HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES STAFF ANALYSIS
BILL #: CS/CS/HB 1037 Education and Employment Incentives for Probationers
SPONSOR(S): Judiciary Committee, Criminal Justice & Public Safety Subcommittee, Koster
TIED BILLS: IDEN./SIM. BILLS:
REFERENCE ACTION ANALYST STAFF DIRECTOR or
BUDGET/POLICY CHIEF
1) Judiciary Committee 17 Y, 0 N, As CS Hall Kramer
SUMMARY ANALYSIS
Section 948.05(2), F.S., requires the Department of Corrections (DOC) to implement a system of graduated
incentives to promote compliance with the terms of probation supervision and prioritize the highest levels of
supervision for probationers or offenders presenting the greatest risk of recid ivism. As part of the graduated
incentives system, a probation officer may offer incentives to a compliant probationer or offender in community
control such as: reducing required community service hours, transferring an eligible offender to administrative
probation, or recommending the court modify a probationer’s terms of supervision to grant permission to travel or
modification of a curfew.
Section 944.275, F.S., authorizes DOC to grant deductions from prison sentences in the form of gain -time to
encourage satisfactory behavior and to provide incentives for inmates to participate in productive activities.
Specifically, s. 944.275(4), F.S., authorizes DOC to award an inmate:
A one-time award of 60 days of incentive gain time for completing a high school eq uivalency diploma or
vocational certificate.
Up to 10 days per month of incentive gain time for working diligently, participating in training, using time
constructively, or otherwise engaging in positive activities.
Probationers or offenders in community control are not currently entitled to a similar reduction of supervision term
under the graduated incentives system.
CS/CS/HB 1037 amends s. 948.05, F.S., to require DOC to implement the graduated incentives system in a manner
that encourages educational achievement and stable employment in addition to promoting compliance with terms of
supervision and prioritizing the highest level of supervision for probationers and offenders presenting the greatest
risk of recidivism. Under the bill, DOC must incentivize:
Educational achievement by awarding a 60 day reduction in the term of supervision for a probationer or
offender in community control who completes an educational advancement activity, which includes obtaining
a high school diploma, a high school equivalency degree, an academic degree, or a vocational certificate,
during his or her term of supervision.
Workforce achievement by awarding a 30 day reduction in the term of supervision for a probationer or
offender in community control who maintains continuous and verifiable full-time employment, for at least 30
hours per week for a six-month period, from which he or she earns a wage.
A probationer or offender in community control who commits a subsequent violation of probation may forfeit any
reduction awarded for completing an educational advancement activity or period of workforce achievement, at the
discretion of his or her probation officer.
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on DOC by requiring the supervision term of a proba tioner
or offender in community control to be reduced for completing educational advancement activities or periods of
workforce achievement, which may result in probationers or offenders being terminated from supervision earlier.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
This docum ent does not reflect the intent or official position of the bill sponsor or House of Representatives .
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DATE: 2/22/2022
FULL ANALYSIS
I. SUBSTANTIVE ANALYSIS
A. EFFECT OF PROPOSED CHANGES:
Background
Probation and Community Control
In Florida, if a court places a defendant on probation or into community control for a felony, the
Department of Corrections (DOC) must provide immediate supervision by a certified correctional
probation officer.1 Probation is a form of community supervision which requires a probationer to have
specified contacts with his or her probation officer and to comply with other terms and conditions.2 The
sentencing court determines any special terms and conditions of probation, which must be reasonably
related to the circumstances of the offense and may include requirements such as completing a
substance abuse treatment program or community service hours 3 or having no contact with a specified
victim. Additionally, a probationer is required to comply with several standard conditions of probation
which may include:
Reporting to the probation officer as directed.
Permitting the probation officer to visit the probationer at his or her home.
Working faithfully at suitable employment, when possible.
Residing at a specified place.
Living without violating the law.
Paying restitution to any aggrieved party for the damage or loss cause by a probationer’s
offense.
Being prohibited from possessing, carrying, or owning a firearm or weapon, without the
probation officer’s consent.
