This bill aims to facilitate the restoration of voting rights for individuals disqualified due to felony convictions, excluding those convicted of murder or felony sexual offenses. It mandates the Florida Commission on Offender Review to create and maintain a comprehensive database containing essential information about these individuals, including their personal details, supervision status, restitution owed, and any other relevant data necessary for determining eligibility for voting rights restoration. Various governmental entities, such as the Department of State and the Department of Corrections, are required to provide monthly updates to this database. Additionally, the Department of Management Services is tasked with offering technical assistance for the database's development and maintenance.
The bill also outlines specific deadlines for the commission, including making the database publicly accessible by July 1, 2028, and submitting a comprehensive plan to the Governor and Legislature by July 1, 2026. This plan must detail the methods for collecting and securing information, necessary infrastructure, anticipated staffing needs, and associated costs. Importantly, individuals who register or vote based on the database's information will have an affirmative right to do so without facing criminal charges related to fraudulent voting. The commission is also required to adopt rules to implement these provisions effectively. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.