HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 1 of 24 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 unlawful immigration; amending s. 2 97.051, F.S.; revising the oath taken by a person 3 registering to vote; creating ss. 125.0156 and 4 166.246, F.S.; prohibiting counties and 5 municipalities, respectively, from providing funds to 6 any person, entity, or organization to issue 7 identification documents to an individual who does not 8 provide proof of lawful presence in the United States; 9 creating s. 322.033, F.S.; specifying that certain 10 driver licenses and permits issued by other states 11 exclusively to unauthorized immigrants are not valid 12 in this state; requiring law enforcement officers and 13 authorized representatives of the Department of 14 Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles to cite a person 15 driving with a such a license; requiring the 16 department to maintain a list on its website of out -17 of-state classes of driver licenses that are invalid 18 in this state; amending s. 322.04, F.S.; revising the 19 circumstances under which certain persons are exempt 20 from obtaining a driver license; creating s. 395.3027, 21 F.S.; requiring certain hospitals to collect patient 22 immigration status data information on admission or 23 registration forms; requiring a statement on such 24 forms specifying that patient care will be unaffected; 25 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 2 of 24 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 requiring hospitals to submit quarterly reports to the 26 Agency for Health Care Administration containing 27 specified information; requiring the agency to submit 28 an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature 29 containing specified information; authorizing the 30 agency to adopt rules; prohibiting rules requi ring the 31 disclosure of patient names to the agency; amending s. 32 448.095, F.S.; requiring private employers to use the 33 E-Verify system to verify the employment eligibility 34 of persons who accept employment offers or renewals or 35 extensions of employment contr acts; requiring 36 employers to retain a copy of the official 37 verification obtained from the E -Verify system and 38 supporting documentation for a specified amount of 39 time; revising liability requirements for private 40 employers relating to employment verification ; 41 authorizing the Department of Economic Opportunity to 42 enforce requirements to use E -Verify and to conduct 43 random audits of employers; revising the circumstances 44 under which a private employer's licenses must be 45 revoked; authorizing persons to file compla ints with 46 the department relating to the employment of 47 unauthorized aliens; providing a criminal penalty for 48 false or frivolous complaints; authorizing the 49 department to investigate such complaints; requiring 50 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 3 of 24 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 department to notify United States Immigrat ion and 51 Customs Enforcement of unauthorized aliens under 52 certain circumstances; providing a criminal penalty 53 for providing a false identification document or 54 fraudulently using the identification document of 55 another person for the purpose of obtaining 56 employment; providing that certain actions are 57 considered deceptive and unfair trade practices 58 subject to specified provisions; amending s. 454.021, 59 F.S.; deleting a provision authorizing an unauthorized 60 immigrant to obtain a license to practice law in this 61 state under certain circumstances; providing 62 applicability; amending s. 943.325, F.S.; revising the 63 definition of the term "qualifying offender" to 64 include certain persons who are the subject of an 65 immigration detainer; requiring certain qualifying 66 offenders to submit DNA samples at a specified time; 67 requiring law enforcement agencies to immediately take 68 DNA samples from certain qualifying offenders under 69 certain circumstances; providing an effective date. 70 71 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 72 73 Section 1. Section 97.051, Florida Statutes, is amended to 74 read: 75 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 4 of 24 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 97.051 Oath upon registering. —A person registering to vote 76 must subscribe to the following oath: "I do solemnly swear (or 77 affirm) that I will protect and defend the Constitut ion of the 78 United States and the Constitution of the State of Florida, that 79 I am a citizen of the United States and a legal resident of 80 Florida, that I am qualified to register as an elector under the 81 Constitution and laws of the State of Florida, and that all 82 information provided in this application is true." 83 Section 2. Section 125.0156, Florida Statutes, is created 84 to read: 85 125.0156 Restriction on providing funds for identification 86 documents.—A county may not provide funds to any person, entity, 87 or organization for the purpose of issuing an identification 88 card or document to an individual who does not provide proof of 89 lawful presence in the United States. 