Senate Bill 0646c2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.



    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646

    By the Committees on Children, Families and Seniors, Criminal
    Justice and Senators Gutman, Horne, Klein, Diaz-Balart and
    Cowin



    300-1747-98

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to sexually violent predators;

  3         requesting that the Division of Statutory

  4         Revision redesignate ch. 916, F.S.; amending s.

  5         916.10, F.S.; providing a short title; creating

  6         s. 916.30, F.S.; providing a short title;

  7         creating s. 916.31, F.S.; providing legislative

  8         findings and intent; creating s. 916.32, F.S.;

  9         defining terms; creating s. 916.33, F.S.;

10         requiring notice of release from custody of a

11         person alleged to be a sexually violent

12         predator; providing for evaluation of such

13         person; creating s. 916.34, F.S.; providing for

14         petition to have such person declared a

15         sexually violent predator; creating s. 916.35,

16         F.S.; providing for determination of probable

17         cause, for hearings, and for taking such person

18         into custody; creating s. 916.36, F.S.;

19         providing for trial on the issue of whether

20         such person is a sexually violent predator;

21         creating s. 916.37, F.S.; providing for

22         commitment of a person determined to be a

23         sexually violent predator; creating s. 916.38,

24         F.S.; requiring examinations of persons

25         committed; creating s. 916.39, F.S.; providing

26         for petitions for release; creating s. 916.40,

27         F.S.; authorizing petition for release;

28         creating s. 916.41, F.S.; providing for access

29         to certain records; creating s. 916.42, F.S.;

30         requiring detention and commitment to conform

31         to constitutional requirements; creating s.

                                  1

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         916.43, F.S.; providing immunity from civil

  2         liability; creating s. 916.44; providing

  3         severability; creating s. 916.45, F.S.;

  4         providing for retrospective and prospective

  5         application; creating s. 916.46, F.S.;

  6         providing for notice to victims; creating s.

  7         916.47, F.S.; penalizing escape; creating s.

  8         916.48, F.S.; authorizing subsistence fees and

  9         costs; creating s. 916.49, F.S.; providing that

10         the Department of Health is responsible for

11         costs; providing that other costs for

12         psychological evaluations, expert witnesses,

13         and court-appointed counsel are paid from state

14         funds; providing an effective date.

15

16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:

17

18         Section 1.  The Division of Statutory Revision of the

19  Joint Legislative Management Committee shall change the name

20  of chapter 916, Florida Statutes, from "Mentally Deficient and

21  Mentally Ill Defendants" to "Mentally Deficient and Mentally

22  Ill Defendants; Civil Commitment of Sexually Violent

23  Predators."

24         Section 2.  Section 916.10, Florida Statutes, is

25  amended to read:

26         916.10  Short title.--Sections 916.10-916.20 This

27  chapter may be cited as the "Forensic Client Services Act."

28         Section 3.  Section 916.30, Florida Statutes, is

29  created to read:

30         916.30  Sections 916.30-916.49 may be cited as the "The

31  Jimmy Ryce Act of 1998."

                                  2

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         Section 4.  Section 916.31, Florida Statutes, is

  2  created to read:

  3         916.31  Legislative findings and intent.--The

  4  Legislature finds that a mentally abnormal and extremely

  5  dangerous group of sexually violent predators exists and

  6  requires involuntary civil commitment for long-term control,

  7  care, and treatment. The Legislature further finds that the

  8  likelihood that sexually violent predators will engage in

  9  repeat acts of sexual violence, if not treated for their

10  mental conditions, is significant. Because the existing civil

11  commitment process under the Baker Act is inadequate to

12  address the special needs of sexually violent predators and

13  the risks that they present to society, the Legislature

14  determines that a separate involuntary civil commitment

15  process for the long-term control, care, and treatment of

16  sexually violent predators is necessary. The Legislature also

17  determines that, because of the nature of the mental

18  conditions from which sexually violent predators suffer and

19  the dangers they present, it is necessary to house

20  involuntarily committed sexually violent predators in an

21  environment separate from persons involuntarily committed

22  under traditional civil commitment statutes.

