This bill seeks to strengthen the legal protections for court officials in Florida by introducing new definitions and criminal penalties for tampering, harassment, and retaliation against them. It amends section 836.12 to include definitions for "administrative assistant" and expands the list of protected personnel to encompass general magistrates, special magistrates, and child support enforcement hearing officers. The legislation establishes penalties for individuals who knowingly threaten or harass these officials, with heightened consequences for repeat offenders. Additionally, it creates new sections, specifically 918.115 and 918.125, which detail definitions and penalties for tampering with and retaliating against court officials.

Furthermore, the bill modifies existing statutes to ensure that definitions of criminal activity and racketeering encompass offenses related to tampering or harassing court officials, with enhanced penalties for acts of retaliation resulting in bodily injury. It also introduces new legal language, including the addition of Section 918.125, while deleting references to jurors in current law, thereby refining the legal framework for protecting court officials. The bill updates the Criminal Punishment Code's offense severity ranking chart, adjusting the rankings of various crimes, and is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, marking a significant shift in Florida's approach to safeguarding judicial integrity.

Statutes affected:
S 1838 Filed: 918.12, 772.102, 895.02, 921.0022
S 1838 c1: 836.12, 918.12, 772.102, 895.02, 921.0022
S 1838 c2: 836.12, 918.12, 772.102, 895.02, 921.0022