1 | A bill to be entitled |
2 | An act relating to law enforcement; amending s. 790.065, |
3 | F.S.; requiring the Department of Law Enforcement to |
4 | review other records in addition to criminal history |
5 | records to evaluate a potential buyer or transferee of a |
6 | firearm, including an adjudication of mental defectiveness |
7 | or a commitment to a mental institution as criteria that |
8 | prohibit a person from purchasing a firearm; providing |
9 | definitions; requiring the department to maintain an |
10 | automated database of persons who are prohibited from |
11 | purchasing a firearm; requiring each clerk of court to |
12 | submit certain court records to the department within a |
13 | certain period; requiring the department to delete certain |
14 | records from the automated database upon the request of an |
15 | individual meeting specified conditions; authorizing the |
16 | department to disclose collected data to other federal or |
17 | state agencies with regard to the sale or transfer of a |
18 | firearm; authorizing the department to disclose certain |
19 | information to the Department of Agriculture and Consumer |
20 | Services for determining the eligibility of an applicant |
21 | for a concealed weapons or concealed firearms license; |
22 | requiring the clerk of court or mental hospital to provide |
23 | additional information upon request following an appeal of |
24 | an unapproved sale or transfer of a firearm; amending s. |
25 | 914.25, F.S.; providing for recertification for protective |
26 | services for an additional period, with reimbursement for |
27 | expenses from the Victim and Witness Protection Review |
28 | Committee; providing for unlimited protective services for |
29 | a victim or witness without reimbursement; amending s. |
30 | 937.021, F.S.; providing immunity to the Department of Law |
31 | Enforcement, other law enforcement agencies, and media |
32 | representatives from civil liability for complying in good |
33 | faith with a request to record or report information of an |
34 | Amber Alert or Missing Child Alert; providing that a |
35 | technical or clerical error or incorrect or incomplete |
36 | information does not overcome the presumption of good |
37 | faith in reporting information about an Amber Alert or |
38 | Missing Child Alert; providing that it is a discretionary |
39 | decision to report, record, or display Amber Alert or |
40 | Missing Child Alert information received from the local |
41 | law enforcement agency having jurisdiction; amending s. |
42 | 938.07, F.S.; requiring that a portion of certain court |
43 | costs imposed for a conviction of driving or boating under |
44 | the influence be deposited into the Operating Trust Fund |
45 | of the Department of Law Enforcement instead of the |
46 | Criminal Justice Standards and Training Trust Fund; |
47 | amending s. 938.27, F.S.; requiring that investigative |
48 | costs recovered on behalf of the Department of Law |
49 | Enforcement be deposited into the department's Forfeiture |
50 | and Investigative Trust Fund; amending s. 943.052, F.S.; |
51 | requiring that disposition reports for dispositions |
52 | relating to minor offenders are mandatory after a |
53 | specified date; amending s. 68.07, F.S.; requiring a set |
54 | of fingerprints as part of a name change petition; |
55 | amending s. 943.05, F.S.; authorizing the Department of |
56 | Law Enforcement to retain fingerprints in certain |
57 | circumstances and use retained fingerprints for certain |
58 | purposes; providing for an annual fee; providing for |
59 | waiver of the fee for good cause shown; providing for free |
60 | services for certain purposes; amending s. 943.053, F.S.; |
61 | requiring the department to make certain information |
62 | available to judges; limiting use of information; |
63 | authorizing a criminal justice agency to obtain a criminal |
64 | history background check of a noncertified agency employee |
65 | by submitting fingerprints to the department; requiring |
66 | that the criminal history check be provided by the |
67 | department in certain circumstances; amending s. 943.0585, |
68 | F.S.; prohibiting a court from expunging a criminal |
69 | history record containing certain sexual offenses or |
70 | certain offenses that require registration as a sexual |
71 | offender; requiring a valid certificate of eligibility for |
72 | expunction in a petition to expunge a criminal history |
73 | record; specifying the time during which a certificate of |
74 | eligibility for expunction is valid; requiring that a |
75 | trial may not have occurred in order for a person to |
76 | obtain a statement from the state attorney authorizing the |
77 | expunction of a criminal record; authorizing a person who |
78 | has secured a prior sealing of a criminal history record |
79 | to seek a certificate of eligibility for expunction if the |
80 | criminal history record was previously sealed for a |
81 | certain number of years and is otherwise eligible for |
82 | expunction; providing that a person who is seeking |
83 | authorization for employment within or access to a seaport |
84 | may not deny or fail to acknowledge arrests covered by |
85 | expunged records; providing that the department may |
86 | acknowledge expunged criminal history records under |
87 | certain circumstances; prohibiting seaport employees from |
