Florida 2023 2023 Regular Session

Florida Senate Bill S0528 Analysis / Analysis

Filed 03/29/2023

                    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: CS/SB 528 
INTRODUCER:  Criminal Justice Committee and Senators Davis and Book 
SUBJECT:  Custody and Supervision of Specified Offenders 
DATE: March 29, 2023 
 
 ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR  REFERENCE  	ACTION 
1. Parker Stokes CJ Fav/CS 
2.     ACJ   
3.     FP  
 
Please see Section IX. for Additional Information: 
COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE - Substantial Changes 
 
I. Summary: 
CS/SB 528 amends s. 794.011, F.S., eliminating the possibility of basic gain-time for persons 
convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit a sexual battery on or 
after July 1, 2023.  
 
The bill amends s. 944.275, F.S., eliminating the possibility of incentive gain-time for persons 
convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit specified offenses on 
or after July 1, 2023. 
 
The bill amends s. 948.05, F.S., prohibiting the court from granting a reduction in the term of 
supervision for probationers or offenders in community control who are placed under supervision 
for committing or attempting, soliciting or conspiring to commit a violation of any offense listed 
in the sexual offender or sexual predator registration statutes, or who qualify as a violent felony 
offender of special concern. 
 
The bill amends s. 948.30, F.S., requiring a court to impose additional specified terms and 
conditions of probation or community control in addition to all other conditions imposed for 
offenders whose crime was committed on or after July 1, 2023, for attempting, soliciting, or 
conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses. 
 
Additionally, the bill amends s. 948.30, F.S., requiring a court to impose additional specified 
terms and conditions of probation and community control for offenders who are placed on sex 
REVISED:   BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 2 
 
offender probation, if such offender’s crime was committed on or after July 1, 2023, for 
attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses. 
 
The bill also requires the court to impose electronic monitoring for an offender whose crime was  
committed on or after July 1, 2023, for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain 
sexual offenses, and who is placed on probation or community control. 
 
The bill also requires the court to impose a condition prohibiting an offender whose crime was 
committed on or after July 1, 2023, and who is placed on probation or community control for 
attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses,  from viewing, accessing, 
owning, or possessing any obscene pornographic or sexually stimulating material. 
 
The bill is effective July 1, 2023. 
II. Present Situation: 
Gain-Time 
Section 944.275, F.S., allows the Department of Corrections (DOC) to grant deductions from 
sentences in the form of gain-time in order to encourage satisfactory prisoner behavior, to 
provide incentive for prisoners to participate in productive activities, and to reward prisoners 
who perform outstanding deeds or services. There are currently three types of gain-time 
prisoners may earn: basic, incentive, and meritorious.
1
 
 
Currently, inmates serving sentences for specified convictions committed on or after October 1, 
2014, are ineligible to earn incentive gain-time, including inmates serving sentences for attempt 
to commit, solicitation to commit, or conspiracy to commit one of these underlying offenses. 
There are currently 791 inmates in DOC custody who are serving a sentence that includes an 
attempt, conspiracy or solicitation to commit one of the underlying offenses outlined in 
s. 944.275(4)(e), F.S., (777 inmates for attempt, 5 inmates for conspiracy and 9 inmates for 
solicitation).
2
 
 
As discussed below, the types of gain-time that a prisoner may earn, as well as the amount of 
gain-time a prisoner may earn, varies according to the offense date. Gain-time earned by a 
prisoner may also be forfeited for violations of state law or department rules.
3
 
 
Incentive Gain-Time 
The DOC may grant incentive gain-time for each month during which a prisoner works 
diligently, participates in training, uses time constructively, or otherwise engages in positive 
activities. The rate of incentive gain-time in effect on the date the prisoner committed the offense 
that resulted in his or her incarceration is the prisoner’s rate of eligibility to earn incentive 
gain-time throughout the period of incarceration and cannot be altered by a subsequent change in 
 
