Florida 2025 Regular Session

Florida House Bill H1521 Latest Draft

Bill / Introduced Version Filed 02/28/2025

                               
 
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A bill to be entitled 1 
An act relating to criminal justice; creating s. 2 
83.455, F.S.; defining the term "conditional offer"; 3 
prohibiting a landlord from asking a prospective 4 
tenant about a criminal record before making a 5 
conditional offer; limiting offenses that may be 6 
considered after such an offer is made; specifying 7 
factors that may be considered before an offer may be 8 
withdrawn; providing procedures for withdrawal of an 9 
offer based on the rights of tenant; amending s. 10 
98.0751, F.S.; removing full payment of financial 11 
obligations from voting rights restoration 12 
requirements; amending s. 940.05, F.S.; providing that 13 
persons convicted of a felony shall have their rights 14 
of citizenship automatically restored to the extent 15 
that a federal elected official has such rights 16 
automatically restored following a felony conviction; 17 
creating s. 893.13501, F.S.; providing legislative 18 
intent; providing for the retroactive applicability of 19 
s. 893.135, F.S.; requiring the initial sentencing and 20 
the resentencing of certain persons who committed 21 
certain violations before a specified date which 22 
involved trafficking in hydrocodone or codeine; 23 
providing criminal penalties for such violations that 24 
are subject to an initial sentencing or a 25     
 
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resentencing; providing legislative intent; providing 26 
for the retroactive applicability of s. 893.135, F.S.; 27 
requiring the initial sentencing and the resentencing 28 
of certain persons who committed certain violations 29 
before a specified date which involved trafficking in 30 
oxycodone; providing criminal penalties for such 31 
violations that are subject to an initial sentencing 32 
or a resentencing; specifying procedures for such 33 
resentencing; amending s. 921.1402, F.S.; revising the 34 
definition of the term "juvenile offender" for 35 
purposes of review of sentences of review of juvenile 36 
sentences; providing for treatment of concurrent and 37 
consecutive sentences; providing for retroactive 38 
effect; creating s. 944.1915, F.S.; defining the term 39 
"last known place of residence"; requiring the 40 
Department of Corrections to provide specified data 41 
concerning inmates to the Legislature for 42 
redistricting purposes; providing requirements for 43 
such data; specifying how such data shall be used in 44 
redistricting; amending s. 960.293, F.S.; removing 45 
provisions making inmates liable for correctional 46 
costs in a specified liquidated damage amount for 47 
incarceration; removing provisions specifying a fixed 48 
daily amount for an offender's liability for 49 
incarceration costs and other correctional costs for 50     
 
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offenders convicted of certain offenses; amending s. 51 
985.557, F.S.; revising the offenses for which a 52 
juvenile may be direct filed in adult court; requiring 53 
a judicial finding for discretionary direct file of 54 
juveniles; providing requirements for juveniles of 55 
specified ages; providing requirements for judicial 56 
findings; providing for return of juveniles to the 57 
juvenile division at any point during circuit court 58 
proceedings; providing an effective date. 59 
 60 
Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: 61 
 62 
 Section 1.  Section 83.455, Florida Statutes, is crea ted to 63 
read: 64 
 83.455  Criminal record of tenants; inquiries limited; 65 
withdrawal of conditional offer. — 66 
 (1)  As used in this section, the term "conditional offer" 67 
means an offer to rent or lease a rental dwelling unit to an 68 
applicant that is contingent on a subsequent inquiry into the 69 
applicant's criminal record, or any other eligibility criteria 70 
that the landlord may lawfully use. 71 
 (2)  A landlord may not require an applicant to complete a 72 
housing application that includes any inquiries regarding an 73 
applicant's criminal record before the provision of a 74 
conditional offer, except that a landlord may consider whether 75     
 