88 | disclosing expunged criminal history record information |
89 | except to certain persons; providing penalties; amending |
90 | s. 943.059, F.S.; enumerating certain sexual offenses and |
91 | offenses that require registration as a sexual offender |
92 | which may not be sealed; requiring a valid certificate of |
93 | eligibility for sealing in a petition to seal a criminal |
94 | history record; specifying the period during which a |
95 | certificate of eligibility for sealing is valid; providing |
96 | that the information contained in a sealed criminal record |
97 | is available to a criminal justice agency for the purpose |
98 | of conducting a criminal history background check for |
99 | approval of a firearms purchase or transfer; prohibiting a |
100 | person from denying arrests covered by his or her sealed |
101 | criminal record when attempting to purchase a firearm; |
102 | providing that a person who is seeking authorization for |
103 | employment within or access to a seaport may not deny or |
104 | fail to acknowledge arrests covered by sealed records; |
105 | providing that the department may acknowledge sealed |
106 | criminal history records under certain circumstances; |
107 | prohibiting seaport employees from disclosing sealed |
108 | criminal history record information except to certain |
109 | persons; providing penalties; amending s. 943.13, F.S.; |
110 | requiring the department to enter law enforcement, |
111 | correctional, and correctional probation officers' |
112 | fingerprints into a statewide automated fingerprint |
113 | identification system; requiring the department to search |
114 | each arrest fingerprint card received against fingerprints |
115 | retained in the statewide automated fingerprint |
116 | identification system; providing for refingerprinting by a |
117 | certain date; amending ss. 943.1715 and 943.1716, F.S.; |
118 | deleting the minimum number of hours required for basic |
119 | skills training and continued employment training relating |
120 | to diverse populations for law enforcement, correctional, |
121 | and correctional probation officers; repealing s. |
122 | 943.2569, F.S., relating to an annual financial audit of |
123 | criminal justice selection centers; amending s. 943.257, |
124 | F.S.; authorizing the Criminal Justice Standards and |
125 | Training Commission and the advisory board of a criminal |
126 | justice selection center to inspect and copy any documents |
127 | from a center in order to carry out oversight |
128 | responsibilities, including documents pertaining to any |
129 | internal or independent audits; amending s. 943.401, F.S.; |
130 | requiring the department to investigate all public |
131 | assistance that is provided by the state; requiring public |
132 | assistance recipients to consent in writing to an |
133 | investigation into their employment and financial |
134 | histories by the Agency for Workforce Innovation; |
135 | requiring the department to report the results of the |
136 | investigations to the Agency for Workforce Innovation; |
137 | authorizing the department to purchase goodwill and |
138 | promotional materials; limiting the annual amount of such |
139 | expenditures; prohibiting the unauthorized use of the |
140 | department's emblems and names; providing a penalty; |
141 | providing effective dates. |
142 |
|
143 | Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida: |
144 |
|
145 | Section 1. Effective February 1, 2007, paragraph (a) of |
146 | subsection (2) of section 790.065, Florida Statutes, is amended |
147 | to read: |
148 | 790.065 Sale and delivery of firearms.-- |
149 | (2) Upon receipt of a request for a criminal history |
150 | record check, the Department of Law Enforcement shall, during |
151 | the licensee's call or by return call, forthwith: |
152 | (a) Review criminal history records and other records that |
153 | have been provided to the department to determine if the |
154 | potential buyer or transferee: |
155 | 1. Has been convicted of a felony and is prohibited from |
156 | receipt or possession of a firearm pursuant to s. 790.23; |
157 | 2. Has been convicted of a misdemeanor crime of domestic |
158 | violence, and therefore is prohibited from purchasing a firearm; |
159 | or |
160 | 3. Has had adjudication of guilt withheld or imposition of |
161 | sentence suspended on any felony or misdemeanor crime of |
162 | domestic violence unless 3 years have elapsed since probation or |
163 | any other conditions set by the court have been fulfilled or |
164 | expunction has occurred; or. |
165 | 4. Has been adjudicated mentally defective or has been |
166 | committed to a mental institution by a court and as a result is |
167 | prohibited by federal law from purchasing a firearm. |
168 | a. As used in this subparagraph, "adjudicated mentally |
169 | defective" means a determination by a court that a person, as a |
170 | result of marked subnormal intelligence, or mental illness, |
171 | incompetency, condition, or disease, is a danger to himself or |
172 | herself or to others or lacks the mental capacity to contract or |
173 | manage his or her own affairs. The phrase shall include a |
174 | judicial finding of incapacity under s. 744.331(6)(a), an |
175 | acquittal by reason of insanity of a person charged with a |