1
 Section 944.275, F.S. 
2
 Department of Corrections, 2023 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis for HB 537, at 2 (March 13, 2023) (on file with the 
Senate Committee on Criminal Justice). 
3
 Section 944.275, F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 3 
 
the severity level of the offense for which the prisoner was sentenced. Section 944.275(4)(b), 
F.S., specifies that: 
• For sentences imposed for offenses committed prior to January 1, 1994, up to 20 days per 
month of incentive gain-time may be granted; 
• For sentences imposed for offenses committed on or after January 1, 1994, and before 
October 1, 1995: 
o Up to 25 days per month of incentive gain-time may be granted for offenses ranked in 
offense severity levels 1 through 7 of the former sentencing guidelines; 
o Up to 20 days per month of incentive gain-time may be granted for offenses ranked in 
offense severity levels 8, 9, and 10 of the former sentencing guidelines; and 
• For sentences imposed for offenses committed after October 1, 1995, up to 10 days per 
month of incentive gain-time may be granted. 
 
The DOC may grant, upon a recommendation of the education program manager, a one-time 
award of 60 additional days of incentive gain-time to a prisoner who is otherwise eligible and 
who successfully completes requirements for and is awarded a high school equivalency diploma 
or vocational certificate. A prisoner may not receive more than 60 days for educational 
attainment.
4
 The DOC may grant an additional six days of incentive gain-time if a prisoner 
attends and actively participates in 150 hours of adult basic education to attain basic and 
functional literacy.
5
 
 
The DOC may not grant incentive gain-time for sentences imposed for the following offenses 
committed on or after October 1, 2014: 
• Homicide occurring in the perpetration of or attempted perpetration of a sexual battery; 
• Kidnapping of a child under the age of 13, and in the course of committing the offense, 
commits sexual battery against the child or lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious 
molestation, lewd or lascivious conduct, or lewd or lascivious exhibition; 
• False imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, and in the course of committing the 
offense commits sexual battery against the child or lewd or lascivious battery, lewd or 
lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious conduct, or lewd or lascivious exhibition; 
• Sexual battery; 
• Lewd or lascivious offenses upon or in the presence of persons less than 16 years of age; 
• Lewd or lascivious offenses upon or in the presence of an elderly person or disabled person; 
or 
• Transmission of certain images over a computer to a person who is less than 16 years of age.
6
 
 
Basic Gain-Time 
The DOC grants basic gain-time at the rate of 10 days for each month of each sentence imposed 
on a prisoner to encourage satisfactory behavior, subject to the following: 
• Portions of any sentences to be served concurrently are treated as a single sentence when 
determining basic gain-time; 
 
4
 Section 944.275(4)(d), F.S. 
5
 Section 944.801(3)(i)5., F.S. “Active participation” means at a minimum, that the inmate is attentive, responsive, 
cooperative, and completes assigned work. 
6
 Section 944.275(4)(e), F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 4 
 
• Basic gain-time for a partial month is prorated on the basis of a 30-day month; and 
• When a prisoner receives a new maximum sentence expiration date because of additional 
sentences imposed, basic gain-time is granted for the amount of time the maximum sentence 
expiration date was extended.
7
 
 
Basic gain-time is awarded as a lump sum upon receipt into the custody of the DOC. Basic gain-
time only applies to sentences imposed or offenses committed on or after July 1, 1978, and 
before January 1, 1994.
8
 
 
The DOC may not grant basic gain-time to prisoners who are convicted of committing a sexual 
battery on or after October 1, 1992.
9
 
 
Meritorious Gain-Time 
The DOC may grant meritorious gain-time to a prisoner who performs some outstanding deed, 
such as saving a life or assisting in recapturing an escaped prisoner, or who in some manner 
performs an outstanding service that would merit the granting of additional deductions from the 
term of his or her sentence. The grant of meritorious gain-time may be from 1 to 60 days.
10
 
