Stay of proceedings where troops called out into state active duty or active duty.

(1) Any civil action or proceeding in any court which involves a person called into state active duty as defined in subsection (3) may be stayed by the court during such service and for a period thereafter not exceeding 30 days.

(2) The stay may be granted by the court on its own motion, and shall be granted upon the motion of a plaintiff or defendant unless, in the opinion of the court, the ability to prosecute or defend the action is not materially affected by reason of the movant’s state active duty.

(3) Notwithstanding the definition in s. 250.01, “state active duty or active duty” as used in ss. 250.5201-250.5205 is limited to service that exceeds 17 days and that is ordered by the Governor.

(4) Before a soldier is entitled to any of the provisions of this section, that soldier must furnish to the affected creditor, landlord, court, or other affected person a copy of his or her orders, together with a written statement from the Adjutant General of the State of Florida, or his or her designee, that the soldier has served continuously on state orders for the period commencing with the date of the orders through the date of the statement. The court may require the soldier to furnish a recertification every 30 days thereafter, which shall be furnished to the soldier by the Adjutant General upon request.