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 357 2023
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to the treatment of inmates; creating
3 s. 944.092, F.S.; specifying certain rights of inmates
4 in the correctional system; requiring a written copy
5 of the rights to be provided to each inmate;
6 authorizing relief for deprivation of rights;
7 providing an effective date.
8
9 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
10
11 Section 1. Section 944.092, Florida Statutes, is created
12 to read:
13 944.092 Basic rights of inmates.—
14 (1) RIGHTS.—Each inmate in the correctional system has the
15 right to:
16 (a) Proper ventilation.—All housing units must have air
17 conditioning systems or air cooling systems; however, housing
18 units in use on or before July 1, 2023, which cannot be fitted
19 for air conditioning or air cooling systems, shall receive
20 exhaust fans and air circulators sufficient to provide a safe
21 and healthful environment for inmates.
22 (b) Sufficient meal time.—Inmates must receive at least 20
23 minutes to eat each meal. The minimum time shall be extended to
24 the amount necessary for an inmate to complete the meal if the
25 inmate receives an approved medical reason for an extension.
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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 357 2023
26 (c) Adequate food supply in case of emergency.—Each
27 correctional institution shall establish a program with one or
28 more community food banks located near the institution to ensure
29 an adequate food supply is made available to the inmate
30 population if conditions exist that prevent regular food supply
31 services due to an event such as a natural disaster or other
32 emergency.
33 (d) Necessary health supplies.—The department must
34 provide:
35 1. Necessary personal protective equipment for medical
36 staff at all times and for all staff and inmates during health
37 crises or during cleaning.
38 2. Necessary health products for inmates including, but
39 not limited to, sanitary napkins, tampons, soap, and toothpaste,
40 upon request of the inmates.
41 (e) Medical care.—The department must provide inmates with
42 adequate medical care for their medical needs.
43 (2) NOTICE.—The department shall provide a written copy of
44 the rights established in this section to each inmate upon his
45 or her entry into the correctional system.
46 (3) GRIEVANCES.—An inmate may file a grievance with the
47 department if the inmate believes a right guaranteed in this
48 section is being denied by a correctional institution.
49 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.
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