 
Limitations on Earning Gain-Time 
For sentences imposed for offenses committed on or after October 1, 1995, a prisoner may not 
earn any type of gain-time in an amount that would cause a sentence to expire, end, or terminate, 
or that would result in a prisoner’s release, prior to serving a minimum of 85 percent of the 
sentence imposed. Credits awarded by the court for time physically incarcerated are credited 
toward satisfaction of 85 percent of the sentence imposed. Except as provided by s. 944.275, 
F.S., a prisoner may not accumulate further gain-time awards at any point when the tentative 
release date is the same as that date at which the prisoner will have served 85 percent of the 
sentence imposed.
11
 If a prisoner is found to have violated state law or department rules, gain-
time may be forfeited according to law.
12
 
 
State prisoners sentenced to life imprisonment must be incarcerated for the rest of their natural 
lives, unless granted pardon or clemency.
13
 Certain offenders are statutorily prohibited from 
earning gain-time: 
• Prison releasee reoffenders must serve 100 percent of the court-imposed sentence and may 
not earn gain-time to shorten the length of incarceration.
14
 
 
7
 Section 944.275(4)(a), F.S. 
8
 Section 944.275(6), F.S. 
9
 Section 794.011(7), F.S. 
10
 Section 944.275(4)(c), F.S. 
11
 Section 944.275(4)(f), F.S. 
12
 Sections 944.275(5) and 944.28, F.S. 
13
 Section 944.2755(4)(f), F.S. 
14
 Under s. 775.082(9), F.S., a defendant may be designated a “prison releasee offender” if within three years of being 
released from incarceration commits or attempts to commit: treason, murder, manslaughter, sexual battery, carjacking, home-
invasion robbery, robbery, arson, kidnaping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated battery, aggravated 
stalking, aircraft piracy, unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a destructive devise or bomb, any felony that involves 
the use or threat of physical force or violence against an individual, armed burglary, burglary of a dwelling, or burglary of an 
occupied structure, or any felony violation of ss. 790.07, 800.04, 827.03, 827.071, or 847.0135(5), F.S. A “prison releasee  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 5 
 
• Certain prisoners convicted of offenses involving the fleeing or attempting to elude a law 
enforcement officer are ineligible for statutory gain-time.
15
 
• Prisoners convicted of committing or attempting to commit certain felonies while possessing 
or using a firearm or destructive device.
16
 
• Prisoners convicted of committing or attempting to commit certain felonies while possessing 
or using a semiautomatic firearm and its high-capacity box magazine or a machine gun.
17
 
• Prisoners convicted of battery on a law enforcement officer, firefighter, emergency medical 
providers, public transit employees or agents, or other specified officers while possessing a 
firearm or semiautomatic firearm and its high-capacity box magazine.
18
 
• Prisoners convicted under the dangerous sexual felony offender statute.
19
 
 
Forfeiture of Gain-Time 
Florida law allows gain-time to be forfeited or withheld if a prisoner is found guilty of an 
infraction of state law or department rules.
20
 A prisoner shall, without prior notice or hearing, 
forfeit all earned gain-time upon: 
• Conviction for an escape committed before October 1, 2013; 
• Revocation of parole,
21
 conditional release,
22
 control release,
23
 or clemency;
24
 
• Revocation of conditional medical release,
25
 if the revocation was for any reason other than 
improvement in medical condition; or 
 
