Businesses who collect personal information of Florida residents should take note of this stringent new data protection law that went into effect this month in Florida. Of special interest is the updated definition of what constitutes personal data and the grant of investigative authority to require copies of an entity's policies and procedures for protecting data if a breach is reported. Short terms for reporting breaches of information involving more than 500 Florida residents. States continue to strengthen their laws on an individual basis, while the need for a comprehensive federal framework for data protection grows.
See a summary article: http://www.businessinsurance.com/article/20140624/NEWS07/140629916.
Legislative Summary and Link to full bill text found here: http://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/BillSummaries/2014/html/736.