House Bill 0213

    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                 HB 213

        By Representative Suarez






  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to controlled substance

  3         offenders; providing legislative intent

  4         relating to commitment of such persons to

  5         residential treatment programs in lieu of

  6         imprisonment; providing legislative intent

  7         relating to reallocating corrections funds to

  8         pay for such treatment; providing an effective

  9         date.

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11         Whereas, state sentencing guidelines require mandatory

12  prison terms for certain offenses, including possession of

13  controlled substances, and

14         Whereas, many inmates are in state prison for

15  drug-related or drug-induced offenses and there are not enough

16  treatment beds for detoxification and rehabilitation of

17  inmates, and

18         Whereas, it would serve a greater public good to treat

19  the chemical dependency of such offenders rather than

20  incarcerate them, and

21         Whereas, redirecting such offenders to a residential

22  drug treatment program would reduce the inmate population in

23  Florida's prisons and the related costs of housing such

24  persons in prison, providing an opportunity to use such

25  related costs to pay for the residential drug treatment, NOW,

26  THEREFORE,

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

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30         Section 1.  (1)  It is the intent of the Legislature

31  that, whenever possible and to the greatest extent possible,

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2000                 HB 213

    732-108-00






  1  any person who violates s. 893.13(1)(a)1., (c)2., or (d)2.,

  2  (2)(a)1., or (5)(a), Florida Statutes, shall reside at a

  3  community residential drug punishment center on an inpatient

  4  basis pursuant to s. 948.034, Florida Statutes, in lieu of

  5  serving a term of imprisonment as required or authorized by s.

  6  775.082, s. 775.084, or s. 921.0021, Florida Statutes.

  7         (2)  It is the further intent of the Legislature that

  8  the moneys which would otherwise be required to be spent on

  9  such person in serving a term of imprisonment be reallocated

10  to the appropriate budget entity responsible for administering

11  and operating community residential drug punishment centers to

12  be used by such entity in paying for the room, board, and

13  treatment at such center for such person.

14         Section 2.  This act shall take effect October 1, 2000.

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17                          HOUSE SUMMARY

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      Provides legislative intent relating to commitment of
19    controlled substance offenders to residential treatment
      programs instead of imprisonment. Provides legislative
20    intent relating to reallocating corrections funds to pay
      for such treatment.
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