This document does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX
DATE: 3/9/2022
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF FINAL BILL ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 383 Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsels
SPONSOR(S): Judiciary Committee and Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee, Maney
TIED BILLS: HB 385 IDEN./SIM. BILLS: CS/CS/SB 596
FINAL HOUSE FLOOR ACTION: 117 Y’s
0 N’s GOVERNOR’S ACTION: Pending
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
CS/CS/HB 383 passed the House on March 8, 2022, as CS/CS/SB 596.
The Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (CCCRC) was created by the Legislature in 2007 to
provide legal representation to indigent persons that are constitutionally entitled to court-appointed counsel. In
representing a defendant in a criminal case, the CCCRC performs similar functions to that of a traditional
public defender.
The CCCRC primarily provides representation in three types of cases:
Criminal cases in which the public defender must withdraw due to a conflict of interest;
Dependency cases; and
Involuntary civil commitment cases involving a mentally ill person, sexually violent predator, or a person
with developmental disabilities.
The bill makes several changes related to the duties of CCCRC to generally align the duties and privileges of
CCCRC to that of the public defender, including:
Authorizing CCCRC to coordinate witness appearances in court proceedings and reimbursing specified
witnesses for certain costs.
Requiring the state attorney to consult CCCRC regarding electronic filing of court documents.
Changing the number of regional counsel nominations required to be submitted to the Governor.
Prohibiting a court from appointing CCCRC to jointly represent a defendant who has already retained
private counsel.
Requiring the court to allow a CCCRC attorney to access the courthouse in the same manner as a
public defender or assistant public defender, subject to courthouse security requirements.
Removing CCCRC employees from the Justice Administrative Commission’s (JAC) salary and benefits
plan and requiring CCCRC’s to jointly develop and subsequently submit a coordinated classification
and pay plan to the President of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the JAC by
January 1 each year.
Authorizing CCCRC to access specified dependency, juvenile, investigative and commitment records
without the need for court approval.
Providing CCCRC investigators with a death benefit if the investigator is killed while on duty.
Authorizing CCCRC to register a vehicle or vessel under a fictitious name with the Department of
Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles and receive a license plate or decal based on such fictitious name.
Explicitly authorizing the court to appoint CCCRC in specified cases if the public defender is required to
withdraw due to a conflict of interest.
Waiving a prerequisite education requirement for CCCRC attorneys in guardian advocate and
incapacity proceedings.
Waiving the fee for a Florida Department of Law Enforcement criminal history check when the request
is made by CCCRC.
The bill may have an indeterminate fiscal impact on state government.
Subject to the Governor’s veto powers, the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2022, except as otherwise
provided.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 2
DATE: 3/9/2022
I. SUBSTANTIVE INFORMATION
A. EFFECT OF CHANGES:
The Office of Criminal Conflict and Civil Regional Counsel (CCCRC) was created by the Legislature in
2007 to provide legal representation to indigent persons that are constitutionally entitled to court-
appointed counsel.
1
In representing a defendant in a criminal case, the CCCRC performs similar
functions to that of a traditional public defender. The CCCRC primarily provides representation in three
types of cases:
Criminal cases in which the public defender must withdraw due to a conflict of interest;
Dependency cases; and
Involuntary civil commitment cases involving a mentally ill person, sexually violent predator, or a
person with developmental disabilities.
Witnesses Coordination and Reimbursement
Background
Section 27.0065, F.S., provides that each state attorney and public defender is responsible for
coordinating court appearances with a witness that has been subpoenaed in a criminal proceeding.
Section 92.153, F.S., requires the state attorney and public defender to compensate a disinterested
witness
2
for the costs associated with producing documents relevant to a subpoena or records request.
Effect of the Bill – Witness Coordination and Reimbursement
The bill amends s. 27.0065, F.S., to add CCCRC to the entities responsible for coordinating court
appearances with a witness in a criminal proceeding, and amends s. 92.153, F.S., to authorize CCCRC
to reimburse a disinterested witness for the costs associated with producing documents relevant to a
subpoena or records request.
