House Bill 0391
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 391
By Representative Levine
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to witness protection; amending
3 s. 914.25, F.S.; requiring the Department of
4 Children and Family Services to conduct a child
5 protective investigation under certain
6 circumstances; requiring law enforcement
7 agencies to provide specified protective
8 services for certain victims or witnesses;
9 requiring a signed statement when a victim or
10 witness declines such services; providing an
11 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. Subsection (4) of section 914.25, Florida
16 Statutes, is amended to read:
17 914.25 Protective services for certain victims and
18 witnesses.--
19 (4)(a) When a victim or witness is certified as
20 provided in subsection (3), a law enforcement agency, in
21 consultation with the certifying state attorney or the
22 statewide prosecutor, shall may provide appropriate protective
23 services, including, but not limited to:
24 1. Armed protection, escort services, marked or
25 unmarked surveillance, or periodic visits or contact by law
26 enforcement officials prior to, during, or subsequent to the
27 official proceeding.
28 2. Temporary relocation to an alternate residence.
29 3. Housing expenses.
30 4. Transportation or storage of personal possessions.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 391
707-111-00
1 5. Basic living expenses such as room, board,
2 utilities, general transportation costs, and health care.
3 6. Other services, as needed, and as approved by the
4 statewide prosecutor or state attorney.
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6 If a victim or witness needs to be temporarily relocated, the
7 statewide prosecutor or the state attorney must notify the
8 Department of Law Enforcement. The Department of Law
9 Enforcement, in consultation with the statewide prosecutor or
10 the state attorney, and any other law enforcement agency
11 involved in the criminal investigation or prosecution, shall
12 coordinate the temporary relocation of the victim or witness.
13 (b) Protective services, including temporary
14 relocation services, may be provided for up to 1 year or until
15 the risk giving rise to the certification has diminished,
16 whichever occurs sooner. If deemed necessary, the statewide
17 prosecutor or the state attorney may recertify a victim or
18 witness at risk of harm for an additional period of up to 1
19 year.
20 (c) If the parent or guardian of a child certified by
21 the statewide prosecutor or the state attorney to be a
22 critical witness at risk of harm declines protective services,
23 the statewide prosecutor shall contact the Department of
24 Children and Family Services and request that the department
25 conduct an onsite child protective investigation pursuant to
26 s. 39.302 to determine if the child is a neglected child and
27 in need of protective services as provided under s. 39.303.
28 (d) A victim or witness who refuses to accept
29 protective services shall provide the statewide prosecutor
30 with a signed statement declining the offer of protective
31 services.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida House of Representatives - 2000 HB 391
707-111-00
1 Section 2. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
2 law.
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5 HOUSE SUMMARY
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Requires the Department of Children and Family Services
7 to conduct a child protective investigation for a child
certified by the statewide prosecutor or the state
8 attorney to be a critical witness at risk of harm if the
parent or guardian declines protective services.
9 Requires a signed statement when a victim or witness
declines such services. Requires law enforcement agencies
10 to provide specified protective services for identified
victims or witnesses at risk of harm.
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