offender” also means any defendant who commits or attempts to commit one of the aforementioned offenses while serving a 
prison sentence or on escape status from a correctional facility. 
15
 Section 316.1935(6), F.S. 
16
 Section 775.087(2)(b), F.S. 
17
 Section 775.087(3)(b), F.S. 
18
 Section 784.07(3), F.S. 
19
 Section 794.0115(7), F.S. 
20
 Section 944.275(5), F.S. 
21
 Parole is the release of a prisoner, prior to the expiration of the prisoner’s court-imposed sentence with a period of 
supervision to be successfully completed by compliance with the conditions and terms of the release agreement ordered by 
the Florida Commission on Offender Review. Parole is only available to prisoners whose crimes were committed prior to 
October 1, 1983, with exceptions. See Florida Commission on Offender Review, Release Types: Parole, available at 
https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/release-types.shtml (last visited March 14, 2023). 
22
 Section 947.1405, F.S., requires certain violent prisoners who have also served a prior felony commitment at a federal or 
state correctional institution or who are habitual offenders, violent habitual offenders, violent career criminals, or court-
designated sexual offenders to be released under supervision subject to specified terms and conditions upon reaching the 
tentative release date or provisional release date, as established by the DOC. See also Florida Commission on Offender 
Review, Release Types: Post Release, available at https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/postrelease.shtml#conditionalRelease (last 
visited March 14, 2023). 
23
 Control release is an administrative function to manage the state’s prison population within total capacity. The program, 
administered by the Florida Commission on Offender Review, through the Control Release Authority, maintains the prison 
population between 99 and 100 percent of its total capacity. Section 947.146, F.S. 
24
 Article IV, Section 8 of the Florida Constitution authorizes a process to provide the means through which convicted 
individuals may be considered for relief from punishment and seek restoration of their civil rights. The clemency function is 
an act of mercy that absolves an individual from all, or any part, of the punishment that the law imposes. The power to grant 
clemency is vested in the Governor with the agreement of two cabinet members. The Governor also has the sole power to 
deny clemency. Florida Commission on Offender Review, Clemency, available at 
https://www.fcor.state.fl.us/clemencyOverview.shtml (last visited March 14, 2023). 
25
 Section 947.149, F.S., authorizes the Florida Commission on Offender Review to grant a conditional medical release of a 
prisoner if, because of an existing medical or physical condition, the prisoner is determined by the department to be 
permanently incapacitated or terminally ill and the prisoner does not constitute a danger to herself or himself or others.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 6 
 
• Revocation of provisional release supervision,
26
 or the revocation of probation
27
 or 
community control
28
 if such supervision was imposed for a crime committed on or after 
October 1, 1989.
29
 
 
To declare a forfeiture, a written charge must be prepared, which specifies each instance of 
misconduct and the approximate date of each instance.
30
 The prisoner must be given a copy of 
the charge, along with a notice of hearing before a disciplinary committee. The prisoner must be 
present at the hearing.
31
 During the hearing, the prisoner: 
• Will be read the charge, asked if he or she understands the charge, and explained the range of 
penalties that could be imposed if there is a finding of guilt; 
• Will be asked if staff assistance is required or desired for the hearing; 
• For minor violations, will be advised that he or she may request the charge be referred to the 
disciplinary team; and 
• Will be read the statement of facts and be asked to plea.
32
 
 
If the prisoner pleads guilty, no further action is needed. If the prisoner pleads not guilty, 
evidence, including witness statements, is to be presented. The prisoner may make only an oral 
closing statement concerning the infraction under consideration at the hearing. If a prisoner 
refuses to enter a plea, it is treated as a “not guilty” plea.
33
 
 
A prisoner may forfeit all or part of gain-time earned if after the hearing, the prisoner is found to 
have: 
• Violated a penal law of this state, or any rule of the DOC or institution; 
• Threatened or knowingly endangered the life or physical well-being of another; 
• Refused in any way to carry out or obey lawful instructions; 
• Neglected to perform the work, duties, and tasks assigned in a faithful, diligent, industrious, 
orderly, and peaceful manner; or 
• Escaped on or after October 1, 2013.
34
 
 
The DOC has the discretion to restore all or part of any gain-time that was forfeited due to 
disciplinary action if the prisoner has performed positively over a period of time, and it appears 
 