176 | criminal offense, and a judicial finding that a criminal |
177 | defendant is not competent to stand trial. |
178 | b. As used in this subparagraph, "committed to a mental |
179 | institution" means involuntary commitment, commitment for mental |
180 | defectiveness or mental illness, and commitment for substance |
181 | abuse. The phrase shall include involuntary inpatient placement |
182 | as defined in s. 394.467, involuntary assessment and |
183 | stabilization under s. 397.6818, and involuntary substance abuse |
184 | treatment under s. 397.6957, but shall not include a person in a |
185 | mental institution for observation or discharged from a mental |
186 | institution based upon the initial review by the physician or a |
187 | voluntary admission to a mental institution. |
188 | c. In order to check for these conditions, the department |
189 | shall compile and maintain an automated database of persons who |
190 | are prohibited from purchasing a firearm based on court records |
191 | of adjudications of mental defectiveness or commitments to |
192 | mental institutions. Clerks of court are required to submit |
193 | these records to the department within 1 month after the |
194 | rendition of the adjudication or commitment. Reports may be |
195 | submitted in an automated format. The reports must, at a |
196 | minimum, include the name, along with any known alias or former |
197 | name, the sex, and the date of birth of the subject. The |
198 | department shall delete any mental health record from the |
199 | database upon request of an individual when 5 years have elapsed |
200 | since the individual's restoration to capacity by court order |
201 | after being adjudicated an incapacitated person under s. |
202 | 744.331, or similar laws of any other state; or, in the case of |
203 | an individual who was previously committed to a mental |
204 | institution under chapter 394, or similar laws of any other |
205 | state, when the individual produces a certificate from a |
206 | licensed psychiatrist that he or she has not suffered from |
207 | disability for at least 5 years prior to the date of request for |
208 | removal of the record. Where the department has received a |
209 | subsequent record of an adjudication of mental defectiveness or |
210 | commitment to a mental institution for such individual, the 5- |
211 | year timeframe shall be calculated from the most recent |
212 | adjudication of incapacitation or commitment. |
213 | d. The department is authorized to disclose the collected |
214 | data to agencies of the Federal Government and other states for |
215 | use exclusively in determining the lawfulness of a firearm sale |
216 | or transfer. The department is also authorized to disclose any |
217 | applicable collected data to the Department of Agriculture and |
218 | Consumer Services for determination of eligibility for issuance |
219 | of a concealed weapons or concealed firearms license upon |
220 | receipt of an applicant fingerprint submission forwarded |
221 | pursuant to s. 790.06(6)(a). When a potential buyer or |
222 | transferee appeals a nonapproval based on these records, the |
223 | clerks of court and mental institutions shall, upon request by |
224 | the department, provide information to help determine whether |
225 | the potential buyer or transferee is the same person as the |
226 | subject of the record. Photographs and any other data that could |
227 | confirm or negate identity must be made available to the |
228 | department for such purposes, notwithstanding any other |
229 | provision of state law to the contrary. Any such information |
230 | that is made confidential or exempt from disclosure by law shall |
231 | retain such confidential or exempt status when transferred to |
232 | the department. |
233 | Section 2. Subsections (4) and (5) of section 914.25, |
234 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
235 | 914.25 Protective services for certain victims and |
236 | witnesses.-- |
237 | (4)(a) When a victim or witness is certified as provided |
238 | in subsection (3), a law enforcement agency, in consultation |
239 | with the certifying state attorney or the statewide prosecutor, |
240 | may provide appropriate protective services. If a victim or |
241 | witness needs to be temporarily relocated, the statewide |
242 | prosecutor or the state attorney must notify the Department of |
243 | Law Enforcement. The Department of Law Enforcement, in |
244 | consultation with the statewide prosecutor or the state |
245 | attorney, and any other law enforcement agency involved in the |
246 | criminal investigation or prosecution, shall coordinate the |
247 | temporary relocation of the victim or witness. |
248 | (b) Protective services, including temporary relocation |
249 | services, may initially be provided for up to 1 year or until |
250 | the risk giving rise to the certification has diminished, |
251 | whichever occurs sooner. If deemed necessary, The statewide |
252 | prosecutor or the state attorney may, at the end of the |
253 | certification year, recertify a victim or witness at risk of |
254 | harm for an additional period of up to 1 year or until the risk |
255 | giving rise to the certification has diminished, whichever |
256 | occurs first. A victim or witness at risk of harm may be |
257 | certified and recertified annually as provided in this section |
