House Bill 183 amends the Florida Criminal Punishment Code to prioritize rehabilitation alongside punishment in the sentencing process. The bill revises the legislative intent to emphasize the importance of rehabilitating offenders for successful reintegration into the community. It reduces the minimum time a defendant must serve from 85 percent to 72 percent of their sentence and introduces new gain-time provisions, including "outstanding deed gain-time," "good behavior time," and "rehabilitation credits," which incentivize positive behavior and participation in productive activities while incarcerated. The bill also establishes specific requirements for awarding these credits, ensuring that no prisoner can be released before serving at least 72 percent of their sentence.

Additionally, HB 183 enhances penalties for various offenses, particularly those involving vulnerable road users, firearms, and violent crimes. It reclassifies certain felonies based on the severity of the crime committed during another felony, raising the degree of the offense for specific criteria. The bill eliminates "incentive gain-time" eligibility for certain offenses, replacing it with "rehabilitation credits," and mandates the Department of Corrections to provide educational programs for inmates. It also clarifies the definition of "tentative release date" to include projected release dates based on gain-time and credits. Overall, the bill aims to strengthen public safety and accountability while promoting rehabilitation within the criminal justice system.

Statutes affected:
H 183 Filed: 921.002, 944.275, 316.027, 316.1935, 381.004, 775.084, 775.0847, 775.0861, 775.0862, 775.0875, 777.03, 777.04, 784.07, 794.0115, 810.145, 812.081, 817.568, 831.032, 843.22, 944.281, 944.473, 944.70, 947.005