Senate Bill 2440

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



    Florida Senate - 1999                                  SB 2440

    By Senator Meek





    36-1774-99                                              See HB

  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to the state correctional

  3         system; creating s. 944.6125, F.S.; providing

  4         that certain women who are confined by the

  5         Department of Corrections should be given first

  6         consideration for placement at a correctional

  7         facility located within a reasonable distance

  8         from the residence of the minor child of the

  9         confined woman; providing for a child-friendly

10         environment; providing for the application of

11         the act; providing an effective date.

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

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15         Section 1.  Section 944.6125, Florida Statutes, is

16  created to read:

17         944.6125  Imprisoned women; location of women with

18  children.--

19         (1)  When at all possible, women who are confined by

20  the Florida Department of Corrections for nonviolent offenses,

21  and who have minor children, should be given first

22  consideration for placement at a correctional facility that is

23  within a reasonable distance from the minor child's place of

24  residence.

25         (2)  Once the mother who is being confined by the

26  department is placed at a correctional facility near the

27  residence of the minor child, the facility must provide a

28  child-friendly environment in which the mother and child may

29  continue the bonding process even in the harsh reality of a

30  prison setting.

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






    Florida Senate - 1999                                  SB 2440
    36-1774-99                                              See HB




  1         (3)  The mandates of this section in no way require a

  2  minor child to visit an incarcerated parent.  The provisions

  3  of this section are only applicable with respect to a child

  4  whose mother is incarcerated and whose family unit has made

  5  the decision to allow the child to visit the incarcerated

  6  parent.

  7         Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 1999.

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10                       LEGISLATIVE SUMMARY

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      Provides that when at all possible, women who are
12    confined by the Department of Corrections for nonviolent
      offenses and who have minor children, should be given
13    first consideration for placement at a correctional
      facility within a reasonable distance from the minor
14    children. Provides for a child-friendly environment at
      the facility for the continued bonding of the minor child
15    and the confined parent.  Provides for the application of
      the act.
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