HB 1017 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1017-00
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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 a Citizens Collaborative Council; 2
creating s. 944.0232, F.S.; creating a Citizens 3
Collaborative Council within the Department of 4
Corrections; providing for membership and terms; 5
specifying duties and responsibilities concerning 6
adult correctional facilities of the department; 7
prohibiting interference with day -to-day operations of 8
certain facilities; providing purpose; authorizing 9
reimbursement for per diem and travel expenses; 10
providing an effective date. 11
12
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 13
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Section 1. Section 944.0232, Florida Statutes, is created 15
to read: 16
944.0232 Citizens Collaborative Council. — 17
(1) The Citizens Collaborative Council, an advisory 18
council as defined in s. 20.03(7), is created adjunct to the 19
Department of Corrections. Except as otherwise provided in this 20
section, the council shall operate in a manner consistent with 21
s. 20.052. 22
(2)(a) The council shall be composed of the following 23
members: 24
1. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate. 25
HB 1017 2023
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hb1017-00
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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
2. Four members appointed by the Minority Leader of the 26
Senate. 27
3. Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of 28
Representatives. 29
4. Four members appointed by the Minority Leader of the 30
House of Representatives. 31
(b) The initial members of the council shall be appointed 32
by October 1, 2023. Members shall be appointed for terms of 4 33
years each. However, to achieve staggered terms, one member of 34
each appointing authority shall be appointed for an initial 2 -35
year term. Members must be appointed equally within each region 36
of the department. The council's membership shall include, to 37
the greatest extent possible, former prisoners, perso ns who are 38
directly impacted by the correctional system, and criminal 39
justice or prison reform advocates. 40
(3) The council's primary duties and responsibilities 41
include: 42
(a) Regularly conducting unannounced visits to adult 43
correctional facilities, inclu ding facilities operated by 44
private contractors. Council members may enter any correctional 45
facility in which prisoners are kept and shall be immediately 46
admitted to such facilities upon a member's request and may 47
consult and confer with any prisoner. A co uncil member, upon any 48
finding of concern, shall immediately contact the warden and the 49
two will work together to resolve the concern. 50
HB 1017 2023
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
hb1017-00
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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
(b) Conducting confidential interviews with administration, 51
staff, officers, prisoners, prisoners' families and loved on es, 52
volunteers, and public officials relating to the operations and 53
conditions of correctional facilities as well as the general 54
health and welfare of the prisoners. 55
(c) Conducting telephone interviews with prisoners in a 56
manner similar to that of legal counsel in a private area using 57
a telephone that is not recorded. 58
(d) Making recommendations to the classification teams, 59
including recommendations regarding close management, 60
administrative confinement, and disciplinary hearings. 61
(4) The council may not interfere with the day -to-day 62
operations of the department or any facilities operated by or on 63
behalf of the department, but shall serve as a liaison between 64
administration and staff and prisoners and prisoners' families 65
and loved ones. 66
(5) Members of the council shall serve without 67
compensation but may receive reimbursement for per diem and 68
travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061. 69
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 70