90 Section 3. Section 166.246, Florida Statutes, is created 91 to read: 92 166.246 Restriction on p roviding funds for identification 93 documents.—A municipality may not provide funds to any person, 94 entity, or organization for the purpose of issuing an 95 identification card or document to an individual who does not 96 provide proof of lawful presence in the Uni ted States. 97 Section 4. Section 322.033, Florida Statutes, is created 98 to read: 99 322.033 Unauthorized aliens; invalid out -of-state driver 100 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 5 of 24 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 licenses.— 101 (1) If a driver license is of a class of licenses issued 102 by another state exclusively to undocumented immigrants who are 103 unable to prove lawful presence in the United States when the 104 licenses are issued, the driver license, or other permit 105 purporting to authorize the holder to operate a motor vehicle on 106 public roadways, is invalid in this state and does no t authorize 107 the holder to operate a motor vehicle in this state. Such 108 classes of licenses include licenses that are issued exclusively 109 to undocumented immigrants or licenses that are substantially 110 the same as licenses issued to citizens, residents, or thos e 111 lawfully present in the United States but have markings 112 establishing that the license holder did not exercise the option 113 of providing proof of lawful presence. 114 (2) A law enforcement officer or other authorized 115 representative of the department who stops a person driving with 116 an invalid license as described in subsection (1) and driving 117 without a valid license shall issue a citation to the driver for 118 driving without a license in violation of s. 322.03. 119 (3) The department, to facilitate the enforcement o f this 120 section and to aid in providing notice to the public and 121 visitors of invalid licenses, shall maintain on its website a 122 list of out-of-state classes of driver licenses that are invalid 123 in this state. 124 Section 5. Section 322.04, Florida Statutes, i s amended to 125 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 6 of 24 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 read: 126 322.04 Persons exempt from obtaining driver license. — 127 (1) The following persons are exempt from obtaining a 128 driver license: 129 (a) Any employee of the United States Government, while 130 operating a noncommercial motor vehicle owned by or leased to 131 the United States Government and being operated on official 132 business. 133 (b) Any person while driving or operating any road 134 machine, farm tractor, or implement of husbandry temporarily 135 operated or moved on a highway. 136 (c) A nonresident who is at least 16 years of age and who 137 has in his or her immediate possession a valid noncommercial 138 driver license issued to the nonresident in his or her home 139 state or country operating a motor vehicle of the type for which 140 a Class E driver license is required in this state, if the 141 nonresident's license is not invalid under s. 322.033 relating 142 to proof of the licensee's lawful presence in the United States . 143 (d) A nonresident who is at least 18 years of age and who 144 has in his or her immediate possession a valid n oncommercial 145 driver license issued to the nonresident in his or her home 146 state or country operating a motor vehicle, other than a 147 commercial motor vehicle, in this state , if the nonresident's 148 license is not invalid under s. 322.033 relating to proof of the 149 licensee's lawful presence in the United States . 150 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 7 of 24 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 (e) Any person operating a golf cart, as defined in s. 151 320.01, which is operated in accordance with the provisions of 152 s. 316.212. 153 (2) This section does not apply to any person to whom s. 154 322.031 applies. 155 (3) Any person working for a firm under contract to the 156 United States Government whose residence is outside this state 157 and whose main point of employment is outside this state may 158 drive a noncommercial vehicle on the public roads of this state 159 for periods up to 60 days while in this state on temporary duty, 160 if the person has a valid driver license from the state of the 161 person's residence and if the license is not invalid under s. 162 322.033 relating to proof of the licensee's lawful presence in 163 the United States. 164 Section 6. Section 395.3027, Florida Statutes, is created 165 to read: 166 395.3027 Patient immigration status data collection. — 167 (1) Each hospital that accepts Medicaid must include a 168 provision on its patient admission or registration forms for the 169 patient or the patient's representative to state or indicate 170 whether the patient is a United States citizen or lawfully 171 present in the United States or is not lawfully present in the 172 United States. The inquiry must be followed by a statement that 173 the response will not affect patient care or result in a report 174 of the patient's immigration status to immigration authorities. 