23         Section 5.  Section 916.32, Florida Statutes, is

24  created to read:

25         916.32  Definitions.--As used in ss. 916.30-916.49, the

26  term:

27         (1)  "Agency with jurisdiction" means the agency that

28  releases, upon lawful order or authority, a person serving a

29  sentence in the custody of the Department of Corrections, a

30  person adjudicated delinquent and committed to the custody of

31  the Department of Juvenile Justice or a person who was

                                  3

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  involuntarily committed to the custody of the Department of

  2  Children and Family Services upon an adjudication of not

  3  guilty by reason of insanity.

  4         (2)  "Convicted of a sexually violent offense" means a

  5  person who has been:

  6         (a)  Adjudicated guilty of a sexually violent offense

  7  after a trial, guilty plea, or plea of nolo contendere;

  8         (b)  Adjudicated not guilty by reason of insanity of a

  9  sexually violent offense; or

10         (c)  Adjudicated delinquent of a sexually violent

11  offense after a trial, guilty plea, or plea of nolo

12  contendere.

13         (3)  "Department" means the Department of Health.

14         (4)  "Likely to engage in acts of sexual violence"

15  means the person's propensity to commit acts of sexual

16  violence is of such a degree as to pose a menace to the health

17  and safety of others.

18         (5)  "Mental abnormality" means a mental condition

19  affecting a person's emotional or volitional capacity which

20  predisposes the person to commit sexually violent offenses.

21         (6)  "Person" means an individual 18 years of age or

22  older who is a potential or actual subject of proceedings

23  under ss. 916.30-916.49.

24         (7)  "Sexually motivated" means that one of the

25  purposes for which the defendant committed the crime was for

26  sexual gratification.

27         (8)  "Sexually violent offense" means:

28         (a)  Murder of a human being while engaged in sexual

29  battery in violation of s. 782.04(1)(a)2.;

30         (b)  Kidnapping of a child under the age of 16 and, in

31  the course of that offense, committing:

                                  4

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         1.  Sexual battery; or

  2         2.  A lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault or act upon

  3  or in the presence of the child;

  4         (c)  Committing the offense of false imprisonment upon

  5  a child under the age of 16 and, in the course of that

  6  offense, committing:

  7         1.  Sexual battery; or

  8         2.  A lewd, lascivious or indecent assault or act upon

  9  or in the presence of the child;

10         (d)  Sexual battery in violation of s. 794.011;

11         (e)  Lewd, lascivious, or indecent assault or act upon

12  or in presence of the child in violation of s. 800.04;

13         (f)  An attempt, criminal solicitation, or conspiracy,

14  in violation of s. 777.04, of a sexually violent offense;

15         (g)  Any conviction for a felony offense in effect at

16  any time before July 1, 1998, which is comparable to a

17  sexually violent offense under paragraphs (a)-(f) or any

18  federal conviction or conviction in another state for a felony

19  offense that in this state would be a sexually violent

20  offense; or

21         (h)  Any criminal act that, either at the time of

22  sentencing for the offense or subsequently during civil

23  commitment proceedings under ss. 916.30-916.49, has been

24  determined beyond a reasonable doubt to have been sexually

25  motivated.

26         (9)  "Sexually violent predator" means any person who:

27         (a)  Has been convicted of a sexually violent offense;

28  and

29         (b)  Suffers from a mental abnormality or personality

30  disorder that makes the person likely to engage in acts of

31

                                  5

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  sexual violence if not confined in a secure facility for

  2  long-term control, care, and treatment.

  3         (10) "Total confinement" means that the person is

  4  currently being held in any physically secure facility being

  5  operated or contractually operated for the Department of

  6  Corrections, the Department of Juvenile Justice, or the

  7  Department of Children and Family Services.

  8         Section 6.  Section 916.33, Florida Statutes, is

  9  created to read:

10         916.33  Notice to state attorney and multidisciplinary

11  team of release of sexually violent predator; establishing

12  multidisciplinary team.--

13         (1)  The agency having jurisdiction over a person who

14  has been convicted of a sexually violent offense shall give

15  written notice, to the state attorney of the circuit where

16  that person was last convicted of a sexually violent offense,

17  180 days or, in the case of an adjudicated committed

18  delinquent, 90 days before:

19         (a)  The anticipated release from total confinement of

20  a person who has been convicted of a sexually violent offense,

21  except that in the case of persons who have been returned to

22  confinement for no more than 90 days, written notice must be

23  given as soon as practicable following the person's return to

24  confinement; or

25         (b)  The anticipated hearing regarding possible release

26  of a person who has been found not guilty by reason of

27  insanity or mental incapacity of a sexually violent offense.

