House Bill hb0415c1

    Florida House of Representatives - 2002              CS/HB 415

        By the Council for Healthy Communities and Representatives
    Farkas and Murman





  1                      A bill to be entitled

  2         An act relating to prostitution; creating a

  3         community-based pilot program entitled Project

  4         HOPE in Pinellas County; specifying that

  5         certain persons convicted of violations of s.

  6         796.07, F.S., are required to participate in

  7         the program; providing for program components;

  8         providing appropriations; requiring a review by

  9         the Office of Program Policy Analysis and

10         Government Accountability and a report to the

11         Legislature; 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.  Project HOPE.--

16         (1)  There is created a 2-year community-based program

17  in Pinellas County that shall include early intervention for a

18  person convicted of prostitution, as defined in s.

19  796.07(1)(a), Florida Statutes. Any person convicted two or

20  more times under s. 796.07, Florida Statutes, shall undergo

21  screening and evaluation for substance abuse prior to

22  sentencing. After screening and evaluation for substance

23  abuse, the person shall enter into a court-authorized

24  substance abuse treatment program, if recommended.

25         (2)  The proposed program shall be called Project HOPE

26  (Healthy Options Promoting Esteem). Project HOPE shall provide

27  services that include intake and screening, initial drug

28  screening and urinalysis tests, psychosocial assessments, case

29  management, short-term supportive counseling, community

30  referrals, and referrals to residential and nonresidential

31  drug treatment.

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






    Florida House of Representatives - 2002              CS/HB 415

    404-128-02






  1         (3)  In order to successfully curb the prostitution

  2  cycle, intervention efforts must target the solicitor or buyer

  3  of prostitute services as described in s. 796.07(2)(f),

  4  Florida Statutes. A person convicted for a first or second

  5  time under s. 796.07, Florida Statutes, shall be given the

  6  option to attend a rehabilitative educational program

  7  recommended by the court for solicitors or buyers of

  8  prostitution services. If the person convicted chooses this

  9  option, adjudication shall be withheld pending the completion

10  of the requirements of such program. The person is required to

11  attend six classes within 6 months and pay $350 in fees. The

12  program provider shall provide monthly tracking of the

13  person's attendance, progress, and attitude to the court until

14  the classes are completed.

15         Section 2.  There is hereby appropriated for the

16  2002-2003 fiscal year from the General Revenue Fund $100,000

17  to Pinellas County and $100,000 to Hillsborough County for

18  Project HOPE.

19         Section 3.  The Office of Program Policy Analysis and

20  Government Accountability shall conduct a program review of

21  Project HOPE for fiscal years 2002-2003 and 2003-2004 and

22  shall present a report of its findings and recommendations to

23  the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of

24  Representatives on or before December 1, 2004.

25         Section 4.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a

26  law.

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