Being prohibited from using intoxicants to excess or possessing any drugs or narcotics. 4
Community control is a form of intensive individualized supervision of an offender who remains in the
community, but whose freedom is restricted within the home, community, or noninstitutional residential
placement and includes specific sanctions and monitoring by probation officers with restricted
caseloads.5 In addition to the standard conditions which apply to normal probationers, an offender on
community control must: be confined to an agreed-upon residence during any hours he or she is away
from work or public service activities; complete mandatory community services; and be supervised by
electronic monitoring.6
Education and Learning as a Condition of Probation or Community Control
Section 948.037, F.S., authorizes a court to require an offender who has not obtained a high school
diploma or a high school equivalency diploma or who lacks basic or functional literacy skills, to make a
good faith effort toward attaining literacy skills or a high school equivalency diploma as a condition of
probation or community control upon acceptance by an adult education program. 7 A court may not
revoke probation or community control because of an offender’s inability to achieve literacy skills or a
diploma, but may revoke probation or community control if the offender fails to make a good faith effort
1 S. 948.01, F.S. A “correctional probation officer” is a person who is employed full time by the state whose primary responsibility is the
supervised custody, surveillance, and control of assigned inmates, probationers, parolees, or community controlees wi thin DOC
institution or within the community. Additionally a correctional probation officer must meet the minimum qualifications for e mployment or
appointment as established in s. 943.13, F.S. See s. 943.10, F.S.
2 S. 948.001(8), F.S.
3 S. 948.031, F.S.
4 S. 948.03, F.S.
5 S. 948.001(3), F.S.
6 S. 948.101, F.S.
7 S. 948.037, F.S.
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towards achieving such skills or diploma.8 A court may grant a probationer or offender in community
control early termination of supervision upon his or her successful completion of an approved program.
Reduction or Termination of Term of Probation or Community Control
Generally, once a probationer completes the period of probation, he or she is released from probation
and the court no longer retains jurisdiction to sentence the offender for the offense for which probation
was allowed. However, if a probationer has performed satisfactorily, has not been found in violation of
any terms or conditions of supervision, and has met all financial conditions imposed by the court,
including fines, court costs, and restitution, his or her probation officer may recommend early
termination of probation to the court at any time before the scheduled termination date. 9
Early Termination or Conversion to Administrative Probation
Under s. 948.06(4), F.S., upon the probationer’s motion,10 the court shall order early termination of
supervision or convert the supervisory term to administrative probation11 if all of the following conditions
are met:
The probationer has completed at least half of the term of probation to which he or she was
sentenced.
The probationer has successfully completed all other conditions of probation.
The court has not found the probationer in violation of probation pursuant to a filed violation of
probation affidavit at any point during the current supervisory term.
The parties did not specifically exclude the possibility of early termination or conversion to
administrative probation as part of a negotiated sentence.
The probationer does not qualify as a violent felony offender of special concern under
s. 948.06(8)(b), F.S.12
However, a court may decline to early terminate the probationary term or convent the term to
administrative probation if it makes written findings that continued reporting probation is necessary to
protect the community or the interest of justice.13 Additionally, an offender on community control is not
eligible to motion for mandatory early termination or conversion to administrative probation under
s. 948.04, F.S.14
Graduated Incentives
Section 948.05(2), F.S., requires DOC to implement a system of graduated incentives to promote
compliance with the terms of supervision and prioritize the highest levels of supervision for probationers
or offenders presenting the greatest risk of recidivism. As part of the graduated incentives system, the
department may offer, without leave of the court, the following incentives to a compliant probationer or
offender in community control:
Up to 25 percent reduction of required community service hours;
Waiver of supervision fees;
Reduction in frequency of reporting;
Permission to report by mail or telephone; or
Transfer of an eligible offender to administration probation as authorized under s. 948.013,
F.S.15
8 Id. “Good faith effort” means the offender is enrolled in a program of instruction and is attending and making satisfactory pro gress
toward completion of the requirements.
9 S. 948.04, F.S.
10 This provision only applies to a defendant sentenced on or after October 1, 2019. See s. 948.04(4), F.S.
11 “Administrative probation” is a form of no contact, nonreporting supervision. A court may order administrative probation, or DOC may
transfer an offender to administrative probation under specified circumstances. S. 948.001(1), F.S.