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an applicant has ever been convicted of drug -related criminal 76 
activity for the manufacture or production of methamphetamine on 77 
the premises of federally assisted housing, and whether the 78 
applicant has ever been convicted of a felony offense. 79 
 (3)  A landlord shall not make any oral or written inquiry 80 
regarding an applicant's criminal record before making a 81 
conditional offer. 82 
 (4)  An applicant may provide evidence to the landlord 83 
demonstrating inaccuracies within the applicant's criminal 84 
record or evidence of rehabilitation or other mitigating 85 
factors. 86 
 (5)  Before accepting any application fee, a landlord shall 87 
disclose in writing to the applicant: 88 
 (a)  Whether the eligibility criteria of the landlord 89 
includes the review and consideration of criminal history. 90 
 (b)  A statement that the applicant, pursuant to subsection 91 
(4), may provide evidence demonstrating inaccuracies within the 92 
applicant's criminal record or evidence of rehabilitation or 93 
other mitigating factors. 94 
 (6)  A landlord shall apply the standards established by 95 
this section to each applicant in a nondiscriminatory manner. 96 
 (7)  A landlord shall not, either before or after the 97 
issuance of a conditional offer, evaluate an applicant based on 98 
any of the following types of criminal records: 99 
 (a)  Arrests or charges that have not resulted in a 100     
 
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criminal conviction; 101 
 (b)  Expunged convictions; 102 
 (c)  Convictions on appeal; 103 
 (d)  Vacated and otherwise legally nullified convictions; 104 
 (e)  Juvenile adjudications of delinquency; 105 
 (f)  Records that have been sealed; or 106 
 (g)  Criminal convictions arising from conduct committed 107 
outside of this state that, if committed within this state would 108 
not constitute a felony. 109 
 (8)  After the issuance of a conditional offer to an 110 
applicant, a landlord may only consider a criminal record in the 111 
applicant's history that consists of a felony.  112 
 (9)  A landlord may withdraw a conditional offer based on 113 
an applicant's criminal record only if the landlord determines, 114 
by preponderance of the evidence, that the withdrawal is 115 
necessary to fulfill a substantial, legitimate, and 116 
nondiscriminatory interest. 117 
 (10)  If a landlord withdraws a conditional offer, the 118 
landlord shall provide the applicant with written notification 119 
that includes, with specificity, the reason or reasons for the 120 
withdrawal of the conditional offer and an opportunity to appeal 121 
the denial by providing evidence to the landlord demonstrating 122 
inaccuracies within the applicant's criminal record or evidence 123 
of rehabilitation or other mitigating factors. The landlord 124 
shall perform an individualized assessment of the application in 125     
 
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light of the following factors: 126 
 (a)  The nature and severity of the criminal of fense. 127 
 (b)  The age of the applicant at the time of the occurrence 128 
of the criminal offense. 129 
 (c)  The time which has elapsed since the occurrence of the 130 
criminal offense. 131 
 (d)  Any information produced by the applicant, or produced 132 
on the applicant's beha lf, in regard to the applicant's 133 
rehabilitation and good conduct since the occurrence of the 134 
criminal offense. 135 
 (e)  The degree to which the criminal offense, if it 136 
reoccurred, would negatively impact the safety of the landlord's 137 
other tenants or property. 138 
 (f)  Whether the criminal offense occurred on or was 139 
connected to property that was rented or leased by the 140 
applicant. 141 
 (11)(a)  The applicant may request, within 30 days after 142 
the landlord's notice of the withdrawal, that the landlord 143 
afford the applicant a copy of all information that the landlord 144 
relied upon in considering the applicant, including criminal 145 
records. 146 
 (b)  A landlord shall provide the information requested 147 
under paragraph (a), free of charge, within l0 days after 148 
receipt of a timely requ est. 149 
 Section 2.  Subsection (1) of section 98.0751, Florida 150     
 
