Bill Text: FL S1038 | 2023 | Regular Session | Introduced

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Bill Title: Citizens Collaborative Council

Spectrum: Partisan Bill (Democrat 1-0)

Status: (Failed) 2023-05-05 - Died in Criminal Justice [S1038 Detail]

Download: Florida-2023-S1038-Introduced.html

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       Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1038
       
       
        
       By Senator Powell
       
       
       
       
       
       24-01217-23                                           20231038__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Citizens Collaborative Council;
    3         creating s. 944.0232, F.S.; creating the advisory
    4         council adjunct to the Department of Corrections;
    5         providing for initial appointments to the advisory
    6         board by a specified date; providing duties and
    7         responsibilities of the council; requiring the council
    8         to serve as a liaison between certain persons;
    9         specifying the council’s purpose; specifying that
   10         council members serve without compensation but are
   11         entitled to reimbursement for per diem and travel
   12         expenses; providing an effective date.
   13          
   14  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   15  
   16         Section 1. Section 944.0232, Florida Statutes, is created
   17  to read:
   18         944.0232 Citizens Collaborative Council.—
   19         (1) The Citizens Collaborative Council, an advisory council
   20  as defined in s. 20.03(7), is created adjunct to the department.
   21  Except as otherwise provided in this section, the council shall
   22  operate in a manner consistent with s. 20.052.
   23         (2)(a) The council shall consist of the following members:
   24         1. Four members appointed by the President of the Senate.
   25         2. Four members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
   26  Senate.
   27         3. Four members appointed by the Speaker of the House of
   28  Representatives.
   29         4. Four members appointed by the Minority Leader of the
   30  House of Representatives.
   31         (b) The initial members of the council shall be appointed
   32  by October 1, 2023. Members shall be appointed for terms of 4
   33  years. However, to achieve staggered terms, one member of each
   34  appointing authority shall be appointed for an initial 2-year
   35  term. Members must be appointed equally within each region of
   36  the department. The council’s membership shall include, to the
   37  greatest extent possible, former prisoners, persons who are
   38  directly impacted by the correctional system, and criminal
   39  justice or prison reform advocates.
   40         (3) The council’s primary duties and responsibilities
   41  include:
   42         (a) Regularly conducting unannounced visits to adult
   43  correctional facilities, including facilities operated by
   44  private contractors. Council members may enter any correctional
   45  facility in which prisoners are kept, shall be immediately
   46  admitted to such facilities upon a member’s request, and may
   47  consult and confer with any prisoner. Upon any finding of
   48  concern, a council member must immediately contact the warden
   49  and the two will work together to resolve the concern.
   50         (b) Conducting confidential interviews with administrators,
   51  staff, officers, prisoners, prisoners’ families or loved ones,
   52  volunteers, and public officials relating to the operations and
   53  conditions of correctional facilities as well as the general
   54  health and welfare of the prisoners.
   55         (c) Conducting telephone interviews with prisoners in a
   56  manner similar to that of legal counsel in a private area using
   57  a telephone that is not recorded.
   58         (d) Making recommendations to the classification teams,
   59  including recommendations regarding close management,
   60  administrative confinement, and disciplinary hearings.
   61         (4) The council may not interfere with the day-to-day
   62  operations of the department or any facilities operated by or on
   63  behalf of the department, but shall serve as a liaison between
   64  administrators, staff, prisoners, and prisoners’ families or
   65  loved ones.
   66         (5) The council’s purpose is to transcend the turmoil that
   67  exists between administrators, staff, officers, prisoners, or
   68  prisoners’ families or loved ones, and a council member may not
   69  discuss any circumstances or findings with the media or any
   70  person who is not a member or an appointing authority of the
   71  council.
   72         (6) Members of the council shall serve without compensation
   73  but are entitled to receive reimbursement for per diem and
   74  travel expenses as provided in s. 112.061.
   75         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.