26
 Under the former s. 944.277, F.S., which was repealed by ch. 93-406, s. 32, L.O.F., the Secretary of Corrections was 
authorized to grant certain inmates with provisional credits when the population of the correctional system reached 98 percent 
of lawful capacity, which advanced the release date for such inmates. 
27
 Section 948.001(8), F.S., defines “probation” as a form of community supervision requiring specified contacts with parole 
and probation officers and other terms and conditions as provided in s. 948.03, F.S. 
28
 Section 948.001(3), F.S., defines “community control” as a form of intensive, supervised custody in the community, 
including surveillance on weekends and holidays, administered by officers with restricted caseloads. Community control is 
an individualized program in which the freedom of an offender is restricted within the community, home, or non-institutional 
residential placement and specific sanctions are imposed and enforced. 
29
 Rule 33-601.104, F.A.C. 
30
 Section 944.28(2)(c), F.S. 
31
 Rule 33-601.307(1)(b), F.A.C., provides instances in which the prisoner does not have to attend the hearing and procedures 
if the prisoner refuses to attend the hearing or is disruptive. 
32
 Rule 33-601.307(1)(c)-(f), F.A.C. 
33
 Rule 33-601.307(g), F.A.C. 
34
 Supra note 29.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 7 
 
that the prisoner will continue to perform positively without further violation of the DOC’s rules 
or state laws.
35
 
 
Sentence Expiration and Release Dates 
The DOC must establish a maximum sentence expiration date for each prisoner who is 
committed to the DOC to serve a term of years. The maximum sentence expiration date is the 
date on which the sentence(s) imposed on the prisoner will expire. The DOC must reduce the 
total time to be served by any time lawfully credited.
36
 
 
The DOC must also establish a tentative release date for each prisoner sentenced to a term of 
years. The tentative release date is the date on which the prisoner is projected to be released from 
custody based on the amount of gain-time earned or forfeited. The initial tentative release date is 
established by deducting basic gain-time from the maximum sentence expiration date.
37
 Other 
gain-time is applied when earned or restored, to make the tentative release date earlier and 
forfeited gain-time is applied to make the tentative release date later.
38
 
 
A prisoner who has served his or her time, as reduced by gain-time deductions, must be released 
and placed under further supervision and control of the DOC.
39
 
 
Fla. Dept. of Corrections v. Gould 
An inmate convicted of attempted sexual battery on a child under the age of 12 filed a writ of 
mandamus seeking to compel the DOC, to exercise its discretion and consider him as eligible for 
incentive gain-time, retrospectively and for the remainder of his sentence. Gould alleged that a 
conviction for criminal attempt was not excluded from the award of gain-time by statute because 
a conviction for a criminal attempt is a separate and distinct crime than the underlying offense.
40
 
 
The First District Court of Appeal (DCA), receded from previous decisions which held that a 
conviction for an attempted crime was a conviction for the underlying offense modified by the 
attempt statute in s. 777.04, F.S., and ruled that a conviction for an attempt was a separate and 
distinct offense.
41
 Thus, a person convicted of attempting to commit a crime that would 
otherwise be ineligible for the award of incentive gain-time is eligible for the award of gain-
time.
42
 The DOC appealed the decision of the DCA, and that matter is pending before the Florida 
Supreme Court in Supreme Court Case No. SC22-1207. 
 
 
35
 Rule 33-601.105, F.A.C. 
36
 Section 944.275(2), F.S. 
37
 Basic gain-time only applies to prisoners serving sentences imposed or for offenses committed on or after July 1, 1978, and 
before January 1, 1994. 
38
 Section 944.275(3), F.S. 
39
 Section 944.291(1), F.S. Prisoners serving sentences imposed for offenses committed on or after October 1, 1995, must 
serve at minimum 85 percent of the imposed sentence. Section 944.275(4)(f), F.S. 
40
 Fla. Dept. of Corrections v. Gould, 344 So.3d 496 (Fla. 1st DCA 2022). 
41
 Id. 
42
 Id.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 8 
 
