Senate Bill sb0292
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2003 SB 292
By Senator Bullard
39-350-03
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to restoration of civil rights;
3 amending ss. 940.061, 944.293, 944.605, F.S.;
4 requiring that the Department of Corrections
5 notify an offender, before discharge from
6 supervision, of procedures by which the
7 offender may apply for restoration of civil
8 rights; requiring that the department assist
9 the offender in completing forms required for
10 restoration of civil rights; requiring that the
11 offender acknowledge by signature receipt of
12 such assistance; amending s. 944.705, F.S.;
13 requiring the department to include in its
14 release-orientation program instruction in the
15 procedures for applying for restoration of
16 civil rights; providing an effective date.
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18 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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20 Section 1. Section 940.061, Florida Statutes, is
21 amended to read:
22 940.061 Informing persons about executive clemency and
23 restoration of civil rights.--The Department of Corrections
24 shall inform and educate inmates and offenders on community
25 supervision about the restoration of civil rights and assist
26 eligible inmates and offenders on community supervision with
27 the completion of the application for the restoration of civil
28 rights. To document this notification, the department shall
29 obtain the signature of each offender before the offender's
30 discharge acknowledging receipt of assistance in completing
31 the forms.
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2003 SB 292
39-350-03
1 Section 2. Section 944.293, Florida Statutes, is
2 amended to read:
3 944.293 Initiation of restoration of civil
4 rights.--With respect to those persons convicted of a felony,
5 the following procedure shall apply: Prior to the time an
6 offender is discharged from supervision, an authorized agent
7 of the department shall obtain from the Governor the necessary
8 application and other forms required for the restoration of
9 civil rights. The authorized agent shall assist the offender
10 in completing these forms and shall ensure that the
11 application and all necessary material are forwarded to the
12 Governor before the offender is discharged from supervision.
13 To document compliance with this section, before an offender
14 is discharged from supervision, the department shall obtain
15 the signature of the offender acknowledging receipt of
16 assistance in completing the forms required for restoration of
17 civil rights.
18 Section 3. Present subsection (6) of section 944.605,
19 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
20 subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
21 944.605 Inmate release; notification.--
22 (6) Before an inmate's release, the department shall
23 notify the inmate of the procedures necessary to apply for
24 restoration of civil rights. Pursuant to ss. 944.293 and
25 940.03, the department shall obtain the signature of each
26 inmate before the inmate's release acknowledging receipt of
27 assistance in completing the forms.
28 Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 944.705, Florida
29 Statutes, is amended to read:
30 944.705 Release orientation program.--
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2003 SB 292
39-350-03
1 (2) The release orientation program instruction must
2 include, but is not limited to:
3 (a) Employment skills.
4 (b) Money management skills.
5 (c) Personal development and planning.
6 (d) Special needs.
7 (e) Community reentry concerns.
8 (f) Community reentry support.
9 (g) Procedures to apply for restoration of civil
10 rights.
11 (h)(g) Any other appropriate instruction to ensure the
12 inmate's successful reentry into the community.
13 Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
14 law.
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17 SENATE SUMMARY
18 Requires the Department of Corrections to notify an
offender, before the offender's discharge from
19 supervision, of procedures for applying for restoration
of civil rights. Requires that the department include
20 instruction in applying for restoration of civil rights
as part of the department's release-orientation program.
21 (See bill for details.)
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CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.