The Florida Senate

874.04  Criminal street gang activity; enhanced penalties.--Upon a finding by the court at sentencing that the defendant is a member of a criminal street gang, the penalty for any felony or misdemeanor, or any delinquent act or violation of law which would be a felony or misdemeanor if committed by an adult, may be enhanced if the offender was a member of a criminal street gang at the time of the commission of such offense. Each of the findings required as a basis for such sentence shall be found by a preponderance of the evidence. The enhancement will be as follows:

(1)(a)  A misdemeanor of the second degree may be punished as if it were a misdemeanor of the first degree.

(b)  A misdemeanor of the first degree may be punished as if it were a felony of the third degree. For purposes of sentencing under chapter 921 and determining incentive gain-time eligibility under chapter 944, such offense is ranked in level 1 of the offense severity ranking chart. The criminal street gang multiplier in s. 921.0024 does not apply to misdemeanors enhanced under this paragraph.

(2)(a)  A felony of the third degree may be punished as if it were a felony of the second degree.

(b)  A felony of the second degree may be punished as if it were a felony of the first degree.

(c)  A felony of the first degree may be punished as if it were a life felony.

For purposes of sentencing under chapter 921 and determining incentive gain-time eligibility under chapter 944, such felony offense is ranked as provided in s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023, and without regard to the penalty enhancement in this subsection. For purposes of this section, penalty enhancement affects the applicable statutory maximum penalty only.

History.--s. 1, ch. 90-207; s. 76, ch. 94-209; s. 23, ch. 95-184; s. 37, ch. 96-388; s. 21, ch. 97-194.