HB 0459CS

CHAMBER ACTION




1The Criminal Justice Committee recommends the following:
2
3     Council/Committee Substitute
4     Remove the entire bill and insert:
5
A bill to be entitled
6An act relating to inmate substance abuse services;
7creating s. 397.755, F.S.; directing the Department of
8Corrections to create a substance abuse reentry program;
9providing eligibility criteria for the program; requiring
10judicial approval for entry to the program; requiring
11specified notice; providing a time limit for the judge to
12respond; directing the department to prepare a postrelease
13treatment plan; requiring the department to notify the
14judge before releasing the inmate into the community;
15requiring the inmate to abide by the order of supervision
16and the rules of the department; directing the department
17to provide special training to employees working in the
18program; authorizing the department to develop
19performance-based contracts to supply services to the
20program; permitting the department to establish a system
21of incentives to promote participation in rehabilitative
22programs; providing that this act does not confer any
23right to placement in the substance abuse reentry program;
24directing the department to track recidivism and
25recommitment of inmates who have participated in the
26program; requiring a report to the Governor and
27Legislature; requiring a review and report by the Office
28of Program Policy Analysis and Government Accountability;
29authorizing rulemaking; providing an effective date.
30
31Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
32
33     Section 1.  Section 397.755, Florida Statutes, is created
34to read:
35     397.755  Substance abuse reentry program.--
36     (1)  DEPARTMENT TO DEVELOP PROGRAM.--The department shall
37develop and implement a substance abuse reentry program for
38inmates. The program shall provide a mechanism by which an
39eligible, nonviolent, low-risk inmate who poses a minimal
40foreseeable risk to the public and who has been identified as
41being in need of substance abuse treatment may be diverted into
42a substance abuse reentry program. The substance abuse reentry
43program shall consist of a prison-based substance abuse
44treatment program and a community-based aftercare treatment
45program. The substance abuse reentry program must be
46specifically designed to be intensive and may have a work-
47release component as part of the program. The in-prison
48component may be operated in secure areas in or adjacent to an
49adult institution, a community residential center, or a work-
50release center.
51     (2)  PRELIMINARY ELIGIBILITY.--The department shall screen
52all incoming inmates to determine their eligibility for the
53substance abuse reentry program and shall continuously screen
54all inmates incarcerated in department institutions and
55facilities for eligibility to participate in the substance abuse
56reentry program. A sentencing court may recommend to the
57department that an inmate be considered for admission to the
58reentry program. When screening for inclusion in the substance
59abuse reentry program, the department may consider the inmate's
60criminal history, need for substance abuse treatment, general
61rehabilitative interests, and potential risk to the public. The
62department may also consider the operational needs of the
63department and the victim's comments.
64     (a)  An inmate is ineligible for consideration for
65placement in the program if:
66     1.  The inmate was sentenced to a term of 10 years or more;
67     2.  The inmate has less than 18 months remaining in his or
68her sentence;
69     3.  The inmate has twice before been incarcerated in state
70or federal prison; or
71     4.  Whether related to the current term of incarceration,
72or a previous term of incarceration, the inmate was convicted of
73or pled guilty or no contest to:
74     a.  Any capital, life, or first degree felony;
75     b.  Any second or third degree felony offense listed in s.
76775.084(1)(c)1.;
77     c.  Any offense listed in s. 784.07, s. 784.021, s. 800.04,
78s. 827.03, or s. 843.01;
79     d.  Any offense where the sentence was enhanced pursuant to
80s. 775.087; or
81     e.  Any offense in another jurisdiction that would be an
82offense described in sub-subparagraphs a.-c., or that would have
83been enhanced pursuant s. 775.087, if that offense had been
84committed in this state.
85     (b)  An inmate is eligible for consideration for placement
86in the program if:
87     1.  The inmate is not ineligible pursuant to paragraph (a).
88     2.  The inmate is in need of substance abuse treatment.
89     3.  The inmate agrees to participate in the program.
90     4.  The department has placed the inmate in minimum or
91community custody status.
92     5.  The inmate otherwise meets the criteria for placement
93as determined by the department. The criteria shall include, but
94not be limited to, consideration of the inmate's criminal
95history, need for substance abuse treatment, general
96rehabilitative interests, potential risk to the public, and the
97operational needs of the department.
98     (3)  ADMISSION INTO PROGRAM.--No inmate shall be admitted
99into the substance abuse reentry program without written
100approval of the sentencing court.
101     (a)  If an inmate meets the criteria for program admission,
102the department approves the inmate for entry into the program,
103and space is available, the department shall give written
104notification to the sentencing court, state attorney, counsel
105for the inmate, and any victim of the department's desire to
106admit the inmate into the program. The notice must set forth the
107time limits of this section. The state attorney and any victim
108may provide the sentencing court with written comments regarding
109the inmate's placement in the program, which comments must be
110received by the court on or before 20 days after the
111department's intent was mailed.
112     (b)  After consideration of comments, if any, by the state
113attorney and any victim, the sentencing court shall notify the
114department of the court's approval of the inmate's admission
115into the program within 30 days after the department's intent
116was mailed. Alternatively, the court may, within the 30-day
117period, set a hearing on the matter. At the hearing, the court
118may examine and admonish the inmate and may inquire of the
119department, the state attorney, and the victim. Within 5 days
120after the hearing, the court shall determine whether to allow
121the inmate to enter the program.