Electronic Filing of Court Documents
Background
Section 27.341, F.S., requires each state attorney to file and receive court documents electronically.
The state attorney must consult with the public defender, the clerk of court, the Florida Court
Technology Commission, and any authority that governs the operation of a statewide electronic filing
portal regarding the electronic filing and receipt of court documents.
3
Effect of the Bill – Electronic Filing of Court Documents
The bill amends s. 27.341, F.S., to add CCCRC to the specified entities with which the state attorney
must consult regarding electronic filing and receipt of court documents.
Regional Counsel Selection Process
1
Ch. 2007-62, Laws of Fla.
2
A “disinterested witness” is a person to whom a summons is issued with respect to documents involving or relating to transactions of
others and who has not initiated a proceeding, is not a party to a proceeding, and is not the subject of investigation in a proceeding and
who, at the time the summons is issued, is not an officer, employee, accountant, or attorney, or acting as such, for a person who has
initiated, is a party to, or is the subject of investigation in a proceeding. S. 92.153(1)(a), F.S.
3
S. 27.341, F.S.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 3
DATE: 3/9/2022
Background
The head of each CCCRC office is known as the regional counsel. The regional counsel is appointed
by the Governor for a four year term.
4
The Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission (SCJNC)
nominates a list of regional counsel candidates to the Governor.
5
Under current law, the candidates
must include the current regional counsel and no less than two or more than five other candidates.
6
Effect of the Bill – Regional Counsel Selection Process
The bill amends s. 27.511, F.S., to authorize the SCJNC to nominate the existing regional counsel for
reappointment without providing any additional nominations to the Governor. At its discretion, the
SCJNC may nominate up to three additional regional counsel candidates for consideration by the
Governor. The bill makes the changes to the nomination and appointment process for the Regional
Counsels retroactive to the term beginning on October 1, 2019.
Temporary or Simultaneous Appointment of CCCRC
Background
Section 27.51, F.S., prohibits a judge from appointing the public defender to represent a person who is
not indigent, even on a temporary basis. A judge is also prohibited from appointing the public defender
to simultaneously represent a person in a case where a defendant has already retained private
counsel.
7
Section 27.511(7), F.S., similarly prohibits a court from appointing CCCRC to represent a
person who is not indigent. However, there is no prohibition on appointing CCCRC to simultaneously
represent a defendant who has already retained private counsel.
Effect of the Bill – Temporary or Simultaneous Appointment of CCCRC
The bill amends s. 27.511(7), F.S., to prohibit a judge from appointing CCCRC to simultaneously
represent a person who has already retained private counsel.
Court Access
Background
The sheriff and chief judge are jointly responsible for security of trial court facilities.
8
The sheriff has
authority over the implementation and provision of law enforcement services, and the chief judge has
decision-making authority to protect due process rights, such as in the scheduling and conduct of
judicial proceedings.
9
Employees of the offices of the state attorney and public defender are sometimes
provided expedited access when entering court facilities and authorized to avoid security screenings
when entering the courthouse.
Effect of the Bill – Court Access
4
S. 27.511(3)(a), F.S.
5
Id.
6
Id.
7
S. 27.51(2), F.S.
8
S. 30.15(4), F.S.
9
Id.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 4
DATE: 3/9/2022
The bill amends s. 27.511, F.S., to require a court to allow a CCCRC attorney access to court facilities
in the same manner as a public defender or assistant public defender, subject to the security
requirements of each courthouse.
CCCRC Classification and Pay Plan
Background
The Justice Administrative Commission (JAC) provides administrative services to state attorneys,
public defenders, the CCCRC, the Capital Collateral Regional Counsel, and the guardian ad litem
program.
10
The primary administrative services provided by JAC include accounting, budget, financial
services, and human resources.
11
Although JAC does not supervise or direct the CCCRC, CCCRC
employees are subject to the classification and salary and benefits plan of the JAC by statute.
