HB 697 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0697-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
A bill to be entitled 1
An act relating to victims of crimes; amending s. 2
960.001, F.S.; requiring law enforcement personnel to 3
ensure that victims are given information about their 4
right to employ private counsel; encouraging The 5
Florida Bar to develop a registry of attorneys willing 6
to serve as crime victim advocates on a pro bono 7
basis; providing an effective date. 8
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Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 10
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Section 1. Paragraph (a) of subsection (1) of section 12
960.001, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 13
960.001 Guidelines for fair treatment of victims and 14
witnesses in the criminal justice and juvenile justice systems. — 15
(1) The Department of Legal Affa irs, the state attorneys, 16
the Department of Corrections, the Department of Juvenile 17
Justice, the Florida Commission on Offender Review, the State 18
Courts Administrator and circuit court administrators, the 19
Department of Law Enforcement, and every sheriff's department, 20
police department, or other law enforcement agency as defined in 21
s. 943.10(4) shall develop and implement guidelines for the use 22
of their respective agencies, which guidelines are consistent 23
with the purposes of this act and s. 16(b), Art. I of the State 24
Constitution and are designed to implement s. 16(b), Art. I of 25
HB 697 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0697-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
the State Constitution and to achieve the following objectives: 26
(a) Information concerning services available to victims 27
of adult and juvenile crime. —As provided in s. 27.0065, sta te 28
attorneys and public defenders shall gather information 29
regarding the following services in the geographic boundaries of 30
their respective circuits and shall provide such information to 31
each law enforcement agency with jurisdiction within such 32
geographic boundaries. Law enforcement personnel shall ensure, 33
through distribution of a victim's rights information card or 34
brochure at the crime scene, during the criminal investigation, 35
and in any other appropriate manner, that victims are given, as 36
a matter of course at the earliest possible time, information 37
about: 38
1. The availability of crime victim compensation, if 39
applicable; 40
2. Crisis intervention services, supportive or bereavement 41
counseling, social service support referrals, and community -42
based victim treatment programs; 43
3. The role of the victim in the criminal or juvenile 44
justice process, including what the victim may expect from the 45
system as well as what the system expects from the victim; 46
4. The stages in the criminal or juvenile justice proce ss 47
which are of significance to the victim and the manner in which 48
information about such stages can be obtained; 49
5. The right of a victim, who is not incarcerated, 50
HB 697 2022
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb0697-00
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F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
including the victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a 51
minor, the lawful representa tive of the victim or of the 52
victim's parent or guardian if the victim is a minor, and the 53
next of kin of a homicide victim, to be informed, to be present, 54
and to be heard when relevant, at all crucial stages of a 55
criminal or juvenile proceeding, to the ex tent that this right 56
does not interfere with constitutional rights of the accused, as 57
provided by s. 16(b), Art. I of the State Constitution; 58
6. In the case of incarcerated victims, the right to be 59
informed and to submit written statements at all crucial stages 60
of the criminal proceedings, parole proceedings, or juvenile 61
proceedings; and 62
7. The right of a victim to a prompt and timely 63
disposition of the case in order to minimize the period during 64
which the victim must endure the responsibilities and str ess 65
involved to the extent that this right does not interfere with 66
the constitutional rights of the accused ; and 67
8. The right of a victim to employ private counsel. The 68
Florida Bar is encouraged to develop a registry of attorneys who 69
are willing to serve on a pro bono basis as advocates for crime 70
victims. 71
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2022. 72