HB 1045 2023
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hb1045-00
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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 the Certified Peer Specialist 2
Gateway Pilot Program; creating the pilot program 3
within the Department of Corrections; providing 4
purposes of the pilot program; requiring the pilot 5
program to offer services at specified facilities; 6
authorizing inmates at participating facilities to 7
apply to participate in the pilot program; requiring 8
the department to develop criteria for selecting 9
applicants; exempting persons who complete the pilot 10
program's requirements from a specified background 11
screening for peer specialists; requiring the pilot 12
program to assist potential employers with acquiring 13
specified bonds; authorizing the pilot program t o 14
offer funding to potential employer to cover specified 15
costs; requiring the department to adopt rules; 16
providing for the expiration of the pilot program; 17
providing an appropriation; providing an effective 18
date. 19
20
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of th e State of Florida: 21
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Section 1. The Certified Peer Specialist Gateway Pilot 23
Program is created within the Department of Corrections. The 24
purpose of the pilot program is to provide participating inmates 25
HB 1045 2023
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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
with a path to becoming certified peer specialists under s. 26
397.417, Florida Statutes, upon release by offering such inmates 27
while incarcerated the necessary training hours and experience 28
needed for certification and to assist inmates who complete the 29
pilot program's requirements with post -incarceration employment. 30
(1) The pilot program shall offer services at all of the 31
following facilities: 32
(a) The Gadsden Re-Entry Center. 33
(b) The Baker Re-Entry Center. 34
(c) The Lowell Annex. 35
(d) The Marion Correctional Institution. 36
(2) Inmates at participatin g facilities may apply to 37
participate in the pilot program. The Department of Corrections 38
shall develop criteria for selecting qualified applicants for 39
the pilot program. 40
(3) A person who completes the pilot program's 41
requirements is exempt from the back ground screening 42
requirements for peer specialists under s. 397.417, Florida 43
Statutes. 44
(4) In assisting persons who have completed the pilot 45
program's requirements with post -incarceration employment, the 46
pilot program: 47
(a) Must assist potential employe rs with acquiring bonds 48
from the United States Department of Labor's Federal Bonding 49
Program, if applicable. 50
HB 1045 2023
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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) May offer funding to a potential employer to cover the 51
costs of initially hiring and retaining such person. 52
(5) The Department of Correctio ns shall adopt rules to 53
implement this act. 54
(6) The pilot program expires June 30, 2026. 55
(7) The sum of $3 million in nonrecurring funds is 56
appropriated from the General Revenue Fund to the Department of 57
Corrections for the purpose of implementing this act. 58
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 59