The bill amends Florida's laws concerning career offender registration, introducing stricter requirements for identification and reporting. It mandates that career offenders must have a specific marking on their driver licenses or identification cards to indicate their status and requires them to report in person to the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles during their birth month for updates. The bill also revises definitions related to career offenders, including classifications of residences and the responsibilities for reporting changes in their information. Key provisions include the requirement for initial registration within 48 hours of establishing a residence or being released from custody, as well as annual re-registration.

Additionally, the bill enhances penalties for noncompliance, classifying failure to register as a felony of the third degree, and outlines the responsibilities of law enforcement and jail custodians in notifying the Department of Law Enforcement about career offenders. It establishes a pathway for offenders who have maintained law-abiding behavior for 20 years to petition for relief from registration requirements. The legislation emphasizes the importance of public safety by ensuring that communities are informed about the presence of career offenders and includes provisions for civil immunity for officials acting in good faith under these regulations. The act is set to take effect on October 1, 2026.

Statutes affected:
S 1332 Filed: 775.261, 944.608, 944.609