HB 811

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to faith- and character-based correctional
3	institution programs; amending s. 944.803, F.S.; revising
4	legislative findings; providing requirements for faith-
5	and character-based programs; deleting provisions relating
6	to funding; revising requirements for participation;
7	deleting provisions relating to assignment of chaplains;
8	providing an effective date.
9
10	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12	Section 1.  Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
13	to read:
14	944.803  Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs
15	for inmates.-
16	(1)  The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and
17	character-based faith-based programs offered in state and
18	private correctional institutions and facilities have the
19	potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help
20	inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism.
21	(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
22	department of Corrections and the private vendors operating
23	private correctional facilities shall continuously:
24	(a)  Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have
25	participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.;
26	(b)  Increase the number of volunteers who minister to
27	inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the
28	community.;
29	(c)  Develop community linkages with secular institutions
30	as well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based
31	institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the
32	community.; and
33	(d)  Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in
34	department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds
35	pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate
36	number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based
37	programs in correctional institutions.
38	(3)(a)  The department must have at least six new programs
39	fully operational. These six programs shall be similar to and in
40	addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The six new
41	programs shall be a joint effort with the department and faith-
42	based service groups within the community. The department shall
43	ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack thereof, will
44	not be considered in determining admission to a faith- and
45	character-based faith-based program and that the program does
46	not attempt to convert an inmate toward a particular faith or
47	religious preference.
48	(b)  The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the
49	existing correctional facilities and. The programs must
50	emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful
51	work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
52	(c)  Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program
53	shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
54	participating in this program must be within 36 months of
55	release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based
56	on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to
57	be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an
58	inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who
59	have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to
60	substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or
61	otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not
62	remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the
63	purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may
64	subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-
65	time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or
66	safety concerns. To support the programming component, the
67	department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical
68	support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and
69	monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation
70	and support.
71	(4)  The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains
72	to community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
73	945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer
74	participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to
75	assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate,
76	placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance
77	abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a
78	contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the
79	institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to
80	successfully place the released inmate.
81	(4)(5)  The department shall ensure that any faith
82	component of any program authorized in this chapter is offered
83	on a voluntary basis and, an offender's faith orientation, or
84	lack thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to
85	such a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt
86	to convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious
87	preference.
88	(5)(6)  The department shall ensure that state funds are
89	not expended for the purpose of furthering religious
90	indoctrination, but rather, that state funds are expended for
91	purposes of furthering the secular goals of criminal
92	rehabilitation, the successful reintegration of offenders into
93	the community, and the reduction of recidivism.
94	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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