New legislation placing tighter restriction on out of state M.D., D.O., and D.D.S. expert witnesses became effective July 1, 2011.  HB 479 adds registration requirements for out of state or Canadian physicians wishing to serve as expert witnesses in Florida legal settings.  With a $50 application fee and an application to the Florida Department of Health an expert witness will receive a certificate to provide expert testimony.  The law also gives the respective boards authority to discipline, both licensed in this state and those with a certificate for providing deceptive or fraudulent expert witness testimony.  Lastly, such expert witnesses who submit a pre-suit verified expert medical report no longer are immune from discipline.