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The Florida Senate

2020 Florida Statutes

Title XLVII CRIMINAL PROCEDURE AND CORRECTIONS
Chapter 943 DEPARTMENT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT Entire Chapter
SECTION 04354
Removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator in special circumstances.
F.S. 943.04354
943.04354 Removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator in special circumstances.—
(1) For purposes of this section, a person shall be considered for removal of the requirement to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator only if the person:
(a) Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of a violation of s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5) or of a similar offense in another jurisdiction and if the person does not have any other conviction, regardless of adjudication, or adjudication of delinquency for a violation of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5) or for a similar offense in another jurisdiction;
(b)1. Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of an offense listed in paragraph (a) and is required to register as a sexual offender or sexual predator solely on the basis of this conviction or adjudication; or
2. Was convicted, regardless of adjudication, or adjudicated delinquent of an offense in another jurisdiction which is similar to an offense listed in paragraph (a) and no longer meets the criteria for registration as a sexual offender or sexual predator under the laws of the jurisdiction in which the similar offense occurred; and
(c) Is not more than 4 years older than the victim of this violation who was 13 years of age or older but younger than 18 years of age at the time the person committed this violation.
(2)(a) If a person meets the criteria in subsection (1), the person may, for the purpose of removing the requirement that he or she register as a sexual offender or sexual predator, move the criminal division of the circuit court of the circuit:
1. Where the conviction or adjudication for the qualifying offense occurred for a conviction in this state;
2. Where the sexual offender or sexual predator resides for a conviction for a violation of similar law of another jurisdiction; or
3. Where the sexual offender or sexual predator last resided for a sexual offender or sexual predator with a conviction of a violation of a similar law of another jurisdiction who no longer resides in this state.
(b) The person must allege in the motion that he or she meets the criteria in subsection (1) and that removal of the registration requirement will not conflict with federal law that requires that the sexual act be consensual, notwithstanding the age of the victim. A person convicted or adjudicated delinquent of an offense in another jurisdiction which is similar to an offense listed in paragraph (1)(a) must provide the court written confirmation that he or she is not required to register in the jurisdiction in which the conviction or adjudication occurred. The state attorney and the department must be given notice of the motion at least 21 days before the date of sentencing, disposition of the violation, or hearing on the motion and may present evidence in opposition to the requested relief or may otherwise demonstrate why the motion should be denied. At sentencing, disposition of the violation, or hearing on the motion, the court shall rule on the motion, and, if the court determines the person meets the criteria in subsection (1) and the removal of the registration requirement will not conflict with federal law that requires that the sexual act be consensual, notwithstanding the age of the victim, it may grant the motion and order the removal of the registration requirement. The court shall instruct the person to provide the department a certified copy of the order granting relief. If the court denies the motion, the person is not authorized under this section to file another motion for removal of the registration requirement.
(3) If a person provides to the Department of Law Enforcement a certified copy of the court’s order removing the requirement that the person register as a sexual offender or sexual predator for the violation of s. 794.011, s. 800.04, s. 827.071, or s. 847.0135(5), or a similar offense in another jurisdiction, the registration requirement will not apply to the person and the department shall remove all information about the person from the public registry of sexual offenders and sexual predators maintained by the department. However, the removal of this information from the public registry does not mean that the public is denied access to information about the person’s criminal history or record that is otherwise available as a public record.
History.—s. 3, ch. 2007-209; s. 26, ch. 2008-172; s. 6, ch. 2010-92; s. 6, ch. 2014-5; s. 4, ch. 2016-104.