28         (2)  The agency having jurisdiction shall provide the

29  state attorney with the following information:

30         (a)  The person's name; identifying characteristics;

31  anticipated future residence; the type of supervision the

                                  6

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  person will receive in the community, if any; and the person's

  2  offense history; and

  3         (b)  Documentation of institutional adjustment and any

  4  treatment received and, in the case of an adjudicated

  5  delinquent committed to the Department of Juvenile Justice,

  6  copies of the most recent performance plan and performance

  7  summary.

  8

  9  The provisions of this section are not jurisdictional, and

10  failure to comply with them in no way prevents the state

11  attorney from proceeding against a person otherwise subject to

12  the provisions of ss. 916.30-916.49.

13         (3)  The Secretary of Health shall establish a

14  multidisciplinary team, which may include individuals from

15  other state agencies, to review available records of each

16  person referred to such team under subsection (1). The team,

17  within 30 days after receiving notice, shall assess whether

18  the person meets the definition of a sexually violent

19  predator. The team shall provide the state attorney with its

20  written assessment within 60 days after it has received

21  notice.

22         Section 7.  Section 916.34, Florida Statutes, is

23  created to read:

24         916.34  Petition; time; contents.--When a

25  multidisciplinary team determines that a person meets the

26  definition of a sexually violent predator as provided in s.

27  916.32, the state attorney in the judicial circuit where the

28  person committed the sexually violent offense may file a

29  petition with the circuit court alleging that the person is a

30  sexually violent predator and stating facts sufficient to

31  support such allegation.

                                  7

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         Section 8.  Section 916.35, Florida Statutes, is

  2  created to read:

  3         916.35  Determination of probable cause; hearing;

  4  evaluation; respondent taken into custody; bail.--

  5         (1)  When the state attorney files a petition seeking

  6  to have a person declared a sexually violent predator, the

  7  judge shall determine whether probable cause exists to believe

  8  that the person named in the petition is a sexually violent

  9  predator. If the judge determines that there is probable cause

10  to believe that the person is a sexually violent predator, the

11  judge shall direct that the person be taken into custody and

12  held in a county jail or, in the case of an adjudicated

13  committed delinquent, the closest regional juvenile secure

14  detention facility to the county where the petition was filed.

15         (2)  Within 72 hours after a person is taken into

16  custody pursuant to subsection (1), the person shall be

17  provided with notice of, and an opportunity to appear in

18  person at, an adversary hearing to contest the judge's

19  probably cause determination. At this hearing, the judge

20  shall:

21         (a)  Receive evidence and hear argument from the person

22  and the state attorney; and

23         (b)  Determine whether probable cause exists to believe

24  that the person is a sexually violent predator.

25         (3)  At the probable cause hearing, the person has the

26  right to:

27         (a)  Be represented by counsel;

28         (b)  Present evidence;

29         (c)  Cross-examine any witnesses who testify against

30  the person; and

31

                                  8

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         (d)  View and copy all petitions and reports in the

  2  court file.

  3         (4)  If the court again concludes that there is

  4  probable cause to believe that the person is a sexually

  5  violent predator, the court shall direct that the person be

  6  held in a county jail or a detention facility in the county

  7  where the petition was filed for an evaluation by a mental

  8  health professional.

  9         (5)  After a court finds probable cause to believe that

10  the person is a sexually violent predator, the person must be

11  held in custody in a secure facility without opportunity for

12  pretrial release or release during the trial proceedings.

13         Section 9.  Section 916.36, Florida Statutes, is

14  created to read:

15         916.36  Trial; counsel and experts; indigent persons;

16  jury.--

17         (1)  Within 60 days after the completion of the

18  probable cause hearing, the court shall conduct a trial to

19  determine whether the person is a sexually violent predator.

