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CS/CS/HB 1153 — Juvenile Justice
by Judiciary Committee; Justice Budget Subcommittee; and Rep. Cobb and others (CS/SB 1734 by Fiscal Policy Committee and Senators Martin and Truenow)
This summary is provided for information only and does not represent the opinion of any Senator, Senate Officer, or Senate Office.
Prepared by: Criminal Justice Committee (CJ)
Juvenile Detention Officers and Juvenile Probation Officers
The bill amends multiple statutes relating to Juvenile Detention Officer and Juvenile Probation Officer benefits, medals, and commemorative service awards.
The bill defines “juvenile detention officer” and “juvenile probation officer” and includes such officers in the definition of “officer” in ch. 943, F.S., subjecting such officers to the same standards and training as other officers. The definition includes all certified supervisory personnel but does not include support personnel employed by the employing agency
The bill adds juvenile detention officers and juvenile probation officers to the definition for “law enforcement, correctional, or correctional probation officers” for purposes of death benefits and commemorative service awards.
Specifically, juvenile detention officers and juvenile probation officers are added to the list of law enforcement officers that the Governor may award a Medal of Heroism. The bill also allows any entity that employs or appoints juvenile detention officers and juvenile probation officers to establish a program to award a Medal of Valor to an officer whose actions are extraordinary and expose the officer to peril beyond the call of duty.
Children and Families in Need of Services
The bill exempts the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ) from the prohibition against sheltering an unmarried minor without the consent of the minor’s parent or guardian or without notifying a law enforcement officer.
The bill also revises the circumstances under which a child may be placed in a shelter for the purposes of punishment for contempt of court to include when a child is subject to shelter proceedings under ch. 984, F.S., rather than only when a child is adjudicated in need of services. The bill also revises the definition of “family in need of services’” to include legal guardians in addition to parents and custodians.
Juvenile Detention Shared Costs
The bill codifies detention cost sharing. Quarterly, the DJJ must review county juvenile detention payments to ensure that counties fulfill their financial responsibilities. If the DJJ determines that a county has not met its obligations, the DJJ must direct the Department of Revenue (DOR) to deduct the amount owed to the DJJ from the revenue sharing funds provided to the county under s. 218.28, F.S. The DOR must transfer the funds withheld into the Shared County/State Juvenile Detention Trust Fund. The DOR must ensure that any reduction in amounts distributed does not reduce the amount necessary for the timely payment of principal and interest or compliance with bond covenants. If the county’s monthly distribution must be decreased to comply, the DOR must notify the DJJ of the decrease, and the DJJ must bill the affected county for payment of that amount.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor's signature, these provisions take effect upon becoming law.
Vote: Senate 34-0; House 108-0