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Statutes, is amended to read: 151 
 98.0751  Restoration of voting rights; termination of 152 
ineligibility subsequent to a felony conviction. — 153 
 (1)  A person who has been disqualified from voting based 154 
on a felony conviction for an offense other than murder or a 155 
felony sexual offense must have such disqualification terminated 156 
and his or her voting rights restored pursuant to s. 4, Art. VI 157 
of the State Constitution upon the completion of all terms of 158 
his or her sentence except for subparagraph (2)(a)5. , including 159 
parole or probation. The voting disqualification does not 160 
terminate unless a person's civil rights are restored pursuant 161 
to s. 8, Art. IV of the State Constitution if the 162 
disqualification arises from a felony conviction of murder or a 163 
felony sexual offense, or if the person has not completed all 164 
terms of sentence, as specified in subsection (2). 165 
 Section 3.  Section 940.05, Florida Statutes, is amended to 166 
read: 167 
 940.05  Restoration of civil righ ts.— 168 
 (1) Any person who has been convicted of a felony may be 169 
entitled to the restoration of all the rights of citizenship 170 
enjoyed by him or her before conviction if the person has: 171 
 (a)(1) Received a full pardon from the Board of Executive 172 
Clemency; 173 
 (b)(2) Served the maximum term of the sentence imposed 174 
upon him or her; or 175     
 
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 (c)(3) Been granted his or her final release by the 176 
Florida Commission on Offender Review. 177 
 (2)  Subsection (1) notwithstanding, a person convicted of 178 
a felony shall have his or her rights of citizenship restored 179 
automatically to the extent that any federal elected official or 180 
former federal elected official has his or her rights of 181 
citizenship restored automatically following a felony 182 
conviction. 183 
 Section 4.  Section 893.13501, Florida Statutes, is created 184 
to read: 185 
 893.13501  Retroactive application relating to s. 893.135; 186 
legislative intent; sentencing or resentencing for trafficking 187 
in hydrocodone, codeine, or oxycodone; penalties; resentencing 188 
procedures.— 189 
 (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature to retroactively 190 
apply changes to gram -weight thresholds and ranges and to 191 
penalties for trafficking in hydrocodone or codeine which are 192 
applicable to offenders who committed these offenses on or after 193 
October 1, 2019, the effective date of amendments to s. 893.135 194 
by chapter 2019-167, Laws of Florida. 195 
 (a)  If a violation of s. 893.135(1)(c) involving 196 
trafficking in hydrocodone, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.k.; 197 
trafficking in codeine, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.g.; or 198 
trafficking in any salt of hydrocodone or of codeine or any 199 
mixture containing any such substance, as described in s. 200     
 
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893.03(2)(a)2., was committed before October 1, 2019, and was 201 
punishable as a felony of the first degree at the time the 202 
violation was committed, the changes must be retroactively 203 
applied as provided in this subsect ion. 204 
 (b)  A person who committed a trafficking violation 205 
described in paragraph (a) before October 1, 2019, but who was 206 
not sentenced for such violation before July 1, 2025, must be 207 
sentenced as provided in paragraph (d). 208 
 (c)  A person who committed a tr afficking violation 209 
described in paragraph (a) before October 1, 2019, and who is 210 
serving a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for such 211 
violation on or after July 1, 2025, must be resentenced as 212 
provided in paragraph (d) and in accordance with subsecti on (3). 213 
 (d)1.  A violation described in paragraph (a) for which the 214 
person is to be sentenced or resentenced pursuant to this 215 
subsection is a felony of the first degree, punishable as 216 
provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 217 
 2.  If the quantity of hydrocodone, as described in s. 218 
893.03(2)(a)1.k., codeine, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.g., 219 
any salt thereof, or any mixture containing any such substance 220 
involved in the violation of s. 893.135: 221 
 a.  Was 4 grams or more, but less than 28 grams, su ch 222 
person must be sentenced or resentenced as provided in s. 223 
775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 224 
 b.  Was 28 grams or more, but less than 50 grams, such 225     
 
