The Florida Senate
BILL ANALYSIS AND FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT
(This document is based on the provisions contained in the legislation as of the latest date listed below.)
Prepared By: The Professional Staff of the Committee on Criminal Justice
BILL: SB 454
INTRODUCER: Senator Perry
SUBJECT: Florida Commission on Offender Review
DATE: November 29, 2021
ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR REFERENCE ACTION
1. Siples Jones CJ Pre-meeting
2. ACJ
3. AP
I. Summary:
SB 454 increases the rate of payment for retired or former commissioners of the Florida
Commission on Offender Review (FCOR) from $100 to $200 per day or portion of day, when
they are assigned to temporary duty due to a workload need.
The bill will have an insignificant, negative fiscal impact on the General Revenue Fund. See
Section V. Fiscal Impact Statement.
The bill is effective July 1, 2022.
II. Present Situation:
Florida Commission on Offender Review
The FCOR is comprised of three members, who are appointed by the Governor and Cabinet and
confirmed by the Florida Senate.
1
Members are appointed for six years and may not serve more
than two consecutive 6-year terms.
2
The FCOR functions as a quasi-judicial body that makes a variety of decisions involving parole,
conditional release, and medical conditional release,
3
and also operates as the administrative arm
and investigative arm of the Clemency Board.
4
1
Sections 947.01 and 947.02(2), F.S.
2
Section 947.03, F.S.
3
Florida Commission on Offender Review, Organization Overview, available at https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/overview.shtml
(last visited October 26, 2021).
4
Florida Commission on Offender Review, 2020 Annual Report, p. 5, available at
https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/docs/reports/Annual%20Report%202020.pdf (last visited October 26, 2021). The Clemency
Board is comprised of the Governor and members of the Cabinet, which includes the Attorney General, the Commissioner of
Agriculture, and the Chief Financial Officer. The Clemency Board is constitutionally authorized to provide full or partial
REVISED: BILL: SB 454 Page 2
Parole
Parole is a discretionary release that allows certain offenders to serve the remainder of their
court-imposed sentences in the community under strict supervision. The FCOR’s powers and
duties, as it relates to parole, include:
Determining what persons shall be placed on parole;
Fixing the time and conditions of parole;
Determining whether a person has violated parole and taking action with respect to such a
violation; and
Making such investigations as may be necessary.
5
In 1983, sentencing guidelines were enacted and effectively abolished parole for those offenders
who were sentenced for crimes committed on or after October 1, 1983;
6
thus, the only inmates
who are eligible for parole consideration are those who committed:
Any felony prior to October 1, 1983, or those who elected to be sentenced outside the
sentencing guidelines for felonies committed prior to July 1, 1984;
A capitol felony prior to October 1, 1995, except:
o Murder or felony murder committed after May 25, 1994;
o Making, possessing, throwing, placing, or discharging a destructive device, or attempting
to do so, which results in the death of another person after May 25, 1994;
o First degree murder of a law enforcement officer, correctional officer, state attorney, or
assistant state attorney committed after January 1, 1990; and
o First degree murder of a justice or judge committed after October 1, 1990;
Any continuing criminal enterprise committed before June 17, 1993; or
Any attempted murder of a law enforcement officer committed between October 1, 1988, and
October 1, 1995.
7
On June 30, 2020, there were 3,959 inmates who were eligible for parole and 424 releasees on
parole supervision.
8
In FY 2019–20, the FCOR made 1,419 parole determinations and granted
parole to 41 inmates. In FY 19-20, the FCOR also made 1,443 revocation determinations.
9
For each parole-eligible inmate, the FCOR must hold an initial parole interview within a certain
timeframe,
10
and establish a presumptive parole release date.
11
The FCOR must also hold
subsequent interviews with each parole-eligible inmate at certain time intervals to re-evaluate the
presumptive parole release date.
12
Within 90 days of the presumptive parole release date, the
pardons, sentence commutations, remissions of fines and forfeitures, restorations of civil rights, restorations of alien status
under Florida law, specific authority to own, possess, or use firearms, and capital case (death penalty) reviews.
5
Section 947.13, F.S.
6
Florida Commission on Offender Review, Release Types: Parole, available at https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/release-
types.shtml (last visited November 4, 2021).
7
Supra note 4 at p. 6.
8
Id.
9
Supra note 4 at p. 8.
10
Section 947.16, F.S.
11
Section 947.172, F.S. “Presumptive parole release date” is the tentative parole release date as determined by the objective
parole guidelines. See s. 947.005(8), F.S.
12
Section 947.174, F.S. BILL: SB 454 Page 3
FCOR must meet with the inmate to establish the effective parole release date and a release
plan.
13
Once an inmate is paroled, he or she is subject to the conditions imposed by the FCOR.
14
At least
two commissioners must review the progress of a parolee after two years of supervision in the
community and at least biennially thereafter.
15
If a parolee violates the conditions of parole or is
subsequently arrested, the FCOR may hold hearings to determine if parole may be restored or if
it is to be revoked.
16
Conditional Release
Conditional release is a non-discretionary release program that requires mandatory post-prison
supervision of inmates who are sentenced for certain violent crimes and who have served a prior
felony commitment, who are sentenced as habitual offenders, violent habitual offenders, violent
career criminals, or designated sexual predators.
17
The FCOR must determine the terms and
conditions of the conditional release and examine and dispose any alleged violations of such
terms and conditions.
18
In Fiscal Year 19-20, 5,317 inmates were placed on conditional release supervision and 2,945
inmates were under conditional release supervision on June 30, 2020.
19
Conditional Medical Release
Conditional medical release (CMR) is a discretionary release program, in which the FCOR may
authorize the release of inmates on supervision who are terminally ill or permanently
incapacitated and who are not a danger to themselves or others.