175 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 8 of 24 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) Each hospital must submit a quarterly report to the 176 agency within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter 177 which reports the number of hospital admissions or visits within 178 the previous quarter that were made by a patient who indicated 179 that he or she was a citizen of the United States or lawfully 180 present in the United States, was not lawfully present in the 181 United States, or dec lined to answer. 182 (3) By March 1 of each year, the agency shall submit a 183 report to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and the 184 Speaker of the House of Representatives which includes the total 185 number of hospital admissions and visits for the previou s 186 calendar year for which the patient or patient's representative 187 reported that the patient was a citizen of the United States or 188 lawfully present in the United States, was not lawfully present 189 in the United States, or declined to answer. The report must 190 also describe information relating to the costs of uncompensated 191 care for aliens who are not lawfully present in the United 192 States, the impact of uncompensated care on the cost or ability 193 of hospitals to provide services to the public, hospital funding 194 needs, and other related information. 195 (4) The agency may adopt rules relating to the format and 196 information to be contained in quarterly reports and the 197 acceptable formats for hospitals to use in requesting 198 information regarding a patient's immigration statu s on hospital 199 admission or registration forms. The rules may not require the 200 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 9 of 24 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 disclosure of patient names to the agency. 201 Section 7. Subsection (4) of section 448.095, Florida 202 Statutes, is renumbered as subsection (7), new subsections (4), 203 (5), and (6) are added to that section, and subsection (3) of 204 that section is amended, to read: 205 448.095 Employment eligibility. — 206 (3) PRIVATE EMPLOYERS. — 207 (a) A private employer shall verify a person's employment 208 eligibility using the E -Verify system within 30 days Beginning 209 January 1, 2021, a private employer shall, after making an offer 210 of employment which has been accepted by a person, and within 30 211 days after a person accepts a renewal or extension of an 212 employment contract with the employer. The employer must r etain 213 a copy of the official verification generated by the E -Verify 214 system and any supporting documentation used to generate the 215 verification for at least 3 years after the date the 216 verification was generated verify such person's employment 217 eligibility. A private employer is not required to verify the 218 employment eligibility of a continuing employee hired before 219 January 1, 2021. However, if a person is a contract employee 220 retained by a private employer, the private employer must verify 221 the employee's employm ent eligibility upon the renewal or 222 extension of his or her contract. 223 (b) A private employer shall verify a person's employment 224 eligibility by: 225 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 10 of 24 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 1. Using the E-Verify system; or 226 2. Requiring the person to provide the same documentation 227 that is required by the United States Citizenship and 228 Immigration Services on its Employment Eligibility Verification 229 form (Form I-9). The private employer must retain a copy of the 230 documentation provided under this subparagraph for at least 3 231 years after the person's in itial date of employment. 232 (b)(c) A private employer that reasonably and in good 233 faith relies on identification documents submitted by an 234 applicant or employee and complies with this subsection may not 235 be held civilly or criminally liable under state law for hiring, 236 continuing to employ, or refusing to hire an unauthorized alien 237 if the information obtained from the E-Verify system pursuant to 238 paragraph (a) under paragraph (b) indicates that the person's 239 work authorization status was not that of an unauthor ized alien. 240 (d) For purposes of this subsection, compliance with 241 paragraph (b) creates a rebuttable presumption that a private 242 employer did not knowingly employ an unauthorized alien in 243 violation of s. 448.09(1). 244 (c)(e) For the purpose of enforcement o f this section, the 245 following persons or entities may request, and a private 246 employer must provide, copies of any documentation relied upon 247 by the private employer for the verification of a person's 248 employment eligibility , including, but not limited to, an y 249 documentation required under paragraph (b) : 250 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 11 of 24 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 1. The Department of Law Enforcement. 251 2. The Attorney General. 252 3. The state attorney. 253 4. The statewide prosecutor. 254 5. The Department of Economic Opportunity. 