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person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 226 
term of imprisonment of 3 years and orde red to pay a fine of 227 
$50,000. 228 
 c.  Was 50 grams or more, but less than 100 grams, such 229 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 230 
term of imprisonment of 7 years and ordered to pay a fine of 231 
$100,000. 232 
 d.  Was 100 grams or more, but les s than 300 grams, such 233 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 234 
term of imprisonment of 15 years and ordered to pay a fine of 235 
$500,000. 236 
 e.  Was 300 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms, such 237 
person must be sentenced or resentenc ed to a mandatory minimum 238 
term of imprisonment of 25 years and ordered to pay a fine of 239 
$500,000 if the trafficking involves hydrocodone, any salt 240 
thereof, or any mixture containing hydrocodone; or to pay a fine 241 
of $750,000 if the trafficking involves code ine, any salt 242 
thereof, or any mixture containing codeine. 243 
 (2)  It is the intent of the Legislature to retroactively 244 
apply the changes to gram -weight thresholds and ranges and to 245 
penalties for trafficking in oxycodone which are applicable to 246 
offenders who committed this offense on or after July 1, 2014, 247 
the effective date of amendments to s. 893.135 by chapter 2014 -248 
176, Laws of Florida. 249 
 (a)  If a violation of s. 893.135(1)(c) involving 250     
 
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trafficking in oxycodone, as described in s. 893.03(2)(a)1.q., 251 
any salt thereof, or any mixture containing any such substance 252 
was committed before July 1, 2014, and was punishable as a 253 
felony of the first degree at the time the violation was 254 
committed, the changes must be retroactively applied as provided 255 
in this subsection. 256 
 (b)  A person who committed a trafficking violation 257 
described in paragraph (a) before July 1, 2014, but who was not 258 
sentenced for such violation before July 1, 2025, must be 259 
sentenced as provided in paragraph (d). 260 
 (c)  A person who committed a traffickin g violation 261 
described in paragraph (a) before July 1, 2014, and who is 262 
serving a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment for such 263 
violation on or after July 1, 2025, must be resentenced as 264 
provided in paragraph (d) and in accordance with subsection (3). 265 
 (d)1.  A violation described in paragraph (a) for which the 266 
person is to be sentenced or resentenced pursuant to this 267 
subsection is a felony of the first degree, punishable as 268 
provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. 775.084. 269 
 2.  If the quantity of oxycodo ne, as described in s. 270 
893.03(2)(a)1.q., any salt thereof, or any mixture containing 271 
any such substance involved in the violation of s. 893.135: 272 
 a.  Was 4 grams or more, but less than 7 grams, such person 273 
must be sentenced or resentenced as provided in s. 775.082, s. 274 
775.083, or s. 775.084. 275     
 
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 b.  Was 7 grams or more, but less than 14 grams, such 276 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 277 
term of imprisonment of 3 years and ordered to pay a fine of 278 
$50,000. 279 
 c.  Was 14 grams or more, but less than 25 grams, such 280 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 281 
term of imprisonment of 7 years and ordered to pay a fine of 282 
$100,000. 283 
 d.  Was 25 grams or more, but less than 100 grams, such 284 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 285 
term of imprisonment of 15 years and ordered to pay a fine of 286 
$500,000. 287 
 e.  Was 100 grams or more, but less than 30 kilograms, such 288 
person must be sentenced or resentenced to a mandatory minimum 289 
term of imprisonment of 25 years and ordered to pay a fine of 290 
$500,000. 291 
 (3)  Resentencing under this section must occur in the 292 
following manner: 293 
 (a)  The Department of Corrections shall notify the person 294 
described in paragraph (1)(c) or paragraph (2)(c) of his or her 295 
eligibility to request a sentence review hearing. 296 
 (b)  The person seeking sentence review under this section 297 
may submit an application to the court of original jurisdiction 298 
requesting that a sentence review hearing be held. The 299 
sentencing court retains original jurisdiction for the duration 300     
 