122     (c)  If the court fails to either approve the inmate's
123admission into the program or to set a hearing within the 30-day
124time period, the court will be deemed to have rejected the
125inmate for participation in the program. Admission into the
126program is not a right, it is a matter of grace; accordingly, a
127sentencing court may refuse to agree to admission to the program
128for any reason, and a court's refusal to agree to admission to
129the program may not be challenged or appealed.
130     (4)  PROCEDURE UPON ADMISSION TO PROGRAM; IN-PRISON
131TREATMENT.--If an inmate is approved by the sentencing court for
132admission in the program, the department shall commence an in-
133prison treatment component. Before the inmate completes the in-
134prison treatment component, the department shall evaluate the
135inmate's needs and develop a postrelease treatment plan that
136includes substance abuse aftercare services. If, after placement
137in the reentry program, the inmate appears unable to participate
138due to medical or other reasons, he or she must be examined by
139qualified medical personnel or qualified nonmedical personnel
140appropriate for the inmate's situation, as determined by the
141department. The qualified personnel shall consult with the
142director of the substance abuse reentry program, and the
143director shall determine if the inmate may continue with
144treatment or if the inmate must be discharged from the program.
145An inmate in the substance abuse reentry program is subject to
146the rules of conduct established by the department and may have
147sanctions imposed, including loss of privileges, restrictions,
148disciplinary confinement, forfeiture of gain-time or the right
149to earn gain-time in the future, alteration of release plans,
150termination from the substance abuse reentry program, or other
151program modifications in keeping with the nature and gravity of
152the program violation. The department may place an inmate in the
153substance abuse reentry program in an administrative or
154protective confinement, as necessary. If the inmate does not
155successfully complete the in-prison treatment program, the
156department shall notify the sentencing court.
157     (5)  PROCEDURE UPON COMPLETION OF THE IN-PRISON TREATMENT
158COMPONENT.--Following completion of the in-prison treatment
159component, the inmate shall be brought before the sentencing
160court for conversion of the remainder of the inmate's prison
161sentence to drug offender probation.
162     (a)  While in the community, the inmate shall be subject to
163all standard terms of drug offender probation, plus any special
164conditions of supervision ordered by the court, including
165participation in an aftercare substance abuse program, residence
166in a postrelease transitional residential halfway house, or any
167other appropriate form of supervision or treatment.
168     (b)  If the sentencing county has established a drug court,
169and if the drug court will accept the case, the inmate's case
170shall be transferred to a drug court or reentry drug court.
171Where transferred, the drug court judge shall be deemed the
172sentencing judge for purposes of this section, and the drug
173court shall be responsible for collecting the cost of
174supervision from the inmate.
175     (c)  An inmate on drug offender probation, or drug court
176supervision pursuant to this section, shall comply with all
177conditions of supervision imposed by the modified sentencing
178order and shall comply with all orders of the drug court.
179Violation of any condition or order may result in revocation of
180supervision by the court and imposition of any sentence
181authorized under the law.
182     (d)  While on drug offender probation or drug court
183supervision, the inmate shall pay the cost of supervision to the
184state or the drug court, as appropriate. An inmate who is
185financially able to shall also pay all costs of drug
186rehabilitation and treatment. The court may impose on the inmate
187additional conditions requiring payment of restitution, court
188costs, and fines; public service; and compliance with other
189special conditions.
190     (6)  DUTIES OF THE DEPARTMENT.--The department shall
191implement the substance abuse reentry program to the fullest
192extent feasible within the terms of this section and available
193resources. The department shall provide a special training
194program for staff members selected to serve in the substance
195abuse reentry program.
196     (7)  CONTRACTORS.--The department may develop and enter
197into performance-based contracts with qualified individuals,
198agencies, or corporations to supply any or all services provided
199in the substance abuse reentry program. However, no contract
200shall be entered into or renewed unless the contract offers a
201substantial savings to the department. The department may
202establish a system of incentives within the substance abuse
203reentry program to promote participation in rehabilitative
204programs and the orderly operation of institutions and
205facilities.
206     (8)  NO RIGHTS CONFERRED UPON INMATES.--This section does
207not create or confer any right to any inmate to placement in the
208substance abuse reentry program or any right to placement or
209early release under supervision of any type. No inmate shall
210have a cause of action against the department, a court, the
211state attorney, or a victim related to the substance abuse
212reentry program.
213     (9)  REPORTING.--
214     (a)  The department shall develop a computerized system to
215track recidivism and recommitment of inmates who have
216participated in the substance abuse reentry program. Commencing
217October 1, 2007, and on October 1 of each succeeding year, the
218department shall submit an annual report of the results of the
219collected data to the Governor, the President of the Senate, and
220the Speaker of the House of Representatives.
221     (b)  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and Government
222Accountability shall review the substance abuse reentry program
223and report its findings to the President of the Senate and the
224Speaker of the House of Representatives before the commencement
225of the 2009 legislative session.
226     (10)  RULEMAKING.--The department may adopt rules pursuant
227to ss. 120.536(1) and 120.54 to implement this section and to
228administer the substance abuse reentry program.
229     Section 2.  This act shall take effect July 1, 2005.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.