Probation and Community Control 
Probation is a form of community supervision requiring specified contacts with probation 
officers and compliance with certain terms and conditions.
43
 Following a conviction for a 
criminal offense, the court determines the terms and conditions of probation. Standard conditions 
of probation include, but are not limited to: 
• Reporting to the probation officer as directed. 
• Permitting the probation officer to visit the probationer at his or her home. 
• Working faithfully at suitable employment, when possible. 
• Residing at a specified place. 
• Living without violating the law. 
• Paying restitution to any aggrieved party for the damage or loss caused by a probationer’s 
offense. 
• Being prohibited from possessing, carrying, or owning a firearm or weapon, without the 
probation officer’s consent. 
• Being prohibited from using intoxicants to excess or possessing any drugs or narcotics.
44
 
 
Community control is a form of intensive supervised custody of an offender who remains in the 
community, but whose freedom is restricted within the home, community, or noninstitutional 
residential placement and includes specific sanctions and monitoring by probation officers with 
restricted caseloads.
45
 In addition to the standard conditions which apply to normal probationers, 
an offender on community control must: 
• Maintain specified contact with his or her parole or probation officer; 
• Be confined to an agreed-upon residence during any hours he or she is away from work or 
public service activities; 
• Complete mandatory public service; and 
• Be supervised by the DOC by means of an electronic monitoring device or system.
46
 
 
Section 948.05(2), F.S., authorizes the DOC to implement a system of graduated incentives to 
promote compliance with the terms of supervision. The DOC may, without leave of court, award 
a compliant probationer or offender in community control specified incentives, including, but not 
limited to: 
• A 60-day reduction of his or her term of supervision for each educational advancement 
activity completed; or 
• A 30-day reduction of his or her term of supervision for each period of workforce 
achievement completed. 
 
The DOC may also recommend early termination of supervision for a compliant probationer or 
offender in community control, but the court must approve such early termination.
47
 
 
 
43
 Section 948.001(8), F.S. 
44
 Section 948.03(1), F.S. 
45
 Section 948.001(3), F.S. 
46
 Section 948.101(1), F.S. 
47
 Section 948.05(2)(b)5., F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 9 
 
A “violent felony offender of special concern” (VFOSC) is a person who is on felony 
supervision: 
• Related to a qualifying offense
48
 committed on or after March 12, 2007. 
• For any offense committed on or after March 12, 2007, and who has previously been 
convicted of a qualifying offense. 
• For any offense committed on or after March 12, 2007, and who is found to have violated 
supervision by committing a qualifying offense. 
• And has previously been found by a court to be a habitual violent felony offender, three-time 
violent offender, or sexual predator, and who has committed a qualifying offense on or after 
March 12, 2007.
49
 
 
Section 948.30, F.S., requires a court to impose additional conditions of supervision on a person 
who is sentenced to probation or community control after being convicted of one of the 
following offenses: 
• Sexual battery in ch. 794, F.S.; 
• Lewd or lascivious battery, molestation, conduct, or exhibition in s. 800.04, F.S.; 
• Sexual performance by a child in s. 827.071, F.S.; 
• Lewd or lascivious exhibition over the Internet in s. 847.0135(5), F.S.; and 
• Selling or buying minors to engage in sexually explicit conduct in s. 847.0145, F.S. 
 
Examples of such conditions include: 
• A mandatory 8-hour curfew; 
• A prohibition on contact or living within 1,000 feet of a school and other places where 
children regularly congregate; 
• A prohibition on any contact with the victim; 
• Active participation in and successful completion of a sexual offender treatment program 
with certain specifications; 
• Submit a specimen of blood or other approved biological specimen to be registered with the 
DNA data bank; 
• Submission to a warrantless search by the community control or probation officer of the 
probationer’s or community controllee’s person, residence, or vehicle; 
 
