Senate Bill sb0414
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.
Florida Senate - 2004 SB 414
By Senator Bullard
39-541-04
1 A bill to be entitled
2 An act relating to restoration of civil rights;
3 amending ss. 940.061, 944.293, and 944.605,
4 F.S.; requiring that the Department of
5 Corrections notify an offender, before
6 discharge from supervision, of procedures by
7 which the offender may apply for restoration of
8 civil rights; requiring that the department
9 assist the offender in completing forms
10 required for restoration of civil rights;
11 requiring that the offender acknowledge by
12 signature receipt of such assistance; amending
13 s. 944.705, F.S.; requiring the department to
14 include in its release-orientation program
15 instruction in the procedures for applying for
16 restoration of civil rights; providing an
17 effective date.
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19 Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
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21 Section 1. Section 940.061, Florida Statutes, is
22 amended to read:
23 940.061 Informing persons about executive clemency and
24 restoration of civil rights.--The Department of Corrections
25 shall inform and educate inmates and offenders on community
26 supervision about the restoration of civil rights and assist
27 eligible inmates and offenders on community supervision with
28 the completion of the application for the restoration of civil
29 rights. To document this notification, the department shall
30 obtain the signature of each offender before the offender's
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 414
39-541-04
1 discharge acknowledging receipt of assistance in completing
2 the forms.
3 Section 2. Section 944.293, Florida Statutes, is
4 amended to read:
5 944.293 Initiation of restoration of civil
6 rights.--With respect to those persons convicted of a felony,
7 the following procedure shall apply: Prior to the time an
8 offender is discharged from supervision, an authorized agent
9 of the department shall obtain from the Governor the necessary
10 application and other forms required for the restoration of
11 civil rights. The authorized agent shall assist the offender
12 in completing these forms and shall ensure that the
13 application and all necessary material are forwarded to the
14 Governor before the offender is discharged from supervision.
15 To document compliance with this section, before an offender
16 is discharged from supervision, the department shall obtain
17 the signature of the offender acknowledging receipt of
18 assistance in completing the forms required for restoration of
19 civil rights.
20 Section 3. Present subsection (6) of section 944.605,
21 Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (7), and a new
22 subsection (6) is added to that section, to read:
23 944.605 Inmate release; notification.--
24 (6) Before an inmate's release, the department shall
25 notify the inmate of the procedures necessary to apply for
26 restoration of civil rights. Pursuant to ss. 944.293 and
27 940.03, the department shall obtain the signature of each
28 inmate before the inmate's release acknowledging receipt of
29 assistance in completing the forms.
30 Section 4. Subsection (2) of section 944.705, Florida
31 Statutes, is amended to read:
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Florida Senate - 2004 SB 414
39-541-04
1 944.705 Release orientation program.--
2 (2) The release orientation program instruction must
3 include, but is not limited to:
4 (a) Employment skills.
5 (b) Money management skills.
6 (c) Personal development and planning.
7 (d) Special needs.
8 (e) Community reentry concerns.
9 (f) Community reentry support.
10 (g) Procedures to apply for restoration of civil
11 rights.
12 (h)(g) Any other appropriate instruction to ensure the
13 inmate's successful reentry into the community.
14 Section 5. This act shall take effect upon becoming a
15 law.
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18 SENATE SUMMARY
19 Requires the Department of Corrections to notify an
offender, before the offender's discharge from
20 supervision, of procedures for applying for restoration
of civil rights. Requires that the department include
21 instruction in applying for restoration of civil rights
as part of the department's release-orientation program.
22 (See bill for details.)
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