HB 0649 2003
1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to restoration of civil rights; amending
3	ss. 940.061, 944.293, and 944.605, F.S.; requiring that
4	the Department of Corrections notify an offender, before
5	discharge from supervision, of procedures by which the
6	offender may apply for restoration of civil rights;
7	requiring that the department assist the offender in
8	completing forms required for restoration of civil rights;
9	requiring that the offender acknowledge by signature
10	receipt of such assistance; amending s. 944.705, F.S.;
11	requiring the department to include in its release-
12	orientation program instruction in the procedures for
13	applying for restoration of civil rights; providing an
14	effective date.
15
16	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
17
18	Section 1. Section 940.061, Florida Statutes, is amended
19	to read:
20	940.061 Informing persons about executive clemency and
21	restoration of civil rights.--The Department of Corrections
22	shall inform and educate inmates and offenders on community
23	supervision about the restoration of civil rights and assist
24	eligible inmates and offenders on community supervision with the
25	completion of the application for the restoration of civil
26	rights. To document this notification, the department shall
27	obtain the signature of each offender before the offender's
28	discharge acknowledging receipt of assistance in completing the
29	forms.
30	Section 2. Section 944.293, Florida Statutes, is amended
31	to read:
32	944.293 Initiation of restoration of civil rights.--With
33	respect to those persons convicted of a felony, the following
34	procedure shall apply: Prior to the time an offender is
35	discharged from supervision, an authorized agent of the
36	department shall obtain from the Governor the necessary
37	application and other forms required for the restoration of
38	civil rights. The authorized agent shall assist the offender in
39	completing these forms and shall ensure that the application and
40	all necessary material are forwarded to the Governor before the
41	offender is discharged from supervision. To document compliance
42	with this section, before an offender is discharged from
43	supervision, the department shall obtain the signature of the
44	offender acknowledging receipt of assistance in completing the
45	forms required for restoration of civil rights.
46	Section 3. Present subsection (6) of section 944.605,
47	Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
48	subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
49	944.605 Inmate release; notification.--
50	(6) Before an inmate's release, the department shall
51	notify the inmate of the procedures necessary to apply for
52	restoration of civil rights. Pursuant to ss. 944.293 and 940.03,
53	the department shall obtain the signature of each inmate before
54	the inmate's release acknowledging receipt of assistance in
55	completing the forms.
56	Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 944.705, Florida
57	Statutes, is amended to read:
58	944.705 Release orientation program.--
59	(2) The release orientation program instruction must
60	include, but is not limited to:
61	(a) Employment skills.
62	(b) Money management skills.
63	(c) Personal development and planning.
64	(d) Special needs.
65	(e) Community reentry concerns.
66	(f) Community reentry support.
67	(g) Procedures to apply for restoration of civil rights.
68	(h)(g)Any other appropriate instruction to ensure the
69	inmate's successful reentry into the community.
70	Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.