Florida Senate - 2024                                    SB 1760
       
       
        
       By Senator Rouson
       
       
       
       
       
       16-00819A-24                                          20241760__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to nonviolent drug offenders
    3         converting fines and fees into community service;
    4         creating s. 948.016, F.S.; defining the term
    5         “nonviolent”; specifying eligibility for nonviolent
    6         drug offenders to convert fines and fees into
    7         community service hours; specifying the conversion
    8         rate; providing requirements for the completion of
    9         community service hours; requiring the clerk of the
   10         court to create a form; requiring court notification
   11         and the provision of documents and information to
   12         nonviolent drug offenders; providing applicability;
   13         providing an effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 948.016, Florida Statutes, is created to
   18  read:
   19         948.016 Nonviolent drug offender petition for converting
   20  fines and fees into community service hours; eligibility;
   21  requirements.—
   22         (1) DEFINITION.—As used in this section, the term
   23  “nonviolent” means was not convicted of, or did not plead guilty
   24  or nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any felony or
   25  the attempt to commit any felony listed in s. 775.084(1)(c)1. or
   26  s. 948.06(8)(c).
   27         (2) ELIGIBILITY; CONVERSION RATE.—An individual who has
   28  successfully completed drug offender probation or a treatment
   29  program for one or more nonviolent drug offenses and is enrolled
   30  in at least one continuing education course may submit to the
   31  clerk of the court, along with supporting documentation of such
   32  course or courses, a petition to convert any fines or fees
   33  resulting from a conviction for such nonviolent drug offense to
   34  community service hours. Upon receipt of a completed petition,
   35  the clerk of the court must grant it. The conversion is 1
   36  community service hour for every $15 owed by the individual.
   37         (3) REQUIREMENTS.—The community service hours must be
   38  completed within an addiction treatment facility or other
   39  similar facility that helps individuals who committed drug
   40  offenses.
   41         (4) FORM.—The clerk of the court shall create a form,
   42  publish it online, and provide it upon request in paper form for
   43  petitioners to complete.
   44         (5) REQUIRED NOTIFICATION AND PROVISION OF DOCUMENTS AND
   45  INFORMATION.—A court shall notify each nonviolent drug offender
   46  of the existence of the option for converting fines and fees
   47  into community service hours under this section and shall
   48  require the clerk of the court to provide to each nonviolent
   49  drug offender a written or electronic copy of this section and
   50  information and instructions on how to complete a petition.
   51         (6) APPLICABILITY.—This section does not apply to an
   52  individual who is convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo
   53  contendere to, regardless of adjudication, or the attempt of,
   54  any of the following:
   55         (a) An offense that meets the definition of a sexual
   56  offender as defined in s. 943.0435.
   57         (b) Any offense that is not nonviolent.
   58         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2024.