255 256 A person or entity that makes a request under this paragraph 257 must rely upon the federal government to verify a person's 258 employment eligibility and may not independently make a final 259 determination as to whether a person is an unauthorized alien. 260 (d) The Department of Economic Opportunity is aut horized 261 to conduct random audits of employers for compliance with 262 paragraph (a). The department may not audit an employer more 263 than once every 5 years unless an audit within the previous 24 264 months found the employer out of compliance with paragraph (a) 265 or the employer or an agent or employee of the employer was 266 convicted of employing an unauthorized alien in violation of s. 267 448.09 or in violation of federal immigration law. 268 (e)(f) If a private employer does not comply with 269 paragraph (a) (b), the department shall require the private 270 employer to provide an affidavit to the department stating that 271 the private employer will comply with paragraph (a) (b), the 272 private employer has terminated the employment of all 273 unauthorized aliens employed in this state, and the employer 274 will not intentionally or knowingly employ an unauthorized alien 275 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 12 of 24 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 in this state. If the private employer does not provide the 276 required affidavit within 30 days after the department's 277 request, the appropriate licensing agency shall suspend all 278 applicable licenses held by the private employer until the 279 private employer provides the department with the required 280 affidavit. For purposes of this paragraph, the licenses that are 281 subject to suspension under this paragraph are all licenses that 282 are held by the private employer specific to the business 283 location where the unauthorized alien performed work. If the 284 private employer does not hold a license specific to the 285 business location where the unauthorized alien performed work, 286 but a license is necessary to operate the private employer's 287 business in general, the licenses that are subject to suspension 288 under this paragraph are all licenses that are held by the 289 private employer at the private employer's primary place of 290 business. 291 (f)(g) For any private employer found to have violated 292 paragraph (e) two (f) three times within any 24-month 36 month 293 period, the appropriate licensing agency shall permanently 294 revoke all licenses that are held by the private employer 295 specific to the business locatio n where the unauthorized alien 296 performed work. If the private employer does not hold a license 297 specific to the business location where the unauthorized alien 298 performed work, but a license is necessary to operate the 299 private employer's business in general, the appropriate 300 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 13 of 24 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 licensing agency shall permanently revoke all licenses that are 301 held by the private employer at the private employer's primary 302 place of business. 303 (g) A person who has a good faith belief that an employer 304 is employing an unauthorized alien may file a complaint with the 305 department. 306 (h) A person who knowingly files a false or frivolous 307 complaint under this subsection, including any complaint that 308 violates federal law, commits a misdemeanor of the second 309 degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. 310 (i) Upon receipt of a valid complaint substantiated by 311 evidence of a violation of paragraph (a), the department must 312 notify the employer of the complaint and direct the employer to 313 notify any employees named in the complaint. 314 (j) The department shall request that the Federal 315 Government verify, pursuant to 8 U.S.C. s. 1373(c), the 316 citizenship or immigration status of any employee named in the 317 complaint, and the department must rely upon such verification. 318 (k) Upon finding that an employer has violated paragraph 319 (a), the department must notify United States Immigration and 320 Customs Enforcement of the identity of the unauthorized alien 321 and, if known, the physical address at which the unauthorized 322 alien resides. 323 (4) CRIMINAL PENALTY FOR VIOLATION.—Any person who 324 knowingly uses a false identification document, or fraudulently 325 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 14 of 24 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 uses the identification document of another person, for the 326 purpose of obtaining employment commits a felony of the third 327 degree, punishable as provided in s. 77 5.082, s. 775.083, or s. 328 775.084. 329 (5) CONSTRUCTION.-This section shall be enforced without 330 regard to race, color, or national origin and shall be construed 331 in a manner so as to be fully consistent with any applicable 332 federal laws or regulations. 