Florida 2024 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1495 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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10	10	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
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14	14	A bill to be entitled 1
15	15	An act relating to nonviolent drug offenders 2
16	16	converting fines and fees into community service; 3
17	17	creating s. 948.016, F.S.; defining the term 4
18	18	"nonviolent"; specifying eligibility for certain 5
19	19	nonviolent drug offenders to convert fines and fees 6
20	20	into community service hours; specifying the 7
21	21	conversion rate; providing requirements for the 8
22	22	completion of community service hours; requiring the 9
23	23	clerk of the court to c reate a form; requiring court 10
24	24	notification and the provision of documents and 11
25	25	information to nonviolent drug offenders; providing 12
26	26	applicability; providing an effective date. 13
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28	28	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 15
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30	30	Section 1. Section 948.016, Florida Statutes, is created 17
31	31	to read: 18
32	32	948.016 Nonviolent drug offender petition for converting 19
33	33	fines and fees into community service hours; eligibility; 20
34	34	requirements.— 21
35	35	(1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term 22
36	36	"nonviolent" means w as not convicted of, or did not plead guilty 23
37	37	or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any felony or 24
38	38	the attempt to commit any felony listed in s. 775.084(1)(c)1. or 25
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47	47	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
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51	51	s. 948.06(8)(c). 26
52	52	(2) ELIGIBILITY; CONVERSION RATE. — 27
53	53	(a) An individual who: 28
54	54	1. Successfully completed drug offender probation or a 29
55	55	treatment program for one or more misdemeanor or third degree 30
56	56	felony nonviolent drug offenses. 31
57	57	2. Is enrolled in at least one: 32
58	58	a. Peer support specialist training course at a 33
59	59	postsecondary institut ion or career education institution; 34
60	60	b. Continuing education course at a postsecondary 35
61	61	institution or career education institution; or 36
62	62	c. Other recognized continuing education course for a 37
63	63	licensed occupation or profession. 38
64	64	3. Has been sober or drug free for at least 1 year and has 39
65	65	demonstrated that he or she has a good social support system 40
66	66	such as, but not limited to, consistent participation in a 41
67	67	twelve-step program. 42
68	68	4. Submitted a letter of recommendation, 43
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70	70	may submit to the clerk of the court, along with supporting 45
71	71	documentation, a petition to convert any fines or fees resulting 46
72	72	from a conviction for such nonviolent drug offense to community 47
73	73	service hours. Upon receipt of a completed petition, the clerk 48
74	74	of the court must grant the petitio n. 49
75	75	(b) The conversion is 1 community service hour for every 50
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84	84	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
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88	88	$15 owed by the individual. 51
89	89	(3) REQUIREMENTS.—The community service hours must be 52
90	90	completed within an addiction treatment facility or other 53
91	91	similar facility that helps individuals who committe d drug 54
92	92	offenses. 55
93	93	(4) FORM.—The clerk of the court shall create a form, 56
94	94	publish the form online, and provide a paper copy of the form 57
95	95	upon request. 58
96	96	(5) REQUIRED NOTIFICATION AND PROVISION OF DOCUMENTS AND 59
97	97	INFORMATION.—A court shall notify each nonviolen t drug offender 60
98	98	of the existence of the option for converting fines and fees 61
99	99	into community service hours under this section and shall 62
100	100	require the clerk of the court to provide to each nonviolent 63
101	101	drug offender a written or electronic copy of this section a nd 64
102	102	information and instructions on how to complete a petition. 65
103	103	(6) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to an 66
104	104	individual who is convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo 67
105	105	contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any of the following 68
106	106	or the attempt to commit any of the following: 69
107	107	(a) An offense that requires the individual to register as 70
108	108	a sexual offender under s. 943.0435. 71
109	109	(b) Any offense that is not nonviolent. 72
110	110	Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024. 73