48
 Section 948.06(8)(c), F.S., defines qualifying offense to include any of the following: kidnapping or attempted kidnapping, 
s. 787.01, F.S.; false imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, s. 787.02(3), F.S.; luring or enticing a child, 
s. 787.025(2)(b) or (b), F.S.; murder or attempted murder, s. 782.04, F.S.; attempted felony murder, s. 782.051, F.S.; 
manslaughter, s. 782.07, F.S.; aggravated battery or attempt, s. 784.045, F.S.; sexual battery or attempt, s. 794.011(2), (3), 
(4), or (8)(b) or (c), F.S.; lewd and lascivious battery or attempt, s. 800.04(4), F.S.; lewd and lascivious molestation, 
s. 800.04(5)(b) or (c), F.S.; lewd and lascivious conduct, s. 800.04(6)(b), F.S.; lewd and lascivious exhibition, s. 800.04(7)(b), 
F.S.; lewd and lascivious exhibition on computer, s. 847.0135(5)(b), F.S.; robbery or attempt, s. 812.13, F.S.; carjacking or 
attempt, s. 812.133, F.S.; home invasion robbery or attempt, s. 812.135, F.S.; lewd and lascivious offense upon or in the 
presence of an elderly person or attempt, s. 825.1025, F.S.; sexual performance by a child or attempt, s. 827.071, F.S.; 
computer pornography, s. 847.0135(2) or (3), F.S.; transmission of child pornography, s. 847.0137, F.S.; selling or buying of 
minors, s. 847.0145, F.S.; poisoning food or water, s. 859.01, F.S.; abuse of a dead human body, s. 872.06, F.S.; any burglary 
offense that is a first or second degree felony, s. 810.02(2) or (3), F.S.; arson or attempt, s. 806.01(1), F.S.; aggravated 
assault, s. 784.021, F.S.; aggravated stalking, s. 784.048(3), (4), (5), or (7), F.S.; aircraft piracy, s. 860.16, F.S.; throwing a 
deadly missile, s. 790.161(2), (3), or (4), F.S.; and treason, s. 876.32, F.S. 
49
 Section 948.06(8)(b), F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 10 
 
• Participation at least annually in polygraph examinations for specified purposes and with 
specified conditions; 
• Maintenance of a driving log and prohibition against driving a motor vehicle alone without 
prior approval; 
• Prohibition against obtaining or using a post office box without prior approval; 
• Submission to an HIV test with specified conditions; and 
• Electronic monitoring when deemed necessary and ordered by the court.
50
 
III. Effect of Proposed Changes: 
The bill amends s. 794.011, F.S., eliminating the possibility of basic gain-time for persons 
convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit a sexual battery on or 
after July 1, 2023. 
 
The bill amends s. 944.275, F.S., eliminating the possibility of incentive gain-time for persons 
convicted of committing or attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit specified offenses. 
For sentences imposed for offenses committed on or after July 1, 2023, the department may not 
grant incentive gain-time if the offense is a violation of an attempted violation of: 
• Section 782.04(1)(a)2.c., F.S., Attempted felony murder occurring when a person perpetrates 
or attempts to perpetrate any felony enumerated in s. 782.04(3), F.S, and who commits, aids, 
or abets an intentional act that is not an essential element of the felony and that could, but 
does not, cause the death of another. 
• Section 787.01(3)(a)2. or 3., F.S., Kidnapping of a child under the age of 13, and in the course 
of committing the offense, commits sexual battery against the child or lewd or lascivious 
battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious conduct, or lewd or lascivious 
exhibition. 
• Section 787.02(3)(a)2. or 3., F.S., False imprisonment of a child under the age of 13, and in 
the course of committing the offense commits sexual battery against the child or lewd or 
lascivious battery, lewd or lascivious molestation, lewd or lascivious conduct, or lewd or 
lascivious exhibition. 
• Section 794.011, F.S., Sexual battery. 
• Section 800.04, F.S., Lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of 
persons less than 16 years of age occurring when a person who intentionally touches in a 
lewd or lascivious manner the breasts, genitals, genital area, or buttocks, or the clothing 
covering them, of a person less than 16 years of age, or forces or entices a person under 16 
years of age to so touch the perpetrator, commits lewd or lascivious molestation. 
• Section 825.1025, F.S., Lewd or lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of an 
elderly person or disabled person occurring when a person intentionally touches in a lewd or 
lascivious manner the breasts, genitals, genital area, or buttocks, or the clothing covering 
them, of an elderly person or disabled person when the person knows or reasonably should 
know that the elderly person or disabled person either lacks the capacity to consent or fails to 
give consent. 
• Section 847.0135(5), F.S., Transmission of certain images over a computer to a person who 
is less than 16 years of age. 
 