20         (2)  The trial may be continued upon the request of

21  either party and a showing of good cause, or by the court on

22  its own motion in the interests of justice, when the person

23  will not be substantially prejudiced.

24         (3)  The person is entitled to the assistance of

25  counsel and, if the person is indigent, the court shall

26  appoint counsel to assist the person.

27         (4)  If the person is subjected to a mental health

28  examination under this chapter, the person also may retain

29  experts or mental health professionals to perform an

30  examination. If the person wishes to be examined by a

31  professional of the person's own choice, the examiner must be

                                  9

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  provided reasonable access to the person, as well as to all

  2  relevant medical and mental health records and reports. In the

  3  case of a person who is indigent, the court, upon the person's

  4  request, shall determine whether such an examination is

  5  necessary. If the court determines that an examination is

  6  necessary, the court shall appoint a mental health

  7  professional and determine the reasonable compensation for the

  8  professional's services.

  9         (5)  The person or the state attorney has the right to

10  demand that the trial be before a jury. A demand for a jury

11  trial must be filed, in writing, at least 5 days before the

12  trial. If no demand is made, the trial shall be to the court.

13         Section 10.  Section 916.37, Florida Statutes, is

14  created to read:

15         916.37  Determination; commitment procedure; mistrials;

16  housing.--

17         (1)  The court or jury shall determine by clear and

18  convincing evidence whether the person is a sexually violent

19  predator. If the determination is made by a jury, the decision

20  must be unanimous. If a majority of the jury finds that the

21  person is a sexually violent predator, but the decision is not

22  unanimous, the state attorney may refile the petition and

23  proceed according to the provisions of ss. 916.30-916.49. Any

24  retrial must occur within 90 days after the previous trial,

25  unless the subsequent proceeding is continued in accordance

26  with s. 916.36(2). The determination that a person is a

27  sexually violent predator may be appealed.

28         (2)  If the judge, in a trial to the court, or at least

29  half of the jury finds that the person is not a sexually

30  violent predator, the court shall direct that the person be

31  released.

                                  10

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         (3)  If the court or jury determines that the person is

  2  a sexually violent predator, the person shall be committed to

  3  the custody of the department for control, care, and treatment

  4  until such time as it is safe for the person to be at large

  5  and the person has been ordered released pursuant to ss.

  6  916.30-916.49.

  7         (4)  Sexually violent predators committed for control,

  8  care, and treatment under ss. 916.30-916.49 shall be kept in a

  9  secure facility operated by a private contractor. The

10  Department of Health shall contract with private contractors

11  for this purpose. A facility operated by a private contractor

12  and housing sexually violent predators shall be operated

13  exclusively to control, care for, and treat sexually violent

14  predators and shall only house sexually violent predators.

15         Section 11.  Section 916.38, Florida Statutes, is

16  created to read:

17         916.38  Examinations.--

18         (1)  A person committed under ss. 916.30-916.49 shall

19  have an examination of his or her mental condition once every

20  3 years or more frequently at the court's discretion. The

21  person may retain or, if the person is indigent and so

22  requests, the court may appoint, a qualified professional to

23  examine the person. Such a professional shall have access to

24  all records concerning the person. The results of the

25  examination shall be provided to the court that committed the

26  person under ss. 916.30-916.49. Upon receipt of the report,

27  the court shall conduct a review of the person's status.

28         (2)  The department shall provide the person with

29  annual written notice of the person's right to petition the

30  court for release over the objection of the director of the

31  facility where the person is housed. The notice must contain a

                                  11

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  waiver of rights. The director of the facility shall forward

  2  the notice and waiver form to the court.

  3         (3)  The court shall hold a limited hearing to

  4  determine whether there is probable cause to believe that the

  5  person's condition has so changed that it is safe for the

  6  person to be at large and that the person will not engage in

  7  acts of sexual violence if discharged. The person has the

  8  right to be represented by counsel at the probable cause

  9  hearing, but the person is not entitled to be present. If the

10  court determines that there is probable cause to believe it is

11  safe to release the person, the court shall set a trial before

12  the court on the issue.

