The bill amends Florida Statutes to improve access to veterans treatment court programs by removing the requirement for defendants to apply to the state attorney for participation and eliminating the state attorney's role in determining eligibility. Defendants who meet specific criteria related to service-related mental health conditions or trauma can now be admitted to these programs at any stage of a criminal proceeding. Additionally, the bill allows for the placement of defendants into postadjudicatory veterans treatment court programs for nonviolent felonies, making satisfactory completion of the program a condition of probation or community control. It also clarifies eligibility for voluntary admission into pretrial veterans treatment court programs and outlines the responsibilities of the court and counsel in advising defendants.

Furthermore, the bill addresses probation and community control by clarifying the consequences of violations and the management of offenders. It states that if probation or community control is revoked, the court can impose any original sentence but cannot provide credit for time served towards a new term. The bill also establishes that new terms of probation or community control must not exceed the maximum penalty allowable under existing law when combined with previous terms. It includes provisions for community control programs, violations of probation, and work programs, while ensuring that youthful offenders are not committed for longer than the maximum sentence for their offense. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025.

Statutes affected:
S 1724 Filed: 948.06, 948.08, 43.51, 910.035