258 | to provide a maximum of 4 years of eligibility for protective |
259 | services. |
260 | (5) The lead law enforcement agency that provides |
261 | protective services, as authorized in this section, may seek |
262 | reimbursement for its reasonable expenses from the Victim and |
263 | Witness Protection Review Committee, pursuant to the provisions |
264 | of s. 943.031. This section does not prevent any law enforcement |
265 | agency from providing protective services at the agency's |
266 | expense beyond the 4-year maximum period established in this |
267 | section. Any such additional expenditures for protective |
268 | services are not eligible for the reimbursement provided in this |
269 | section. |
270 | Section 3. Subsection (3) is added to section 937.021, |
271 | Florida Statutes, to read: |
272 | 937.021 Missing child reports.-- |
273 | (3)(a) Upon receiving a request to record, report, |
274 | transmit, display, or release Amber Alert or Missing Child Alert |
275 | information from the law enforcement agency having jurisdiction |
276 | over the missing or endangered child, the Department of Law |
277 | Enforcement as the state Amber Alert coordinator; any state or |
278 | local law enforcement agency and the personnel of these |
279 | agencies; any radio or television network, broadcaster, or other |
280 | media representative; or any agency, employee, individual, or |
281 | entity is immune from civil liability for damages for complying |
282 | in good faith with the request and is presumed to have acted in |
283 | good faith in recording, reporting, transmitting, displaying, or |
284 | releasing Amber Alert or Missing Child Alert information |
285 | pertaining to such child. |
286 | (b) The presumption of good faith is not overcome if a |
287 | technical or clerical error is made by any such agency, |
288 | employee, individual, or entity acting at the request of the |
289 | local law enforcement agency having jurisdiction or if the Amber |
290 | Alert or Missing Child Alert information is incomplete or |
291 | incorrect because the information received from the local law |
292 | enforcement agency was incomplete or incorrect. |
293 | (c) Neither this subsection nor any other provision of law |
294 | creates a duty of the agency, employee, individual, or entity to |
295 | record, report, transmit, display, or release the Amber Alert or |
296 | Missing Child Alert information received from the local law |
297 | enforcement agency having jurisdiction. The decision to record, |
298 | report, transmit, display, or release information is |
299 | discretionary with the agency, employee, individual, or entity |
300 | receiving that information from the local law enforcement agency |
301 | having jurisdiction. |
302 | Section 4. Section 938.07, Florida Statutes, is amended to |
303 | read: |
304 | 938.07 Driving or boating under the |
305 | influence.--Notwithstanding any other provision of s. 316.193 or |
306 | s. 327.35, a court cost of $135 shall be added to any fine |
307 | imposed pursuant to s. 316.193 or s. 327.35. The clerks shall |
308 | remit the funds to the Department of Revenue, $25 of which shall |
309 | be deposited in the Emergency Medical Services Trust Fund, $50 |
310 | shall be deposited in the Operating Criminal Justice Standards |
311 | and Training Trust Fund of the Department of Law Enforcement to |
312 | be used for operational expenses in conducting the statewide |
313 | criminal analysis laboratory system established in s. 943.32, |
314 | and $60 shall be deposited in the Brain and Spinal Cord Injury |
315 | Rehabilitation Trust Fund created in s. 381.79. |
316 | Section 5. Subsection (7) of section 938.27, Florida |
317 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
318 | 938.27 Judgment for costs on conviction.-- |
319 | (7) Investigative costs that which are recovered shall be |
320 | returned to the appropriate investigative agency that which |
321 | incurred the expense. Such costs shall include actual expenses |
322 | incurred in conducting the investigation and prosecution of the |
323 | criminal case; however, costs may also include the salaries of |
324 | permanent employees. Any investigative costs recovered on behalf |
325 | of a state agency must be remitted to the Department of Revenue |
326 | for deposit in the agency operating trust fund, and a report of |
327 | the payment must be sent to the agency, except that any |
328 | investigative costs recovered on behalf of the Department of Law |
329 | Enforcement shall be deposited in the department's Forfeiture |
330 | and Investigative Support Trust Fund under s. 943.362. |
331 | Section 6. Subsection (2) of section 943.052, Florida |
332 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
333 | 943.052 Disposition reporting.--The Criminal Justice |
334 | Information Program shall, by rule, establish procedures and a |
335 | format for each criminal justice agency to monitor its records |
336 | and submit reports, as provided by this section, to the program. |
337 | The disposition report shall be developed by the program and |
338 | shall include the offender-based transaction system number. |
339 | (2) Each clerk of the court shall submit the uniform |
340 | dispositions to the program or in a manner acceptable to the |
341 | program. The report shall be submitted at least once a month |