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of the sentence for this purpose. 301 
 (c)  A person eligible for a sentence review hearing under 302 
this section is entitled to be represented by counsel, and the 303 
court must appoint a public defender to represent the person if 304 
he or she cannot affo rd an attorney. 305 
 (d)  Upon receiving an application from the eligible 306 
person, the court of original sentencing jurisdiction shall hold 307 
a sentence review hearing to determine if the eligible person 308 
meets the criteria for resentencing under this section. If the 309 
court determines at the sentence review hearing that the 310 
eligible person meets the criteria in this section for 311 
resentencing, the court must resentence the person as provided 312 
in this section; however, the new sentence may not exceed the 313 
person's original sentence with credit for time served. If the 314 
court determines that such person does not meet the criteria for 315 
resentencing under this section, the court must provide written 316 
reasons why such person does not meet such criteria. 317 
 Section 5.  Subsection (1) of section 921.1402, Florida 318 
Statutes, is amended and subsections (8) and (9) are added to 319 
that section, to read: 320 
 921.1402  Review of sentences for persons convicted of 321 
specified offenses committed while under the age of 18 years. — 322 
 (1)  For purposes of this section, the term "juvenile 323 
offender" means a person sentenced to imprisonment in the 324 
custody of the Department of Corrections for an offense 325     
 
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committed on or after July 1, 2014, and committed before he or 326 
she attained 18 years of age. 327 
 (8)  Concurrent and consecutive sentences shall be treated 328 
as a single sentence. 329 
 (9)  It is the intent of the legislature that this statute 330 
be applied retroactively to all juvenile offenders. 331 
 Section 6.  Section 944.1915, Florida Statutes, is created 332 
to read: 333 
 944.1915  Prisoner data for redistricting purposes; duties 334 
of department.— 335 
 (1)  As used in this section, the term "last known place of 336 
residence" means the most recent residential address of an 337 
inmate before the inmate's most current term of incarcera tion 338 
that is sufficiently specific to be assigned to a census block, 339 
as determined from information furnished by the department in 340 
accordance with this section. In the case of an inmate for whom 341 
residential address information is available but is not 342 
sufficiently specific to allow the address to be assigned to a 343 
census block, the "last known place of residence" means a 344 
randomly determined census block located within the smallest 345 
geographical area that can be identified based on the 346 
residential address infor mation furnished by the department. 347 
 (2)  Beginning in 2030 and in each year ending in the 348 
number zero thereafter, the department shall furnish to the 349 
Legislature, in the form of a single electronic file for each 350     
 
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database maintained by the department, information regarding 351 
each inmate incarcerated in a state correctional facility on the 352 
decennial Census Day. This information shall be furnished not 353 
sooner than the decennial Census Day and not later than 90 days 354 
after the decennial Census Day. 355 
 (3)  The information furnished by the department under 356 
subsection (2) shall include the following for each inmate: 357 
 (a)  A unique identifier, other than the inmate's name or 358 
department number. 359 
 (b)  Any information maintained by the department about the 360 
residential address or addresses at which the inmate was 361 
domiciled before the inmate's most current term of 362 
incarceration, including any available information about the 363 
date on which each address was added to records maintained by 364 
the department. If the department doe s not have any residential 365 
address information for an inmate, the information furnished by 366 
the department shall state that fact. 367 
 (c)  The inmate's ethnicity, as identified by the inmate, 368 
and the inmate's race, to the extent such information is 369 
maintained by the department. 370 
 (d)  The address of the correctional facility where the 371 
inmate is incarcerated on the decennial Census Day. 372 
 (4)  The department shall exclude all inmates in federal 373 
custody in a facility within this state from the information 374 
furnished pursuant to this section. 375     
 
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 (5)  In order to comply with its obligation to ensure that 376 
a complete and accurate computerized database is available for 377 
redistricting, the Legislature shall ensure that the information 378 
provided by the department is included in computerized 379 
redistricting database. 380 
 (6)  The Legislature shall deem each incarcerated person as 381 
residing at that person's last known place of residence, rather 382 
than at the institution of that person's incarceration, and 383 
shall use the information furnish ed to it pursuant to this 384 
section in carrying out its redistricting responsibilities under 385 
the state constitution. The Legislature, when it uses 386 
information regarding inmates that is furnished pursuant to this 387 
section, shall: 388 
 (a)  Deem an inmate incarcera ted in a state correctional 389 
facility for whom the last known place of residence is either 390 
outside this state or cannot be determined to reside at an 391 
unknown geographical location in the state and exclude the 392 
inmate from the population count for any distric t or precinct. 393 
 (b)  Adjust race and ethnicity data in districts and 394 
precincts that contain prisons in a manner that reflects 395 
reductions in the local population as inmates are included in 396 
the population count of the district or precinct of their last 397 
known place of residence and, to the extent practicable, those 398 
deemed to reside at an unknown geographic location. 399 
 Section 7.  Subsection (2) of section 960.293, Florida 400     
 