13         (4)  At the trial before the court, the person is

14  entitled to be present and is entitled to the benefit of all

15  constitutional protections afforded the person at the initial

16  trial, except for the right to a jury. The state attorney

17  shall represent the state and has the right to have the person

18  examined by professionals chosen by the state. At the hearing

19  the state bears the burden of proving, by clear and convincing

20  evidence, that the person's mental condition remains such that

21  it is not safe for the person to be at large and that, if

22  released, the person is likely to engage in acts of sexual

23  violence.

24         Section 12.  Section 916.39, Florida Statutes, is

25  created to read:

26         916.39  Authorized petition for release; procedure.--

27         (1)  If the Secretary of Health or the secretary's

28  designee at any time determines that the person is not likely

29  to commit acts of sexual violence if conditionally discharged,

30  the secretary or the secretary's designee shall authorize the

31  person to petition the court for release.  The petition shall

                                  12

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  be served upon the court and the state attorney.  The court,

  2  upon receipt of such a petition, shall order a trial before

  3  the court within 30 days, unless continued for good cause.

  4         (2)  The state attorney shall represent the state, and

  5  has the right to have the person examined by professionals of

  6  the state attorney's choice. The state bears the burden of

  7  proving, by clear and convincing evidence, that the person's

  8  mental condition remains such that it is not safe for the

  9  person to be at large and that, if released, the person is

10  likely to engage in acts of sexual violence.

11         Section 13.  Section 916.40, Florida Statutes, is

12  created to read:

13         916.40  Petition for release.--Sections 916.30-916.49

14  do not prohibit a person from filing a petition for discharge

15  at any time. However, if the person has previously filed such

16  a petition without the approval of the Secretary of Health or

17  the secretary's designee and the court determined that the

18  petition was without merit, a subsequent petition shall be

19  denied unless the petition contains facts upon which a court

20  could find that the person's condition has so changed that a

21  probable-cause hearing is warranted.

22         Section 14.  Section 916.41, Florida Statutes, is

23  created to read:

24         916.41  Release of records to state attorney.--

25         (1)  In order to protect the public, relevant

26  information and records that are otherwise confidential or

27  privileged shall be released to the agency having jurisdiction

28  or to the state attorney for the purpose of meeting the notice

29  requirements of ss. 916.30-916.49 and determining whether a

30  person is or continues to be a sexually violent predator.

31

                                  13

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         (2)  Psychological or psychiatric reports, drug and

  2  alcohol reports, treatment records, medical records, or victim

  3  impact statements that have been submitted to the court or

  4  admitted into evidence under ss. 916.30-916.49 shall be part

  5  of the record, but shall be sealed and may be opened only

  6  pursuant to a court order.

  7         Section 15.  Section 916.42, Florida Statutes, is

  8  created to read:

  9         916.42  Constitutional requirements.--The long-term

10  control, care, and treatment of a person committed under ss.

11  916.30-916.49 must conform to constitutional requirements.

12         Section 16.  Section 916.43, Florida Statutes, is

13  created to read:

14         916.43  Immunity from civil liability.--The agency with

15  jurisdiction and its officers and employees; the department

16  and its officers and employees; the state attorney and the

17  state attorney's employees; and those involved in the

18  evaluation, care, and treatment of sexually violent persons

19  committed under ss. 916.30-916.49, are immune from any civil

20  liability for good-faith conduct under ss. 916.30-916.49.

21         Section 17.  Section 916.44, Florida Statutes, is

22  created to read:

23         916.44  Severability.--If any section, subsection, or

24  provision of ss. 916.30-916.49 is held to be unconstitutional

25  or invalid by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remaining

26  portions of ss. 916.30-916.49 shall be unaffected because the

27  Legislature declares that the provisions of ss. 916.30-916.49

28  are severable from each other.

29         Section 18.  Section 916.45, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31

                                  14

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         916.45  Applicability of act.--Sections 916.30-916.49

  2  apply to all persons currently in custody who have been

  3  convicted of a sexually violent offense, as that term is

  4  defined in s. 916.32(8), as well as to all persons convicted

  5  of a sexually violent offense in the future.