342 | and, when acceptable by the program, may be submitted in an |
343 | automated format. The disposition report is mandatory for |
344 | dispositions relating to adult offenders only. Beginning July 1, |
345 | 2008, a disposition report for each disposition relating to a |
346 | minor offender is mandatory. |
347 | Section 7. Subsections (2) and (5) of section 68.07, |
348 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
349 | 68.07 Change of name.-- |
350 | (2) The petition shall include a set copy of the |
351 | petitioner's fingerprints taken by a law enforcement agency |
352 | except where a former name is being restored and be verified and |
353 | show: |
354 | (a) That petitioner is a bona fide resident of and |
355 | domiciled in the county where the change of name is sought. |
356 | (b) If known, the date and place of birth of petitioner, |
357 | petitioner's father's name, mother's maiden name, and where |
358 | petitioner has resided since birth. |
359 | (c) If petitioner is married, the name of petitioner's |
360 | spouse and if petitioner has children, the names and ages of |
361 | each and where they reside. |
362 | (d) If petitioner's name has previously been changed and |
363 | when and where and by what court. |
364 | (e) Petitioner's occupation and where petitioner is |
365 | employed and has been employed for 5 years next preceding filing |
366 | of the petition. If petitioner owns and operates a business, the |
367 | name and place of it shall be stated and petitioner's connection |
368 | therewith and how long petitioner has been identified with said |
369 | business. If petitioner is in a profession, the profession shall |
370 | be stated, where the petitioner has practiced the profession and |
371 | if a graduate of a school or schools, the name or names thereof, |
372 | time of graduation, and degrees received. |
373 | (f) Whether the petitioner has been generally known or |
374 | called by any other names and if so, by what names and where. |
375 | (g) Whether petitioner has ever been adjudicated a |
376 | bankrupt and if so, where and when. |
377 | (h) Whether petitioner has ever been arrested for or |
378 | charged with, pled guilty or nolo contendere to, or been found |
379 | to have committed a criminal offense, regardless of |
380 | adjudication, and if so, when and where. |
381 | (i) Whether any money judgment has ever been entered |
382 | against petitioner and if so, the name of the judgment creditor, |
383 | the amount and date thereof, the court by which entered, and |
384 | whether the judgment has been satisfied. |
385 | (j) That the petition is filed for no ulterior or illegal |
386 | purpose and granting it will not in any manner invade the |
387 | property rights of others, whether partnership, patent, good |
388 | will, privacy, trademark, or otherwise. |
389 | (k) That the petitioner's civil rights have never been |
390 | suspended, or if the petitioner's civil rights have been |
391 | suspended, that full restoration of civil rights has occurred. |
392 | (5) The clerk must, upon the filing of the final judgment, |
393 | send a report of the judgment to the Department of Law |
394 | Enforcement on a form to be furnished by that department. The |
395 | Department of Law Enforcement must send a copy of the report to |
396 | the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles, which may |
397 | be delivered by electronic transmission. The report must contain |
398 | sufficient information to identify the petitioner, including a |
399 | set copy of the petitioner's fingerprints taken by a law |
400 | enforcement agency, the new name of the petitioner, and the file |
401 | number of the judgment. Any information retained by the |
402 | Department of Law Enforcement and the Department of Highway |
403 | Safety and Motor Vehicles may be revised or supplemented by said |
404 | departments to reflect changes made by the final judgment. With |
405 | respect to a person convicted of a felony in another state or of |
406 | a federal offense, the Department of Law Enforcement must send |
407 | the report to the respective state's office of law enforcement |
408 | records or to the office of the Federal Bureau of Investigation. |
409 | The Department of Law Enforcement may forward the report to any |
410 | other law enforcement agency it believes may retain information |
411 | related to the petitioner. Any costs associated with |
412 | fingerprinting must be paid by the petitioner. |
413 | Section 8. Paragraphs (g) and (h) are added to subsection |
414 | (2) of section 943.05, Florida Statutes, to read: |
415 | 943.05 Criminal Justice Information Program; duties; crime |
416 | reports.-- |
417 | (2) The program shall: |
418 | (g) As authorized by law, retain fingerprints submitted by |
419 | criminal and noncriminal justice agencies to the department for |
420 | a criminal history background screening in a manner provided by |
421 | rule and enter the fingerprints in the statewide automated |
422 | fingerprint identification system authorized by paragraph (b). |
423 | Such fingerprints shall thereafter be available for all purposes |
424 | and uses authorized for arrest fingerprint cards entered into |
425 | the statewide automated fingerprint identification system |
426 | pursuant to s. 943.051. |