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Statutes, is amended to read: 401 
 960.293  Determination of damages and losses. — 402 
 (2)  Upon conviction, a convicted offender is liable to the 403 
state and its local subdivisions for damages and losses for 404 
incarceration costs and other correctional costs. 405 
 (a)  if the conviction is for a capital or life felony, the 406 
convicted offender is liable for i ncarceration costs and other 407 
correctional costs in the liquidated damage amount of $250,000. 408 
 (b)  If the conviction is for an offense other than a 409 
capital or life felony, a liquidated damage amount of $50 per 410 
day of the convicted offender's sentence shall be assessed 411 
against the convicted offender and in favor of the state or its 412 
local subdivisions. Damages shall be based upon the length of 413 
the sentence imposed by the court at the time of sentencing. 414 
 Section 8.  Section 985.557, Florida Statutes, is ame nded 415 
to read: 416 
 985.557  Direct filing of an information; discretionary 417 
criteria.— 418 
 (1)  DISCRETIONARY DIRECT FILE. — 419 
 (a)  With respect to any child who was 14 or 15 years of 420 
age at the time the alleged offense was committed, the state 421 
attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 422 
makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that when in the 423 
state attorney's judgment and discretion the public interest 424 
requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed and when 425     
 
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the offense charged is for the commission of, attempt to commit, 426 
or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a life felony. : 427 
 1.  Arson; 428 
 2.  Sexual battery; 429 
 3.  Robbery; 430 
 4.  Kidnapping; 431 
 5.  Aggravated child abuse; 432 
 6.  Aggravated assault; 433 
 7.  Aggravated stalking; 434 
 8.  Murder; 435 
 9.  Manslaughter; 436 
 10.  Unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a 437 
destructive device or bomb; 438 
 11.  Armed burglary in violation of s. 810.02(2)(b) or 439 
specified burglary of a dwelling or structure in violation of s. 440 
810.02(2)(c), or burglary with an a ssault or battery in 441 
violation of s. 810.02(2)(a); 442 
 12.  Aggravated battery; 443 
 13.  Any lewd or lascivious offense committed upon or in 444 
the presence of a person less than 16 years of age; 445 
 14.  Carrying, displaying, using, threatening, or 446 
attempting to use a weapon or firearm during the commission of a 447 
felony; 448 
 15.  Grand theft in violation of s. 812.014(2)(a); 449 
 16.  Possessing or discharging any weapon or firearm on 450     
 
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school property in violation of s. 790.115; 451 
 17.  Home invasion robbery; 452 
 18.  Carjacking; or 453 
 19.  Grand theft of a motor vehicle in violation of s. 454 
812.014(2)(c)6. or grand theft of a motor vehicle valued at 455 
$20,000 or more in violation of s. 812.014(2)(b) if the child 456 
has a previous adjudication for grand theft of a motor vehicle 457 
in violation of s. 812.014(2)(c)6. or s. 812.014(2)(b). 458 
 (b)  With respect to any child who was 14 or 15 years of 459 
age at the time the alleged offense was committed, and who has 460 
two prior juvenile adjudications or adjudications withheld, and 461 
at least one of which was fo r a felony offense, the state 462 
attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 463 
makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that the public 464 
interest requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed 465 
and when the offense charged is for the c ommission of, attempt 466 
to commit, or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a 467 
first degree punishable by life. 468 
 (c)(b) With respect to any child who was 16 or 17 years of 469 
age at the time the alleged offense was committed, the state 470 
attorney may file an information after a juvenile court judge 471 
makes a finding pursuant to subsection (2) that when in the 472 
state attorney's judgment and discretion the public interest 473 
requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed and when 474 
the offense charged is for the commission of, attempt to commit, 475     
 