333 (6) DECEPTIVE AND UNFAIR TRADE PRACTICES. -Acts, conduct, 334 practices, omissions, failings, misrepresentations, or 335 nondisclosures committed in violation of this section are 336 deceptive and unfair trade practices under ss. 501.201 -501.213, 337 The Florida Deceptive and Un fair Trade Practices Act, and 338 administrative rules adopted in accordance with the act. Any 339 consumer as defined in s. 501.203(7), may file a complaint 340 against a public employer, private employer, contractor, or 341 subcontractor, for violations of the act. 342 Section 8. Effective November 1, 2026, subsection (3) of 343 section 454.021, Florida Statutes, is amended to read: 344 454.021 Attorneys; admission to practice law; Supreme 345 Court to govern and regulate. — 346 (3) Upon certification by the Florida Board of Bar 347 Examiners that an applicant who is an unauthorized immigrant who 348 was brought to the United States as a minor; has been present in 349 the United States for more than 10 years; has received 350 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 15 of 24 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 documented employment authorization from the United States 351 Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS); has been issued a 352 social security number; if a male, has registered with the 353 Selective Service System if required to do so under the Military 354 Selective Service Act, 50 U.S.C. App. 453; and has fulfilled all 355 requirements for admission to practice law in this state, the 356 Supreme Court of Florida may admit that applicant as an attorney 357 at law authorized to practice in this state and may direct an 358 order be entered upon the court's records to that effect. 359 Section 9. The repeal of s. 454.021(3), Florida Statutes, 360 in this act does not affect the validity of any license to 361 practice law issued pursuant to that subsection before November 362 1, 2026. 363 Section 10. Section 787.07, Florida Statutes, is amended 364 to read: 365 787.07 Human smuggling.— 366 (1) A person who knowingly and willfully: 367 (a) Transports into or within this state an individual 368 whom who the person knows, or reasonably should know, has is 369 illegally entered entering the United States in violation of law 370 and has not been inspe cted by the United States Government since 371 his or her unlawful entry; or from another country 372 (b) Conceals, harbors, or shields from detection, or 373 attempts to conceal, harbor, or shield from detection, in any 374 place within this state, including any tempor ary or permanent 375 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 16 of 24 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 structure or any means of transportation, an individual whom the 376 person knows, or reasonably should know, has entered the United 377 States in violation of law and who has not been inspected by the 378 United States Government since his or her unl awful entry, 379 380 commits a felony of the third degree, punishable as provided in 381 s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 382 (c) For purposes of this section, an individual has been 383 inspected by the United States if he or she has been processed 384 by the United States Government for admission into the United 385 States in accordance with the federal Immigration and 386 Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. ss. 1101 et seq. 387 (2) A person who violates subsection (1) by transporting, 388 concealing, harboring, or shielding from detection, or by 389 attempting to transport, conceal, harbor, or shield from 390 detection, within this state, any child younger than 18 years of 391 age commits a felony of the second degree, punishable as 392 provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 393 (3)(2) A person commits a separate offense for each 394 individual he or she transports , conceals, harbors, or shields 395 from detection, or attempts to transport, conceal, harbor, or 396 shield from detection, into this state in violation of this 397 section. 398 (4) A person who commits fiv e or more separate offenses 399 under this section during a single episode commits a felony of 400 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 17 of 24 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 second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 401 775.083, or s. 775.084. 402 (5)(a) A person with a prior conviction under this section 403 who commits a violation of subsection (1) commits a felony of 404 the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 405 775.083, or s. 775.084. 406 (b) A person with a prior conviction under this section 407 who commits a violation of subsection (2) or subsection (4) 408 commits a felony of the first degree, punishable as provided in 409 s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or 775.084. 410 (c) For purposes of this subsection, the term "conviction" 411 means a determination of guilt that is the result of a plea or a 412 trial, regardless of whether adjudi cation is withheld or a plea 413 of nolo contendere is entered. 414 (6) Proof that a person knowingly and willfully presented 415 false identification or gave false information to a law 416 enforcement officer who is conducting an investigation for any 417 violation of this section, gives rise to an inference that such 418 person was aware that the transported, concealed, harbored, or 419 shielded individual had entered into the United States in 420 violation of law and had not been inspected by the United States 421 Government since his or her unlawful entry. 