Florida Senate - 2011                                    SB 2018
       
       
       
       By Senator Braynon
       
       
       
       
       33-02420-11                                           20112018__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to faith-based prison programs;
    3         amending s. 944.803, F.S.; deleting a requirement that
    4         a specified percentage of inmates in such programs be
    5         within 36 months of release; providing an effective
    6         date.
    7  
    8  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
    9  
   10         Section 1. Subsection (3) of section 944.803, Florida
   11  Statutes, is amended to read:
   12         944.803 Faith-based programs for inmates.—
   13         (3) The department must have at least six new programs
   14  fully operational. These six programs shall be similar to and in
   15  addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The six new
   16  programs shall be a joint effort with the department and faith
   17  based service groups within the community. The department shall
   18  ensure that an inmate’s faith orientation, or lack thereof, will
   19  not be considered in determining admission to a faith-based
   20  program and that the program does not attempt to convert an
   21  inmate toward a particular faith or religious preference. The
   22  programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the existing
   23  correctional facilities. The programs must emphasize the
   24  importance of personal responsibility, meaningful work,
   25  education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
   26  Participation in the faith-based dormitory program shall be
   27  voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
   28  participating in this program must be within 36 months of
   29  release. Assignment to these programs shall be based on
   30  evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to be
   31  assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an inmate
   32  for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who have
   33  shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to substance
   34  abuse program services is not stated, intended, or otherwise
   35  implied by this subsection. The department may not remove an
   36  inmate once assigned to the program except for the purposes of
   37  population management, for inmate conduct that may subject the
   38  inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-time, for
   39  physical or mental health concerns, or for security or safety
   40  concerns. To support the programming component, the department
   41  shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical support person
   42  dedicated to each dormitory to implement and monitor the program
   43  and to strengthen volunteer participation and support.
   44         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2011.