12 S. 948.04(4), F.S.
13 S. 948.04(5), F.S.
14 S. 948.04(6), F.S.
15 S. 948.05(2)(a), F.S.
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The department may also incentivize positive behavior and compliance by recommending to the court
to modify a probationer’s terms of supervision, which may include recommending:
Permission to travel;
Reduction of supervision type;
Modification or cessation of curfew;
Reduction or cessation of substance abuse testing; or
Early termination of supervision.16
A probationer or offender in community control may forfeit any previously earned probation incentive if
he or she commits a subsequent violation of probation.17 Graduated incentives are currently offered at
the discretion of the probation officer or court and a probationer or offender in community control is not
entitled to any such graduated incentive.
Gain Time Award for Inmates
Section 944.275, F.S., authorizes DOC to grant deductions from prison sentences in the form of gain-
time to encourage satisfactory behavior and to provide incentives for inmates to participate in
productive activities. Specifically, s. 944.275(4), F.S., authorizes DOC to award an inmate:
A one-time award of 60 days of incentive gain time for completing a high school equivalency
diploma or vocational certificate.18
Up to 10 days per month of incentive gain time for working diligently, participating in training,
using time constructively, or otherwise engaging in positive activities. 19
Probationers or offenders in community control are not entitled to a similar reduction of supervision
term under the graduated incentives system.
Effect of Proposed Changes
CS/CS/HB 1037 amends s. 948.05, F.S., to require DOC to implement the graduated incentives system
for probationers and offenders in community control in a manner that encourages educational
achievement and stable employment in addition to promoting compliance with terms of supervision and
prioritizing the highest level of supervision for probationers and offenders presenting the greatest risk of
recidivism. Under the bill, the department must incentivize:
Educational achievement by awarding a 60 day reduction in the term of supervision for a
probationer or offender in community control who completes an educational advancement
activity during his or her term of supervision.
Workforce achievement by awarding a 30 day reduction in the term of supervision for a
probationer or offender in community control for each period of workforce achievement he or
she completes during his or her term of supervision.
Under the bill, “educational advancement activity” means obtaining a high school diploma, a high
school equivalency diploma, an academic degree, or a vocational certificate. The bill requires a
probationer or offender in community control to be given a 60-day reduction in supervision for each
educational advancement activity he or she completes and the award of such a reduction does not
require court approval.
The bill defines “workforce achievement” as continuous and verifiable full-time employment, for at least
30 hours per week for a six-month period, from which the probationer or offender in community control
earns a wage. Under the bill, a probation officer must verify employment through supporting
documentation which may include any record, letter, pay stub, contract, or any other method approved
by the probation officer. The bill requires a probationer or offender in community control to be given a
16 S. 948.05(2)(b), F.S.
17
S. 948.05(2)(c), F.S.
18 S. 944.275(4)(d), F.S.
19 S. 933.275(4)(b), F.S. Inmates sentenced for an offense committed on or after October 1, 1995 are eligible to earn up to 10 d ays of
incentive gain time per month. However, an inmate may not be awarded any amount of gain time that would result in him or her serving
less than 85 percent of the sentence imposed. See s. 944.275(4)(f), F.S.
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30-day reduction in supervision for each period of workforce achievement he or she completes and the
award of such a reduction does not require court approval.
A probationer or offender in community control who commits a subsequent violation of probation may
forfeit any supervision term reduction awarded for completing an educational advancement activity or
period of workforce achievement, at the discretion of his or her probation officer.
The bill provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
B. SECTION DIRECTORY:
Section 1: Amends s. 948.05, F.S.; relating to court to admonish or commend probationer or offender
in community control; graduated incentives.
Section 2: Provides an effective date of July 1, 2022.
II. FISCAL ANALYSIS & ECONOMIC IMPACT STATEMENT
A. FISCAL IMPACT ON STATE GOVERNMENT:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on DOC by requiring the supervision term
of a probationer or offender in community control to be reduced for completing educational
advancement activities or periods of workforce achievement, which may result in probationers or
offenders of community control being under department supervision for shorter terms.
B. FISCAL IMPACT ON LOCAL GOVERNMENTS:
1. Revenues:
None.
2. Expenditures:
None.
C. DIRECT ECONOMIC IMPACT ON PRIVATE SECTOR:
The bill may have an indeterminate positive fiscal impact on probationers or offenders in community
control who have their term of supervision reduced for completing educational advancement activities
or periods of workforce achievement, thereby reducing the amoun