CS/CS/HB 369

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 legislative intent;
5	providing requirements for faith- and character-based
6	programs; deleting provisions relating to funding;
7	revising requirements for participation; deleting
8	provisions relating to assignment of chaplains; allowing
9	peer-to-peer programming whenever appropriate; providing
10	an effective date.
11
12	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
13
14	Section 1.  Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
15	to read:
16	944.803  Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs
17	for inmates.-
18	(1)  The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and
19	character-based faith-based programs offered in state and
20	private correctional institutions and facilities have the
21	potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help
22	inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism.
23	(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
24	department expand the faith- and character-based initiative
25	through the use of faith- and character-based institutions. The
26	department is encouraged to phase out the faith-based and self
27	improvement dormitory programs and move toward the goal of only
28	implementing faith- and character-based institutions.
29	(3)(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
30	department of Corrections and the private vendors operating
31	private correctional facilities shall continuously:
32	(a)  Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have
33	participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.;
34	(b)  Increase the number of volunteers who minister to
35	inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the
36	community.;
37	(c)  Develop community linkages with secular institutions
38	as well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based
39	institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the
40	community.; and
41	(d)  Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in
42	department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds
43	pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate
44	number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based
45	programs in correctional institutions.
46	(4)(a)(3)  The department must have at least six new
47	programs fully operational. These six programs shall be similar
48	to and in addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The
49	six new programs shall be a joint effort with the department and
50	faith-based service groups within the community. The department
51	shall ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack
52	thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to a
53	faith- and character-based faith-based program and that the
54	program does not attempt to convert an inmate toward a
55	particular faith or religious preference.
56	(b)  The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the
57	existing correctional facilities and. The programs must
58	emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful
59	work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
60	(c)  Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program
61	shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
62	participating in this program must be within 36 months of
63	release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based
64	on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to
65	be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an
66	inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who
67	have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to
68	substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or
69	otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not
70	remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the
71	purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may
72	subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-
73	time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or
74	safety concerns. To support the programming component, the
75	department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical
76	support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and
77	monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation
78	and support.
79	(4)  The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains
80	to community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
81	945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer
82	participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to
83	assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate,
84	placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance
85	abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a
86	contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the
87	institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to
88	successfully place the released inmate.
89	(5)  The department shall ensure that any faith component
90	of any program authorized in this chapter is offered on a
91	voluntary basis and, an offender's faith orientation, or lack
92	thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to such
93	a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt to
94	convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious
95	preference.
96	(6)  Within faith- and character-based institutions of the
97	state correctional system, peer-to-peer programming shall be
98	allowed, such as Alcoholics Anonymous, literacy instruction, and
99	other activities, when appropriate.
100	(7)(6)  The department shall ensure that state funds are
101	not expended for the purpose of furthering religious
102	indoctrination, but rather, that state funds are expended for
103	purposes of furthering the secular goals of criminal
104	rehabilitation, the successful reintegration of offenders into
105	the community, and the reduction of recidivism.
106	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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