 
50
 Section 948.30(1) and (2), F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 11 
 
The bill amends s. 948.05, F.S., prohibiting the court from granting a reduction in the term of 
supervision for probationers or offenders in community control who are placed under supervision 
for committing or attempting, soliciting or conspiring to commit a violation of any offense listed 
in the sexual offender or sexual predator registration statutes, or who qualify as a violent felony 
offender of special concern. 
 
The bill amends s. 948.30, F.S., requiring a court to impose additional specified terms and 
conditions of probation or community control in addition to all other conditions imposed for 
offenders whose crime was committed on or after July 1, 2023, for attempting, soliciting, or 
conspiring to commit certain specified sexual offenses. Convictions for: 
 
Additionally, the bill amends s. 948.30, F.S., requiring a court to impose additional specified 
terms and conditions of probation and community control for offenders who are placed on sex 
offender probation for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses. 
 
The bill also requires the court to impose electronic monitoring for offenders who are convicted 
for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses, and who are placed on 
probation or community control. 
 
The bill also requires the court to impose a condition prohibiting an offender who is placed on 
probation or community control for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual 
offenses, from viewing, accessing, owning, or possessing any obscene pornographic or sexually 
stimulating material. 
 
Sexual offenses requiring these additional terms and conditions under s. 948.30, F.S., include 
offenses committed on or after July 1, 2023, for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit 
violations of any of the following: 
• Section 787.06(3)(b), (d), (f), or (g), F.S., Human Trafficking. 
• Chapter 794, F.S., Sexual Battery. 
• Section 800.04, F.S., Lewd or Lascivious offenses committed upon or in the presence of 
persons less than 16 years of age. 
• Section 827.071, F.S., Sexual Performance by a child; Child Pornography. 
• Section 847.0135, F.S., Computer Pornography. 
• Section 847.0145, F.S., Selling or Buying of Minors.
51
 
 
The bill is effective July 1, 2023. 
IV. Constitutional Issues: 
A. Municipality/County Mandates Restrictions: 
None. 
 
51
 Section 847.0145, F.S.  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 12 
 
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: 
There will be no impact on the DOC’s inmate and supervision population. However, the 
Office of Information Technology anticipates minimal technology impact, with the 
amount being indeterminate.
52
 
VI. Technical Deficiencies: 
None. 
VII. Related Issues: 
None. 
VIII. Statutes Affected: 
This bill substantially amends the following sections of the Florida Statues: 794.011, 944.275, 
948.05, and 948.30. 
 
52
 Department of Corrections, 2023 Agency Legislative Bill Analysis for HB 537, at 2 (March 13, 2023) (on file with the 
Senate Committee on Criminal Justice).  BILL: CS/SB 528   	Page 13 
 
IX. Additional Information: 
A. Committee Substitute – Statement of Substantial Changes: 
(Summarizing differences between the Committee Substitute and the prior version of the bill.) 
CS by Criminal Justice on March 27, 2023: 
The committee substitute: 
• Eliminates the possibility of basic gain-time for persons convicted of committing, 
attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses. 
• Eliminates the possibility of incentive gain-time for persons convicted of committing, 
attempting, soliciting, or conspiring to commit certain sexual offenses. 
• Prohibits the court from reducing the supervision term of a person who is on 
probation or community control for committing, or attempting to commit certain 
specified sexual offenses. 
• Requires a court to impose additional specified terms and conditions of probation or 
community control in addition to all other conditions imposed for offenders whose 
crime was committed on or after July 1, 2023, for attempting, soliciting, or conspiring 
to commit certain specified sexual offenses. 
B. Amendments: 
None. 
This Senate Bill Analysis does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill’s introducer or the Florida Senate.