House Bill 1615 amends Florida Statutes concerning criminal offenses, particularly focusing on stalking and harassment. The bill revises definitions for terms such as "harass," "course of conduct," and "cyberstalk," clarifying that harassment can occur directly or through a third party and may involve the use of technology to monitor victims. It establishes criminal penalties for willful or malicious harassment or cyberstalking of justice system personnel, categorizing these offenses as aggravated stalking, which is classified as a third-degree felony. The bill also includes technical changes to existing statutes and updates cross-references to maintain consistency within the legal framework.

Additionally, the bill empowers courts to issue arrest warrants under certain conditions, such as when a misdemeanor complaint is filed and the defendant poses a danger to a victim or the public. It allows for electronic signatures on arrest warrants and updates the offense severity ranking chart to align with the new definitions and penalties for aggravated stalking. The bill also modifies the definition of "qualifying offense" related to probation violations to include aggravated stalking and ensures that serious crimes committed by offenders on probation are closely monitored. The effective date for these changes is set for October 1, 2025, aiming to enhance protections for victims and strengthen accountability for offenders.

Statutes affected:
H 1615 Filed: 901.02, 948.06, 948.062