422 (7) A person arrested for a violation of this section 423 shall be held in custody until brought before the court for 424 admittance to pretrial release in accordance with chapter 903. 425 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 18 of 24 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 Section 11. Section 908.104, Florida Statutes, is amended 426 to read: 427 908.104 Cooperation with federal immigratio n authorities.— 428 (1) A law enforcement agency shall use best efforts to 429 support the enforcement of federal immigration law. This 430 subsection applies to an official, representative, agent, or 431 employee of the entity or agency only when he or she is acting 432 within the scope of his or her official duties or within the 433 scope of his or her employment. 434 (2) Except as otherwise expressly prohibited by federal 435 law, a state entity, local governmental entity, or law 436 enforcement agency, or an employee, an agent, or a 437 representative of the entity or agency, may not prohibit or in 438 any way restrict a law enforcement agency from taking any of the 439 following actions with respect to information regarding a 440 person's immigration status: 441 (a) Sending the information to or reques ting, receiving, 442 or reviewing the information from a federal immigration agency 443 for purposes of this chapter. 444 (b) Recording and maintaining the information for purposes 445 of this chapter. 446 (c) Exchanging the information with a federal immigration 447 agency or another state entity, local governmental entity, or 448 law enforcement agency for purposes of this chapter. 449 (d) Using the information to comply with an immigration 450 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 19 of 24 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 detainer. 451 (e) Using the information to confirm the identity of a 452 person who is detained b y a law enforcement agency. 453 (3)(a) For purposes of this subsection, the term 454 "applicable criminal case" means a criminal case in which: 455 1. The judgment requires the defendant to be confined in a 456 secure correctional facility; and 457 2. The judge: 458 a. Indicates in the record under s. 908.105 that the 459 defendant is subject to an immigration detainer; or 460 b. Otherwise indicates in the record that the defendant is 461 subject to a transfer into federal custody. 462 (b) In an applicable criminal case, when the judg e 463 sentences a defendant who is the subject of an immigration 464 detainer to confinement, the judge shall issue an order 465 requiring the secure correctional facility in which the 466 defendant is to be confined to reduce the defendant's sentence 467 by a period of not m ore than 12 days on the facility's 468 determination that the reduction in sentence will facilitate the 469 seamless transfer of the defendant into federal custody. For 470 purposes of this paragraph, the term "secure correctional 471 facility" means a state correctional institution as defined in 472 s. 944.02 or a county detention facility or a municipal 473 detention facility as defined in s. 951.23. 474 (c) If the information specified in sub -subparagraph 475 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 20 of 24 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)2.a. or sub-subparagraph (a)2.b. is not available at the time 476 the sentence is pronounced in the case, but is received by a law 477 enforcement agency afterwards, the law enforcement agency shall 478 notify the judge who shall issue the order described by 479 paragraph (b) as soon as the information becomes available. 480 (4) When a county c orrectional facility or the Department 481 of Corrections receives verification from a federal immigration 482 agency that a person subject to an immigration detainer is in 483 the law enforcement agency's custody, the agency may securely 484 transport the person to a fed eral facility in this state or to 485 another point of transfer to federal custody outside the 486 jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency. The law enforcement 487 agency may transfer a person who is subject to an immigration 488 detainer and is confined in a secure co rrectional facility to 489 the custody of a federal immigration agency not earlier than 12 490 days before his or her release date. A law enforcement agency 491 shall obtain judicial authorization before securely transporting 492 an alien to a point of transfer outside of this state. 493 (5) This section does not require a state entity, local 494 governmental entity, or law enforcement agency to provide a 495 federal immigration agency with information related to a victim 496 of or a witness to a criminal offense that occurred in the 497 United States if: 498 (a) The victim or witness timely and in good faith 499 responds to the entity's or agency's request for information and 500 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 21 of 24 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 cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of the offense ;. 