F L O R I D A H O U S E O F R E P R E S E N T A T I V E S
HB 1427 2021
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to release from confinement during a
3 state of emergency or a pandemic; creating s. 944.614,
4 F.S.; authorizing the Secretary of Corrections to
5 release prisoners from the correctional system during
6 a state of emergency or a pandemic if they meet
7 specified criteria; creating s. 951.30, F.S.;
8 authorizing each sheriff to release from detention
9 county and municipal prisoners during a state of
10 emergency or a pandemic if they meet specified
11 criteria; creating s. 985.261, F.S.; authorizing the
12 Secretary of Juvenile Justice to release persons it is
13 detaining during a state of emergency or a pandemic if
14 they meet specified criteria; providing an effective
15 date.
16
17 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
18
19 Section 1. Section 944.614, Florida Statutes, is created
20 to read:
21 944.614 Release from incarceration during a state of
22 emergency or a pandemic.—The secretary may release a prisoner
23 from the correctional system during a state of emergency or a
24 pandemic if the prisoner meets all of the following criteria:
25 (1) Is nonviolent.
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26 (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition
27 that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness,
28 permanent disability, or death.
29 (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or
30 to the public.
31 Section 2. Section 951.30, Florida Statutes, is created to
32 read:
33 951.30 Release from detention during a state of emergency
34 or a pandemic.—Each sheriff may release from detention any
35 county prisoner or municipal prisoner, as those terms are
36 defined in s. 951.23, during a state of emergency or a pandemic
37 if the prisoner meets all of the following criteria:
38 (1) Is nonviolent.
39 (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition
40 that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness,
41 permanent disability, or death.
42 (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or
43 to the public.
44 Section 3. Section 985.261, Florida Statutes, is created
45 to read:
46 985.261 Release from detention during a state of emergency
47 or a pandemic.—The secretary of the department may release any
48 person detained by the department during a state of emergency or
49 a pandemic if the person meets all of the following criteria:
50 (1) Is nonviolent.
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51 (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition
52 that makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness,
53 permanent disability, or death.
54 (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or
55 to the public.
56 Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.
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