Legislative Session number- 82

Bill Name: SF0665

E Relating to dispute resolution ARTICLE 1 UNIFORM ARBITRATION ACT Adopting the
"Uniform Arbitration Act" to provide for the arbitration of disputes; defining
certain terms; providing for application of the act, for the determination of
notice and for the effect and validity of arbitration agreements, prohibiting
the waiver of certain provisions; providing for application to the court for
judicial relief; requiring the court to order arbitration under certain
conditions and requiring a stay of related judicial proceedings until rendering
of a final decision by the court; authorizing and providing for provisional
remedies to protect the effectiveness of the arbitration proceeding; prescribing
a procedure for initiating arbitration; authorizing the court to order
consolidation of separate arbitration proceedings under certain conditions;
providing for the appointment of arbitrators, specifying certain disclosure
requirements of individuals requested to serve as arbitrators; requiring
majority action in multi-arbitrator cases; granting arbitrators immunity from
civil liability, requiring court award of attorneys fees and litigation
expenses; granting arbitrators the authority to conduct the arbitration in a
manner considered appropriate in aiding the fair and expeditious disposition of
the proceeding, requiring arbitrators to set a time and place for and to give
advance notice of hearings, restricting postponement and requiring replacement
of the arbitrator to continue the hearing and to decide the controversy under
certain conditions; authorizing party representation by a lawyer; providing for
witnesses, subpoenas, depositions, discovery and awards; authorizing and
providing for arbitrator modification or correction of awards; authorizing the
award of punitive damages, attorneys fees and arbitration expenses under certain
conditions and providing for confirmation of awards; requiring the court to
vacate the award under certain conditions, specifying certain motion
requirements and providing for rehearing; requiring the court to modify or
correct the award under certain conditions; providing for court entry of
judgments in conformity with the award and for enforcement of agreements to
arbitrate; specifying court jurisdiction and venue; authorizing certain appeals;
providing for uniformity of application and construction and for the
relationship to the federal electronic signatures in global and national
commerce act; savings clause; repealing the existing uniform arbitration act
ARTICLE 2 CONFORMING AMENDMENTS Making conforming amendments to certain
statutory provisions relating to compensation for the elimination of service
bays under motor fuel franchises, the arbitration of teacher contracts,
discharge or demotion and of labor disputes, the termination of sales
representatives, the alternative dispute settlement mechanism relating to new
motor vehicle warranties (the lemon law), the arbitration of disputes over
certain county tax increment financing (TIF) costs and city or county
comprehensive planning dispute resolution (ra, ja)