501 (b) The crime occurred 5 years before the alien's claim of 502 relief under this section is made; and 503 (c) The crime that the alien is claiming to be a victim of 504 or witness to is unrelated to the crime for which the alien was 505 arrested. 506 507 In order to be eligible for relief under this subsection, the 508 victim or witness must submit a law enforcement certification 509 completed by a certifying agency. For purposes of this 510 subsection, certifying agencies include all authorities 511 responsible for the investigation, prosecution, conviction or 512 sentencing of the crime. The law enf orcement certification is a 513 required piece of evidence to confirm the victim or witness 514 responded to and cooperated in the investigation or prosecution 515 of the offense. 516 (6) A state entity, local governmental entity, or law 517 enforcement agency that, pursuant to subsection (5), withholds 518 information regarding the immigration information of a victim of 519 or witness to a criminal offense shall document the victim's or 520 witness's cooperation in the entity's or agency's investigative 521 records related to the of fense and shall retain the records for 522 at least 10 years for the purpose of audit, verification, or 523 inspection by the Auditor General. 524 (7) This section does not authorize a law enforcement 525 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 22 of 24 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 agency to detain an alien unlawfully present in the United 526 States pursuant to an immigration detainer solely because the 527 alien witnessed or reported a crime or was a victim of a 528 criminal offense. 529 (8) This section does not apply to any alien unlawfully 530 present in the United States if he or she is or has been a 531 necessary witness or victim of a crime of domestic violence, 532 rape, sexual exploitation, sexual assault, murder, manslaughter, 533 assault, battery, human trafficking, kidnapping, false 534 imprisonment, involuntary servitude, fraud in foreign labor 535 contracting, blackmail, extortion, or witness tampering. 536 Section 12. Paragraph (g) of subsection (2) and paragraph 537 (a) of subsection (3) of section 943.325, Florida Statutes, are 538 amended, and paragraph (f) is added to subsection (7) of that 539 section, to read: 540 943.325 DNA database.— 541 (2) DEFINITIONS.—As used in this section, the term: 542 (g) "Qualifying offender" means any person, including 543 juveniles and adults, who is: 544 1.a. Committed to a county jail; 545 b. Committed to or under the supervision of the Department 546 of Corrections, including persons incarcerated in a private 547 correctional institution operated under contract pursuant to s. 548 944.105; 549 c. Committed to or under the supervision of the Department 550 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 23 of 24 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 of Juvenile Justice; 551 d. Transferred to this state under the Interstate Compact 552 on Juveniles, part XIII of chapter 985; or 553 e. Accepted under Article IV of the Interstate Corrections 554 Compact, part III of chapter 941; and who is: 555 2.a. Convicted of any felony offense or attempted felony 556 offense in this state or of a similar o ffense in another 557 jurisdiction; 558 b. Convicted of a misdemeanor violation of s. 784.048, s. 559 810.14, s. 847.011, s. 847.013, s. 847.0135, or s. 877.26, or an 560 offense that was found, pursuant to s. 874.04, to have been 561 committed for the purpose of benefiting , promoting, or 562 furthering the interests of a criminal gang as defined in s. 563 874.03; or 564 c. Arrested for any felony offense or attempted felony 565 offense in this state ; or 566 d. In the custody of a law enforcement agency and is 567 subject to an immigration deta iner issued by a federal 568 immigration agency. 569 (3) COLLECTION OF SAMPLES. — 570 (a) Each qualifying offender shall submit a DNA sample at 571 the time he or she is booked into a jail, correctional facility, 572 or juvenile facility. A person who becomes a qualifying offender 573 solely because of the issuance of an immigration detainer by a 574 federal immigration agency must submit a DNA sample when the law 575 HB 1617 2023 CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions. hb1617-00 Page 24 of 24 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 enforcement agency having custody of the offender receives the 576 detainer. 577 (7) COLLECTION OF DNA SAMPLES FROM OFFENDERS .— 578 (f) A law enforcement agency having custody of a person 579 who becomes a qualifying offender solely because of the issuance 580 of an immigration detainer by a federal immigration agency shall 581 ensure that a DNA sample is taken from the offender immediately 582 after the agency receives the detainer and must secure and 583 transmit the sample to the department in a timely manner. 584 Section 13. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this 585 act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2023. 586