CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.House Bill 0187
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 187
By Representative Effman
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to public notification of
3 sexual predators; amending s. 775.21, F.S.;
4 requiring the sheriff to advertise certain
5 information regarding the release of sexual
6 predators; providing an effective date.
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8 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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10 Section 1. Subsection (7) of section 775.21, Florida
11 Statutes, 1996 Supplement, is amended to read:
12 775.21 The Florida Sexual Predators Act; definitions;
13 legislative findings, purpose, and intent; criteria;
14 designation; registration; community and public notification;
15 immunity; penalties.--
16 (7) COMMUNITY AND PUBLIC NOTIFICATION.--
17 (a) Law enforcement agencies must inform the community
18 and the public of a sexual predator's presence. Upon
19 notification of the presence of a sexual predator, the sheriff
20 of the county or the chief of police of the municipality where
21 the sexual predator temporarily or permanently resides shall
22 notify the community and the public of the presence of the
23 sexual predator in a manner deemed appropriate by the sheriff
24 or the chief of police. Information provided to the community
25 and the public regarding a sexual predator must include:
26 1. The name of the sexual predator;
27 2. A description of the sexual predator, including a
28 photograph;
29 3. The sexual predator's current address, including
30 the name of the county or municipality;
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Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 187
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1 4. The circumstances of the sexual predator's offense
2 or offenses; and
3 5. The age of the victim of the sexual predator's
4 offense or offenses.
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6 This paragraph does not authorize the release of the name of
7 any victim of the sexual predator.
8 (b) In addition to any other requirements for
9 community and public notification imposed under this section,
10 the sheriff of each county shall, monthly, place an
11 advertisement listing any convicted felon released from prison
12 in the preceding 30 days, who has been lawfully designated as
13 a sexual predator pursuant to this section, in a newspaper of
14 general circulation in that county. The list shall be placed
15 in the main section of the newspaper and shall disclose the
16 sexual predator's name, date of release, and most recent known
17 local address.
18 (c)(b) The sheriff or the police chief may coordinate
19 the community and public notification efforts with the
20 department. Statewide notification to the public is
21 authorized, as deemed appropriate by local law enforcement
22 personnel and the department.
23 (d)(c) The department shall adopt a protocol to assist
24 law enforcement agencies in their efforts to notify the
25 community and the public of the presence of sexual predators.
26 The department, in consultation and cooperation with the
27 Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, shall
28 determine the feasibility of requiring sexual predators to
29 have a special designation on any drivers license,
30 identification card, or license tag issued in this state.
31 Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 1997.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 1997 HB 187
579-104-97
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2 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Requires the sheriff to place a monthly newspaper
4 advertisement which identifies sexual predators released
during the previous 30 days, and provides their release
5 dates and most recent local addresses.
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