professions on Wednesday, December 2, 2015, at 4 p.m. EST.

For more information on AIF, please visit AIF.com and follow @VoiceofFLBiz.

 

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