The bill amends the Florida Criminal Punishment Code to prioritize rehabilitation alongside punishment in the sentencing process. It reduces the minimum time a defendant must serve from 85 percent to 72 percent of their sentence and introduces new categories of gain-time, including "outstanding deed gain-time," "good behavior time," and "rehabilitation credits." These changes are designed to encourage positive behavior and participation in rehabilitative programs, facilitating inmates' reintegration into society. The bill also revises the criteria for awarding gain-time and establishes a framework for calculating tentative release dates based on these new categories, while ensuring that good behavior time can be forfeited in cases of infractions.

Additionally, the bill replaces the term "incentive gain-time" with "rehabilitation credit" and specifies that certain offenses, particularly those against vulnerable road users and serious crimes like aggravated fleeing from law enforcement, will not qualify for rehabilitation credits until mandatory minimum sentences are served. It also modifies provisions regarding HIV testing in medical emergencies and reclassifies offenses related to child pornography, increasing penalties for offenders with multiple images. Overall, the bill aims to enhance public safety, clarify the legal framework for rehabilitation credits, and impose stricter penalties for serious offenses while promoting educational opportunities for inmates.

Statutes affected:
H 297 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, 794.0116, 810.145, 812.081, 817.568, 831.032, 843.22, 944.281, 944.473, 944.70, 947.005