20
The Department of Corrections
(DOC) identifies and refers inmates who may be eligible for CMR to the FCOR for
consideration. In considering whether to grant CMR, the FCOR may require medical evidence
and other investigations to be made.
If CMR is granted, the FCOR must establish the terms and conditions of the release, including
periodic medical evaluations at intervals determined by the FCOR.
21
The FCOR must also
examine and dispose of any alleged violations of such terms and conditions. The FCOR may also
13
Section 947.1745, F.S. The “effective parole release date” is the actual parole release date as determined by the
presumptive parole release date, satisfactory institutional conduct, and an acceptable parole plan. See s. 947.005(5), F.S.
14
Rule 23-21.0165, F.A.C.
15
Id.
16
Rule 23-21.022, F.A.C. There is a preliminary hearing to determine probable cause and then there is a separate hearing on
the final revocation of parole.
17
Supra note 4 at 6, and s. 947.1405, F.S.
18
Sections 947.1405(6), and 947.141, F.S.
19
Supra note 4 at p. 6.
20
Section 947.149, F.S. A “terminally ill inmate” is an inmate who has a condition caused by injury, disease, or illness
which, to a reasonable degree of medical certainty, renders the inmate terminally ill to the extent that there can be no
recovery and death is imminent, so that the inmate does not constitute a danger to herself or himself or to others. A
“permanently incapacitated inmate” is an inmate who has a condition caused by injury, disease, or illness which, to a
reasonable degree of medical certainty, renders the inmate permanently and irreversibly physically incapacitated to the extent
that the inmate does not constitute a danger to herself, himself, or others.
21
Section 947.149(3) and (4), F.S. BILL: SB 454 Page 4
revoke the CMR if the releasee’s medical or physical condition improves to the point that he or
she no longer meets the CMR criteria.
22
In the past three fiscal years, the DOC has referred 180 inmates to the FCOR for consideration
for CMR. The FCOR has granted release to 94 inmates.
23
In Fiscal Year 19-20, the FCOR
granted CMR to 35 of the 65 inmates referred to them by the DOC.
Temporary Commissioners
Subject to the approval of the Governor and the Cabinet, current law authorizes the chair of the
FCOR to assign retired or former commissioners to serve temporarily when there is a workload
need.
24
These temporary commissioners are paid $100 per day or portion of day spent on work
for the FCOR.
25
They are also entitled to reimbursement for travel expenses in accordance with
state law.
26
Temporary commissioners serve when sitting commissioners are on annual or sick leave, or
when a vacancy on the FCOR arises.
27
The temporary commissioner’s duties include making
public safety decisions, revocation decisions, and release decisions, and issuing warrants for
violations of the terms and conditions of supervision. Additionally, the temporary commissioners
also require training on all new and relevant federal and state laws, FCOR rules, and FCOR
policies and procedures.
28
The pay for temporary commissioners has not changed since the authority to appoint such
commissioners was enacted in law in 1983.
29
Over the last two years, the FCOR has utilized
temporary commissioners 50 times each year.
30
III. Effect of Proposed Changes:
The bill increases the rate of payment for retired and former commissioners who serve
temporarily from $100 to $200 per day or portion of day spent on work for the FCOR, when
there is a workforce need. According to the FCOR, the increase in the daily rate will also meet
state minimum wage standards.
31
The bill makes other non-substantive, technical changes.
22
Section 947.149(5), F.S.
23
Supra note 4 at p. 6.
24
Section 947.04, F.S.
25
Id.
26
Section 112.061, F.S., governs the reimbursement of travel expenses.
27
E-mail from Eric Carr, Director of Legislative Affairs, FCOR, (Nov. 4, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice).
28
Id.
29
See ch. 83-131, s. 22, L.O.F. The original law authorized only retired commissioners to serve temporary duty; former
commissioners were authorized to perform such duty in 1986, see ch. 86-183, s. 27, L.O.F.
30
E-mail from Eric Carr, Director of Legislative Affairs, FCOR, (Oct. 25, 2021) (on file with the Senate Committee on
Criminal Justice).
31
Florida Commission on Offender Review, 2022 Agency Analysis of SB 454 (Oct. 21, 2021) (on file with the Senate
Committee on Criminal Justice). BILL: SB 454 Page 5
The bill is effective July 1, 2022.
IV. Constitutional Issues:
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions:
None.
B. Public Records/Open Meetings Issues:
None.
C. Trust Funds Restrictions:
None.
D. State Tax or Fee Increases:
None.
E. Other Constitutional Issues:
None identified.
V. Fiscal Impact Statement:
A. Tax/Fee Issues:
None.
B. Private Sector Impact:
None.
C. Government Sector Impact:
Currently, the FCOR spends $5,000 per year in OPS funding to pay temporary
commissioners.
32
The FCOR is requesting an additional $5,174 in recurring general
revenue funding, which will result in an insignificant, negative fiscal impact on the
General Revenue Fund.
33
VI. Technical Deficiencies:
None.
32
Supra note 30.
33
Florida Commission on Offender Review, Legislative Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2022-23: Hearing Before the Fla. S.
Comm. on Approp., Subcomm. on Crim. and Civ. Just., (Oct. 20, 2021), committee meeting packet available at
https://www.flsenate.gov/Committees/Show/ACJ/MeetingPacket/5289/9510_MeetingPacket_5289.pdf (last visited
November 4, 2021). BILL: SB 454 Page 6
VII. Related Issues:
None.
VIII. Statutes Affected:
This bill substantially amends section 947.04 of the Florida Statutes.
IX. Additional Information:
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Changes:
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.)
None.
B. Amendments:
None.
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.