12
As a
result, the CCCRC must seek JAC approval for any variation from the classification and pay plan of
JAC. The CCCRC offices are required to jointly develop recommended modifications to the
classification plan and submit the recommendation to the JAC, the Speaker of the House of
Representatives, and the President of the Senate by January 1 of each year.
13
Effect of the Bill – CCCRC Classification and Pay Plan
The bill amends s. 27.511, F.S., to delete the requirement that makes CCCRC subject to the
classification and salary and benefits plan of the JAC, which allows CCCRC greater flexibility to make
administrative decisions without first seeking and receiving approval by the JAC. Under s. 27.53, F.S.,
the five regional counsels are still required to submit a classification and pay plan to the JAC, the
Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate by January 1 of each year.
Access to Dependency Records
Background
Access to specified court and criminal history records is restricted under Florida law. Section 39.0132,
F.S., provides that records of all dependency cases are not subject to inspection by the public, and are
only available for inspection by persons deemed by the court to have a proper interest in such records.
Current law provides a child, the parents of the child and their attorneys, the guardian ad litem, law
enforcement agencies, and the Department of Children and Families have the right to access records
of a dependency proceeding.
14
Effect of the Bill – Access to Dependency Records
The bill amends s. 39.0132, F.S., to add CCCRC to the list of specified persons or agencies that are
authorized to access records in a dependency proceeding. Since CCCRC represents the parents of a
child in a dependency case, CCCRC currently has access to records of dependency proceedings as an
interested party. The bill clarifies CCCRC’s access to records and eliminates ambiguity in the statute
that refers generally to the attorney for the parents of the child in a dependency proceeding.
10
S. 43.16, F.S.
11
Justice Administrative Commission, https://www.justiceadmin.org/ (last visited Mar. 9, 2022).
12
S. 27.511(2), F.S.
13
S. 27.53(4), F.S. The state attorneys and public defenders are required to submit a coordinated classification and pay plan to the
JAC, the Speaker of the House, and the President of the Senate by January 1 of each year. Ss. 27.25(1) and 27.53(1), F.S.
14
S. 39.0132(3), F.S.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 5
DATE: 3/9/2022
Death Benefits
Background
Specified government employees who serve in a law enforcement or public safety occupation are
entitled to certain benefits if the employee is killed in the lawful performance of his or her duties.
15
Such
employees include a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, state attorney investigator, and public
defender investigator.
16
The death benefits vary depending on the circumstances under which the
employee was killed, and range from $75,000 to $225,000.
17
CCCRC investigators perform similar
duties to that of a public defender investigator, including serving subpoenas, interviewing witnesses,
gathering evidence, and conducting after-the-fact crime scene investigations.
Effective of the Bill – Death Benefits
The bill amends s. 112.19, F.S., to add CCCRC investigators to the specified list of law enforcement
and public safety employees that are entitled to receive benefits from the state if they are killed while
engaged in the lawful performance of their duties.
Vehicle Registration under Fictitious Name
Background
Section 320.025, F.S., authorizes the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (DHSMV) to
issue a confidential registration certificate and registration license plate or decal under a fictitious name
for a motor vehicle or vessel owned or operated by:
A law enforcement agency of state, county, municipal, or federal government;
The Attorney General’s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit; or
Any state public defender’s office.
18
To register a motor vehicle or vessel under a fictitious name, the law enforcement agency, Fraud
Control Unit, or public defender’s office must file a written application with DHSMV affirming the license
plate or decal will be used for activities that require concealment of the true owner of the vehicle and
listing individuals who are authorized to use the vehicle.
19
Effect of the Bill – Vehicle Registration under Fictitious Name
The bill amends s. 320.025, F.S., to authorize CCCRC to register a vehicle or vessel under a fictitious
name with DHSMV and receive a license plate or decal based on such fictitious name. The bill provides
CCCRC with the same protections and confidentiality enjoyed by a public defender’s office, which
performs a virtually identical function.