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or conspiracy to commit a felony designated as a first degree 476 
felony, first degree felony punishable by life, or a life 477 
felony. However, the state attorney may not file an informatio n 478 
on a child charged with a misdemeanor, unless the child has had 479 
at least two previous adjudications or adjudications withheld 480 
for delinquent acts, one of which involved an offense classified 481 
as a felony under state law. 482 
 (2)  JUDICIAL FINDINGS. —Before the state attorney may file 483 
an information against a child as provided in subsection (1), a 484 
juvenile court judge must make a written finding that the public 485 
interest requires that adult sanctions be considered or imposed. 486 
In making this finding, the juvenile court judge shall consider 487 
any factor it deems appropriate, including all of the following: 488 
 (a)  The juvenile's prior delinquency history, including 489 
the nature and frequency of past offenses. 490 
 (b)  The juvenile's cognitive development, emotional 491 
maturity, and any mental health issues. 492 
 (c)  An assessment of whether the juvenile is likely to 493 
benefit from rehabilitative services within the juvenile justice 494 
system. 495 
 (d)  Whether the juvenile justice system has adequate 496 
resources and programs to address the j uvenile's needs. 497 
 (e)  The specific facts of the case, including the 498 
juvenile's role in the offense, the presence of any adult co -499 
defendants, and any mitigating circumstances. 500     
 
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 (f)  The effect of the offense on the victim and the 501 
community. 502 
 (g)  Any evaluations and recommendation from a 503 
psychologist, social worker, or other relevant expert regarding 504 
the juvenile's potential for rehabilitation. 505 
 (h)  The juvenile's home environment, including support 506 
systems, family stability, and socio -economic factors. 507 
 (i)  The likelihood that the juvenile will reoffend if not 508 
subject to adult sanctions 509 
 (3)(2) EFFECT OF DIRECT FILE. — 510 
 (a)  Once a child has been transferred for criminal 511 
prosecution pursuant to an information and has been found to 512 
have committed the prese nting offense or a lesser included 513 
offense, the child shall be handled thereafter in every respect 514 
as if an adult for any subsequent violation of state law, unless 515 
the court imposes juvenile sanctions under s. 985.565. 516 
 (b)  When a child is transferred for criminal prosecution 517 
as an adult, the court shall immediately transfer and certify to 518 
the adult circuit court all felony cases pertaining to the 519 
child, for prosecution of the child as an adult, which have not 520 
yet resulted in a plea of guilty or nolo contendere or in which 521 
a finding of guilt has not been made. If a child is acquitted of 522 
all charged offenses or lesser included offenses contained in 523 
the original case transferred to adult court, all felony cases 524 
that were transferred to adult court as a result of this 525     
 
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paragraph shall be subject to the same penalties to which such 526 
cases would have been subject before being transferred to adult 527 
court. 528 
 (c)  When a child has been transferred for criminal 529 
prosecution as an adult and has been found to have committed a 530 
violation of state law, the disposition of the case may be made 531 
under s. 985.565 and may include the enforcement of any 532 
restitution ordered in any juvenile proceeding. 533 
 (4)(3) INFORMATION.—An information filed pursua nt to this 534 
section may include all charges that are based on the same act, 535 
criminal episode, or transaction as the primary offenses. 536 
 (5)  RETURN OF JUVENILE TO JUVENILE DIVISION. —If at any 537 
time during the circuit court proceedings, a circuit judge 538 
believes that a juvenile offender is not fit for adult 539 
sanctions, the circuit court judge can return the juvenile to 540 
the juvenile division for resolution of the case. The circuit 541 
court judge must file a written order articulating his reason 542 
for believing that the juvenile is not fit for adult sanctions. 543 
 Section 9. This act shall take effect July 1, 2025. 544