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An act relating to the Certified Peer Specialist 2
Gateway Pilot Program; creating the pilot program 3
within the Department of Corrections; providing 4
purpose of and requirements for the pilot program; 5
authorizing inmates at participating facilities to 6
apply to participate in the pilot program; requiring 7
the department to develop certain criteria for 8
selecting qualified applicants; exempting persons who 9
complete the pilot program's requirements from 10
specified background screening requirements for peer 11
specialists; requiring the pilot program to assist 12
potential employers with acquiring specified bonds; 13
authorizing the pilot program to offer funding to 14
potential employers to cover specified costs under 15
certain circumstances; requiring persons who have 16
completed the pilot program's requirements to provide 17
prospective employers with incarceration records; 18
requiring such persons to receive a signed informed 19
consent form from any potential clients; providing 20
requirements for such form; requiring the department 21
to adopt rules; providing for expiration of the pilot 22
program; providing an effective date. 23
24
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 25
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Section 1. The Certified Peer Specialist Gateway Pilot 27
Program is created within the Department of Corrections. The 28
purpose of the pilot program is to provide participating inmates 29
with a path to becoming certified peer specialists under s. 30
397.417, Florida Statutes, upon release by offering such inmates 31
while incarcerated the necessary training hours and experience 32
needed for certification and to assist inmates who complete the 33
pilot program's requirements with post -incarceration employment. 34
(1) The pilot program shall: 35
(a) Recruit and enroll inmates who have completed certain 36
treatment programs while incarcerated into certified peer 37
specialist training programs approved under s. 397.417, Florida 38
Statutes. 39
(b) Provide core educational training a nd on-the-job work 40
experience during each participant's incarceration which meets 41
all of the requirements for peer specialist certification. 42
(c) Assist participants with completing any examinations 43
required to become a certified peer specialist under s. 397.417, 44
Florida Statutes. 45
(d) Assist in placing participants in employment as 46
certified peer specialist professionals upon their release. 47
(2) Inmates at participating facilities may apply to 48
participate in the pilot program. The Department of Correcti ons 49
shall develop criteria for selecting qualified applicants for 50
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the pilot program including, but not limited to, requiring that 51
applicants: 52
(a) Have the appropriate custody classification. 53
(b) Meet certain discipline criteria. 54
(c) Have an expected release date within a specified 55
timeframe. 56
(d) Be housed at the facility providing training. 57
(e) Have served as a positive role model during their 58
incarceration. 59
(f) Express a desire to work in the behavioral health 60
treatment field after release. 61
(g) Not have been found guilty of, regardless of 62
adjudication, or entered a plea of nolo contendere or guilty to, 63
or have been adjudicated delinquent and the record has not been 64
sealed or expunged for, any offense that would prohibit them 65
from becoming a certified peer specialist under s. 66
397.417(4)(e), Florida Statutes. 67
(3) A person who completes the pilot program's 68
requirements is exempt from the background screening 69
requirements for peer specialists under s. 397.417(4)(a) –(d), 70
Florida Statutes. 71
(4) In assisting persons who have completed the pilot 72
program's requirements with post -incarceration employment, the 73
pilot program: 74
(a) Shall assist potential employers with acquiring bonds 75
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from the United States Department of Labor's Federal Bonding 76
Program, if applicable. 77
(b) May offer funding to a potential employer to cover the 78
initial costs of hiring and retaining such persons, if the pilot 79
program secures applicable grant funds for such purpose. 80
(5) After a person who has completed the pilot program 's 81
requirements has been released, he or she must provide each 82
prospective employer with a copy of his or her incarceration 83
record before the employer may hire the person. The person must 84
also receive a signed informed consent form from any potential 85
client seeking treatment from him or her. Such consent form must 86
specify that the person has completed the pilot program's 87
requirements and is certified as a peer specialist under s. 88
397.417, Florida Statutes. 89
(6) The Department of Corrections shall adopt rul es to 90
implement this act. 91
(7) The pilot program expires June 30, 2026. 92
Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 93