Education Requirements
Background
Section 393.12, F.S., authorizes the circuit court to appoint a guardian advocate to represent the
interests of a person with a developmental disability if he or she lacks the decision-making ability to do
some, but not all, of the tasks necessary to care for his or her person or property, or if the person has
voluntarily petitioned for an appointment of a guardian advocate. Within three days of a petition being
filed to appoint a guardian advocate, the court is required to appoint an attorney to represent the
15
S. 112.19, F.S.
16
S. 112.19(1)(b), F.S.
17
S.112.19(2), F.S.
18
S. 320.025(1), F.S.
19
Id.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 6
DATE: 3/9/2022
person with a developmental disability.
20
Under s. 27.511(6)(a), F.S., CCCRC has the primary
responsibility for representing persons entitled to court-appointed counsel in guardian advocate
proceedings. An attorney appointed by the court to represent a person in a guardian advocate
proceeding must complete eight hours of guardianship training prior to appointment, or have served as
a court-appointed advocate in guardian advocate proceedings or as an attorney of record for a
guardian advocate for at least three years.
21
Similarly, s. 744.331(2)(d), F.S., requires an attorney appointed by the court to represent a person in an
incapacity or guardianship proceeding to complete eight hours of guardianship training prior to
appointment or to have served as a court-appointed attorney in incapacity proceedings or as an
attorney of record for a guardian for at least three years. The court may waive the requirement for an
attorney who has previously served as a court-appointed attorney in an incapacity proceeding or who
has been an attorney of record for a guardian for three years.
22
Effect of the Bill – Education Requirements
The bill amends s. 393.12, F.S., and s. 744.331, F.S., to explicitly waive the education requirement for
a CCCRC attorney representing a person in guardian advocate or incapacity and guardianship cases.
Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators
Background
Chapter 394, F.S., part V, provides a procedure for civil commitment proceedings against sexually
violent predators. The subject of a civil commitment proceeding is entitled to the assistance of counsel
at all adversarial proceedings related to the civil commitment.
23
If the person is indigent, the court is
required to appoint the public defender.
24
If the public defender cannot provide representation due to a
conflict, the court is required to appoint “other counsel.”
25
Effect of the Bill – Involuntary Commitment of Sexually Violent Predators
The bill amends s. 394.916, F.S., to specifically authorize the court to appoint CCCRC to represent a
person in civil commitment cases involving a sexually violent predator if the public defender withdraws
because of a conflict.
Access to Criminal History Records
Background
Section 943.053, F.S., provides a framework for the dissemination of criminal history information by the
Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE). CCCRC is currently authorized to access criminal
history records online via the FDLE’s Internet portal.
26
The portal does not contain criminal history
information that is confidential and exempt from public records disclosure, such as a juvenile record.
27
20
S. 393.12(5), F.S.
21
S. 393.12(5)(a), F.S.
22
S. 744.331(2)(d), F.S.
23
S. 394.916(3), F.S.
24
Id.
25
Id.
26
This provision is identical to language in CS/HB 685 (2021) which was previously reviewed by FDLE. Florida Department of Law
Enforcement, Agency Analysis of 2021 House Bill 685, p.2 (Feb. 16, 2021).
27
Id.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 7
DATE: 3/9/2022
The statutory fee to access a criminal history record through the FDLE portal is $24.
28
This fee is
waived for criminal history requests by the public defender.
29
Effect of the Bill – Access to Criminal History Records
The bill amends s. 943.053, F.S., to waive the statutory fee for FDLE criminal history records requested
by CCCRC and requires FDLE to provide each CCCRC online access to criminal records that are not
confidential and exempt from disclosure under ch. 119, F.S. The bill specifies CCCRC is responsible
for the costs associated with establishing and maintaining such online access.
Department of Corrections – Confidential Information
Background
Section 945.10, F.S., provides specified information held by the Department of Corrections (DOC) is
confidential and exempt from disclosure as a public record. Such information includes preplea, pretrial
intervention, and presentence or postsentence investigative records.
