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SB 7018 — Inmate Welfare Trust Fund
by Criminal Justice Committee
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)
The bill amends s. 945.215, F.S., to provide that proceeds from additional funding sources must be deposited into the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund or the General Revenue Fund. These additional funding sources include:
- Copayments made by inmates for nonemergency visits to a health care provider;
- Any proceeds obtained through the collection of damages; and
- Cost of incarceration liens.
Additionally, the bill increases the maximum amount of funds deposited into the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund from $2.5 million to $32 million.
The bill also authorizes the Department of Corrections (DOC) to expend funds from the Trust Fund to be used at correctional facilities to include fixed capital outlay for educational facilities. Additionally, the DOC is authorized to expend such funds to be used for environmental health upgrades to facilities, including fixed capital outlay for repairs and maintenance that would improve environmental conditions of the correctional facilities.
The bill removes the $100 cap on the weekly amount that inmates can spend for personal use on canteen and vending machine items.
The bill amends s. 945.6037, F.S., to provide that the proceeds of each nonemergency healthcare visit copayment must be deposited into the State-Operated Institutions Inmate Welfare Trust Fund or into the General Revenue Fund.
If approved by the Governor, or allowed to become law without the Governor’s signature, these provisions take effect July 1, 2023.
Vote: Senate 38-0; House 112-0