Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Consumer Protection Immigration Services topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee backs bill to curb immigration-related "notario" fraud and require disclosures
Summary
The committee reported CS for SB 846 favorably. The bill would regulate non-attorney immigration service providers, require disclosures, ban unauthorized practice and create civil injunctive remedies; sponsor and immigrant-rights attorneys supported it.
The Commerce and Tourism Committee voted to report favorably on CS for SB 846, legislation aimed at curbing fraudulent immigration advice by individuals who present themselves as qualified legal advisers (often referred to as “notarios”).
Sponsor Senator Polsky said the bill would set permissible services, prohibit unlawful practice, and require transparency from non‑attorney immigration service providers. Polsky said linguistic confusion between the Spanish term notario and the U.S. notary public leaves Spanish‑speaking immigrants vulnerable to scammers who promise legal assistance they cannot provide.
Margaret Wilson, an immigration attorney from Orlando, testified in favor and said that correcting bad advice can take years and cause long-term family harm. Several other supporters filed appearance forms and waved in to speak in favor.
The committee adopted a strike-all amendment conforming the measure to a negotiated House companion, and then voted the bill out of committee as amended.