30
A public defender representing a
defendant is granted access to such records under current law, except for portions of the records
containing a victim’s statement or address, or the statement or address of a relative of the victim.
31
Effect of the Bill - Department of Corrections – Confidential Information
The bill amends s. 945.10, F.S., to authorize CCCRC to access a defendant’s preplea, pretrial
intervention, and presentence or postsentence investigative records held by DOC in the same manner
as a public defender.
Department of Corrections – Involuntary Treatment
Background
Section 945.48, F.S., provides a procedure for providing involuntary mental health treatment to an
inmate in the custody of DOC. The inmate is entitled to have legal representation at a hearing for
involuntary treatment.
32
If an inmate is indigent, the court is required to appoint the public defender to
represent the inmate or, in the event of a conflict, court-appointed private counsel.
33
Effect of the Bill - Department of Corrections – Involuntary Treatment
The bill amends s. 945.48, F.S., to require a court to appoint CCCRC, instead of private counsel, to
represent an inmate in a hearing for involuntary mental health treatment if the public defender is
required to withdraw because of a conflict.
Juvenile Court Records – Confidential Information
Background
28
Id.
29
S. 943.053(3)(e), F.S.
30
S. 945.10(1), F.S.
31
S. 945.10(2)(d), F.S.
32
S. 945.48(3), F.S.
33
Id.
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 8
DATE: 3/9/2022
Section 985.045, F.S., provides that juvenile court records that are held by the clerk of court are not
subject to inspection by the public, and are only available for inspection by persons deemed by the
court to have a proper interest in such records. Current law authorizes a child who has been alleged to
have committed a violation of law and the parents, guardians, or legal custodians of the child and their
attorneys, law enforcement agencies, the Department of Juvenile Justice, DOC, the Florida
Commission on Offender Review, and JAC to inspect and copy any juvenile records pertaining to the
child.
34
Prior to being appointed by the court to represent a juvenile, a public defender is permitted to
access the court records of a juvenile on whose behalf he or she is expected to appear in detention or
other hearings.
35
Effect of the Bill - Juvenile Court Records – Confidential Information
The bill amends s. 985.045, F.S., to authorize CCCRC, prior to being appointed by the court to
represent a juvenile, to access the court records of a juvenile on whose behalf they are expected to
appear in detention or other hearings in the same manner as a public defender.
Subject to the Governor’s veto powers, the effective date of this bill is July 1, 2022, except as otherwise
provided.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
The bill would have an indeterminate, yet insignificant fiscal impact on revenues deposited into the
FDLE Operating Trust Fund by waiving the $24 statutory fee required by FDLE for criminal history
records checks accessed by CCCRC. FDLE states that CCCRC submits relatively few requests
through the FDLE’s Criminal History Information on the Internet (CCHINet) paid service. As such,
FDLE is unable to accurately report any potential loss of revenue.
36
2. Expenditures:
The bill would have an indeterminate, yet positive fiscal impact on CCCRC expenditures by waiving
the $24 statutory fee for criminal history records checks required by FDLE. Additionally, the bill may
have an indeterminate, yet negative fiscal impact to state expenditures for providing a death benefit
for CCCRC investigators who are killed while engaged in the lawful performance of their duties.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
34
S. 985.045(2), F.S.
35
Id.
36
Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Agency Analysis of 2022 House Bill 383, p.3 (Jan. 20, 2022).
STORAGE NAME: h0383z.DOCX PAGE: 9
DATE: 3/9/2022
None.
D. FISCAL COMMENTS:
The bill removes CCCRC from the JAC classification and pay plan and authorizes the CCCRC regions
to jointly create a separate classification and pay plan that is required to be submitted to the President
of the Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the JAC by January 1 annually. In the
event that CCCRC were to reclassify any of the current Regular Class positions to other classifications
such as Senior Management Service, state expenditures related to annual Florida Retirement System
employer contribution adjustment distributions may increase in future years. However, any such
changes to classifications would be subject to annual appropriation by the Legislature.