427 | (h)1. As authorized by law, search all arrest fingerprint |
428 | cards received under s. 943.051 against the fingerprints |
429 | retained in the statewide automated fingerprint identification |
430 | system under paragraph (g). Any arrest record that is identified |
431 | with the retained fingerprints of a person subject to background |
432 | screening as provided in paragraph (g) shall be reported to the |
433 | appropriate agency. |
434 | 2. Agencies may participate in this search process by |
435 | payment of an annual fee to the department and by informing the |
436 | department of any change in the affiliation, employment, or |
437 | contractual status or place of affiliation, employment, or |
438 | contracting of the persons whose fingerprints are retained under |
439 | paragraph (g). The department shall adopt a rule setting the |
440 | amount of the annual fee to be imposed upon each participating |
441 | agency for performing these searches and establishing the |
442 | procedures for the retention of fingerprints and the |
443 | dissemination of search results. The fee may be borne as |
444 | provided by law. Fees may be waived or reduced by the executive |
445 | director for good cause shown. Consistent with the recognition |
446 | of criminal justice agencies expressed in s. 943.053(3), these |
447 | services will be provided to criminal justice agencies for |
448 | criminal justice purposes free of charge. |
449 | Section 9. Subsections (5) through (9) of section 943.053, |
450 | Florida Statutes, are renumbered as subsections (6) through |
451 | (10), respectively, and new subsections (5), (11), and (12) are |
452 | added to that section, to read: |
453 | 943.053 Dissemination of criminal justice information; |
454 | fees.-- |
455 | (5) Notwithstanding the provisions of s. 943.0525, and any |
456 | user agreements adopted pursuant thereto, and notwithstanding |
457 | the confidentiality of sealed records as provided for in s. |
458 | 943.059, the department shall make online access to Florida |
459 | criminal justice information available to each judge in the |
460 | state courts system for the purpose of assisting judges in their |
461 | case-related decisionmaking responsibilities. Such online access |
462 | shall be provided without charge to the state courts system. |
463 | Sealed records received by the courts under this section remain |
464 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1). The |
465 | information provided pursuant to this section shall not take the |
466 | place of any information required to be provided to the courts |
467 | by any other agency or entity. Information provided under this |
468 | section shall be used only for the official court business for |
469 | which it was requested and may not be further disseminated. |
470 | (11) A criminal justice agency that is authorized under |
471 | federal rules or law to conduct a criminal history background |
472 | check on an agency employee who is not certified by the Criminal |
473 | Justice Standards and Training Commission under s. 943.12 may |
474 | submit to the department the fingerprints of the noncertified |
475 | employee to obtain state and national criminal history |
476 | information. Effective January 15, 2007, the fingerprints |
477 | submitted shall be retained and entered in the statewide |
478 | automated fingerprint identification system authorized by s. |
479 | 943.05 and shall be available for all purposes and uses |
480 | authorized for arrest fingerprint cards entered in the statewide |
481 | automated fingerprint identification system pursuant to s. |
482 | 943.051. The department shall search all arrest fingerprint |
483 | cards received pursuant to s. 943.051 against the fingerprints |
484 | retained in the statewide automated fingerprint identification |
485 | system pursuant to this section. In addition to all purposes and |
486 | uses authorized for arrest fingerprint cards for which submitted |
487 | fingerprints may be used, any arrest record that is identified |
488 | with the retained employee fingerprints must be reported to the |
489 | submitting employing agency. |
490 | (12) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, when a |
491 | criminal history check or a duty to disclose the absence of a |
492 | criminal history check is mandated by state law, or when a |
493 | privilege or benefit is conferred by state law in return for |
494 | exercising an option of conducting a criminal history check, the |
495 | referenced criminal history check, whether it is an initial or |
496 | renewal check, shall include a Florida criminal history provided |
497 | by the department as set forth in this section. Such Florida |
498 | criminal history information may be provided by a private vendor |
499 | only if that information is directly obtained from the |
500 | department for each request. When a national criminal history |
501 | check is required or authorized by state law, the national |
502 | criminal history check shall be submitted by and through the |
503 | department in the manner established by the department for such |
504 | checks, unless otherwise required by federal law. The fee for |
505 | criminal history information as established by state law or, in |
506 | the case of national checks, by the Federal Government, shall be |
507 | borne by the person or entity submitting the request, or as |
