Florida Senate - 2020                                    SB 1686
       
       
        
       By Senator Torres
       
       
       
       
       
       15-01262A-20                                          20201686__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to military veterans and
    3         servicemembers court programs; amending s. 394.47891,
    4         F.S.; requiring the chief judge of each judicial
    5         circuit to establish a military veterans and
    6         servicemembers court program; requiring the chief
    7         judge to consider nationally recognized best practices
    8         when adopting policies and procedures for the program;
    9         providing an effective date.
   10  
   11  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   12  
   13         Section 1. Section 394.47891, Florida Statutes, is amended
   14  to read:
   15         394.47891 Military veterans and servicemembers court
   16  programs.—
   17         (1) The chief judge of each judicial circuit shall may
   18  establish a Military Veterans and Servicemembers Court Program
   19  under which veterans, as defined in s. 1.01; veterans who were
   20  discharged or released under any condition; servicemembers, as
   21  defined in s. 250.01; individuals who are current or former
   22  United States Department of Defense contractors; and individuals
   23  who are current or former military members of a foreign allied
   24  country, who are charged or convicted of a criminal offense, and
   25  who suffer from a military-related mental illness, traumatic
   26  brain injury, substance abuse disorder, or psychological problem
   27  can be sentenced in accordance with chapter 921 in a manner that
   28  appropriately addresses the severity of the mental illness,
   29  traumatic brain injury, substance abuse disorder, or
   30  psychological problem through services tailored to the
   31  individual needs of the participant. Entry into any Military
   32  Veterans and Servicemembers Court Program must be based upon the
   33  sentencing court’s assessment of the defendant’s criminal
   34  history, military service, substance abuse treatment needs,
   35  mental health treatment needs, amenability to the services of
   36  the program, the recommendation of the state attorney and the
   37  victim, if any, and the defendant’s agreement to enter the
   38  program.
   39         (2) The chief judge shall consider nationally recognized
   40  best practices in adopting policies and procedures for the
   41  program.
   42         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.