  6         Section 19.  Section 916.46, Florida Statutes, is

  7  created to read:

  8         916.46  Notice to victims of release of persons

  9  committed as sexually violent predators.--As soon as is

10  practicable, the department shall give written notice of the

11  release of a person committed as a sexually violent predator

12  to any victim of the committed person who is alive and whose

13  address is known to the department or, if the victim is

14  deceased, to the victim's family, if the family's address is

15  known to the department. Failure to notify is not a reason for

16  postponement of release. This section does not create a cause

17  of action against the state or an employee of the state acting

18  within the scope of the employee's employment as a result of

19  the failure to notify pursuant to ss. 916.30-916.49.

20         Section 20.  Section 916.47, Florida Statutes, is

21  created to read:

22         916.47  Escape while in lawful custody.--A person who

23  is held in lawful custody pursuant to a judicial finding of

24  probably cause under s. 916.35 or pursuant to a commitment as

25  a sexually violent predator under s. 916.36 and who escapes or

26  attempts to escape while in such custody commits a felony of

27  the second degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s.

28  775.083, or s. 775.084.

29         Section 21.  Section 916.48, Florida Statutes, is

30  created to read:

31         916.48  Subsistence fees and costs of treatment.--

                                  15

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1         (1)  In recognition of the fact that persons committed

  2  under ss. 916.30-916.49 may have sources of income and assets,

  3  which may include bank accounts, inheritances, real estate,

  4  social security payments, veteran's payments, and other types

  5  of financial resources, and in recognition of the fact that

  6  the daily subsistence cost and costs of treatment of persons

  7  committed under ss. 916.30-916.49 are a burden on the

  8  taxpayers of the state, each person so committed shall:

  9         (a)  Upon order of the court committing the person,

10  disclose all revenue or assets to the department.

11         (b)  Pay from such income and assets, except where such

12  income is exempt by state or federal law, all or a fair

13  portion of the person's daily subsistence and treatment costs,

14  based upon the person's ability to pay, the liability or

15  potential liability of the person to the victim or the

16  guardian or the estate of the victim, and the needs of his or

17  her dependents.

18         (2)(a)  Any person who is directed to pay all or a fair

19  portion of daily subsistence and treatment costs is entitled

20  to reasonable advance notice of the assessment and shall be

21  afforded an opportunity to present reasons for opposition to

22  the assessment.

23         (b)  An order directing payment of all or a fair

24  portion of a person's daily subsistence costs may survive

25  against the estate of the person.

26         Section 22.  Section 916.49, Florida Statutes, is

27  created to read:

28         916.49  Department of Health responsible for

29  costs.--The Department of Health is responsible for all costs

30  relating to the evaluation and treatment of persons committed

31  to the department's custody as sexually violent predators.

                                  16

CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.






    Florida Senate - 1998                     CS for CS for SB 646
    300-1747-98




  1  Other costs for psychological evaluations, expert witnesses,

  2  and court-appointed counsel required by ss. 916.30-916.49

  3  shall be paid from state funds appropriated by general law.

  4         Section 23.  This act shall take effect July 1, 1998.

  5

  6          STATEMENT OF SUBSTANTIAL CHANGES CONTAINED IN
                       COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR
  7                          CS for SB 646

  8

  9  -    Adds definition of "total confinement" and defines
         "deparment" as the Department of Health rather than the
10       Department of Children and Family Services for the
         purposes of the Jimmy Ryce Act of 1998.
11
    -    Authorizes sexually violent predators to be committed for
12       control, care, and treatment in a secure facility
         operated by a private contractor under the Department of
13       Health exclusively for sexually violent predators.

14  -    Specifies that in the case of an adjudicated committed
         delinquent, the agency having jurisdiction must give
15       written notice to the state attorney 90 days before the
         anticipated release from total confinement or the
16       anticipated hearing regarding possible release.

17  -    Provides that the Department of Health is responsible for
         all costs relating to the evaluation and treatment of
18       persons committed to the department's custody as sexually
         violent predators.
19
    -    Specifies that other costs for psychological evaluations,
20       expert witnesses, and court-appointed counsel be paid
         from state funds appropriated by general law.
21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

                                  17