508 | provided by law. Criminal history information provided by any |
509 | other governmental entity of this state or any private entity |
510 | shall not be substituted for criminal history information |
511 | provided by the department when the criminal history check or a |
512 | duty to disclose the absence of a criminal history check is |
513 | required by statute or is made a condition of a privilege or |
514 | benefit by law. |
515 | Section 10. Section 943.0585, Florida Statutes, is amended |
516 | to read: |
517 | 943.0585 Court-ordered expunction of criminal history |
518 | records.--The courts of this state have jurisdiction over their |
519 | own procedures, including the maintenance, expunction, and |
520 | correction of judicial records containing criminal history |
521 | information to the extent such procedures are not inconsistent |
522 | with the conditions, responsibilities, and duties established by |
523 | this section. Any court of competent jurisdiction may order a |
524 | criminal justice agency to expunge the criminal history record |
525 | of a minor or an adult who complies with the requirements of |
526 | this section. The court shall not order a criminal justice |
527 | agency to expunge a criminal history record until the person |
528 | seeking to expunge a criminal history record has applied for and |
529 | received a certificate of eligibility for expunction pursuant to |
530 | subsection (2). A criminal history record that relates to a |
531 | violation of s. 393.135, s. 394.4593, s. 787.025, chapter 794, |
532 | s. 796.03, s. 800.04, s. 810.14, s. 817.034, s. 825.1025, s. |
533 | 827.071, chapter 839, s. 847.0133, s. 847.0135, s. 847.0145, s. |
534 | 893.135, s. 916.1075, or a violation enumerated in s. 907.041, |
535 | or any violation specified as a predicate offense for |
536 | registration as a sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21, without |
537 | regard to whether that offense alone is sufficient to require |
538 | such registration, or for registration as a sexual offender |
539 | pursuant to s. 943.0435, may not be expunged, without regard to |
540 | whether adjudication was withheld, if the defendant was found |
541 | guilty of or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the offense, or |
542 | if the defendant, as a minor, was found to have committed, or |
543 | pled guilty or nolo contendere to committing, the offense as a |
544 | delinquent act. The court may only order expunction of a |
545 | criminal history record pertaining to one arrest or one incident |
546 | of alleged criminal activity, except as provided in this |
547 | section. The court may, at its sole discretion, order the |
548 | expunction of a criminal history record pertaining to more than |
549 | one arrest if the additional arrests directly relate to the |
550 | original arrest. If the court intends to order the expunction of |
551 | records pertaining to such additional arrests, such intent must |
552 | be specified in the order. A criminal justice agency may not |
553 | expunge any record pertaining to such additional arrests if the |
554 | order to expunge does not articulate the intention of the court |
555 | to expunge a record pertaining to more than one arrest. This |
556 | section does not prevent the court from ordering the expunction |
557 | of only a portion of a criminal history record pertaining to one |
558 | arrest or one incident of alleged criminal activity. |
559 | Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, a criminal justice |
560 | agency may comply with laws, court orders, and official requests |
561 | of other jurisdictions relating to expunction, correction, or |
562 | confidential handling of criminal history records or information |
563 | derived therefrom. This section does not confer any right to the |
564 | expunction of any criminal history record, and any request for |
565 | expunction of a criminal history record may be denied at the |
566 | sole discretion of the court. |
567 | (1) PETITION TO EXPUNGE A CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD.--Each |
568 | petition to a court to expunge a criminal history record is |
569 | complete only when accompanied by: |
570 | (a) A valid certificate of eligibility for expunction |
571 | issued by the department pursuant to subsection (2). |
572 | (b) The petitioner's sworn statement attesting that the |
573 | petitioner: |
574 | 1. Has never, prior to the date on which the petition is |
575 | filed, been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense or |
576 | comparable ordinance violation, or been adjudicated delinquent |
577 | for committing any a felony or a misdemeanor specified in s. |
578 | 943.051(3)(b). |
579 | 2. Has not been adjudicated guilty of, or adjudicated |
580 | delinquent for committing, any of the acts stemming from the |
581 | arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition |
582 | pertains. |
583 | 3. Has never secured a prior sealing or expunction of a |
584 | criminal history record under this section, former s. 893.14, |
585 | former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058, or from any jurisdiction |
586 | outside the state, unless expunction is sought of a criminal |
587 | history record previously sealed for 10 years pursuant to |
588 | paragraph (2)(h) and the record is otherwise eligible for |
589 | expunction. |
590 | 4. Is eligible for such an expunction to the best of his |
591 | or her knowledge or belief and does not have any other petition |
592 | to expunge or any petition to seal pending before any court. |
593 |
|
594 | Any person who knowingly provides false information on such |
595 | sworn statement to the court commits a felony of the third |
596 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. |
597 | 775.084. |
598 | (2) CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR EXPUNCTION.--Prior to |
599 | petitioning the court to expunge a criminal history record, a |
600 | person seeking to expunge a criminal history record shall apply |
601 | to the department for a certificate of eligibility for |
602 | expunction. The department shall, by rule adopted pursuant to |
603 | chapter 120, establish procedures pertaining to the application |
604 | for and issuance of certificates of eligibility for expunction. |
605 | A certificate of eligibility for expunction is valid for 12 |
606 | months after the date stamped on the certificate when issued by |
607 | the department. After that time, the petitioner must reapply to |
608 | the department for a new certificate of eligibility. Eligibility |
609 | for a renewed certification of eligibility must be based on the |
610 | status of the applicant and the law in effect at the time of the |
611 | most recent application. The department shall issue a |
612 | certificate of eligibility for expunction to a person who is the |
613 | subject of a criminal history record if that person: |
614 | (a) Has obtained, and submitted to the department, a |
615 | written, certified statement from the appropriate state attorney |
616 | or statewide prosecutor which indicates: |
617 | 1. That an indictment, information, or other charging |
618 | document was not filed or issued in the case. |
619 | 2. That an indictment, information, or other charging |
620 | document, if filed or issued in the case, was dismissed or nolle |
621 | prosequi by the state attorney or statewide prosecutor, or was |
622 | dismissed by a court of competent jurisdiction, and that none of |
623 | the charges related to the arrest or alleged criminal activity |
624 | to which the petition to expunge pertains resulted in a trial, |
625 | without regard to whether the outcome of the trial was other |
626 | than an adjudication of guilt. |
627 | 3. That the criminal history record does not relate to a |
628 | violation of s. 393.135, s. 394.4593, s. 787.025, chapter 794, |
629 | s. 796.03, s. 800.04, s. 810.14, s. 817.034, s. 825.1025, s. |
630 | 827.071, chapter 839, s. 847.0133, s. 847.0135, s. 847.0145, s. |
631 | 893.135, s. 916.1075, or a violation enumerated in s. 907.041, |
632 | or any violation specified as a predicate offense for |
633 | registration as a sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21, without |
634 | regard to whether that offense alone is sufficient to require |
635 | such registration, or for registration as a sexual offender |
636 | pursuant to s. 943.0435, where the defendant was found guilty |
637 | of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to any such offense, or |
638 | that the defendant, as a minor, was found to have committed, or |
639 | pled guilty or nolo contendere to committing, such an offense as |
640 | a delinquent act, without regard to whether adjudication was |
641 | withheld. |
642 | (b) Remits a $75 processing fee to the department for |
643 | placement in the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust |
644 | Fund, unless such fee is waived by the executive director. |
645 | (c) Has submitted to the department a certified copy of |
646 | the disposition of the charge to which the petition to expunge |
647 | pertains. |
648 | (d) Has never, prior to the date on which the application |
649 | for a certificate of eligibility is filed, been adjudicated |
650 | guilty of a criminal offense or comparable ordinance violation, |
651 | or been adjudicated delinquent for committing any a felony or a |
652 | misdemeanor specified in s. 943.051(3)(b). |
653 | (e) Has not been adjudicated guilty of, or adjudicated |
654 | delinquent for committing, any of the acts stemming from the |
655 | arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to |
656 | expunge pertains. |
657 | (f) Has never secured a prior sealing or expunction of a |
658 | criminal history record under this section, former s. 893.14, |
659 | former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058, unless expunction is |
660 | sought of a criminal history record previously sealed for 10 |
661 | years pursuant to paragraph (h) and the record is otherwise |
662 | eligible for expunction. |
663 | (g) Is no longer under court supervision applicable to the |
664 | disposition of the arrest or alleged criminal activity to which |
665 | the petition to expunge pertains. |
666 | (h) Has previously obtained a court order sealing the |
667 | record under this section, former s. 893.14, former s. 901.33, |
668 | or former s. 943.058 for a minimum of 10 years because |
669 | adjudication was withheld or because all charges related to the |
670 | arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to |
671 | expunge pertains were not dismissed prior to trial, without |
672 | regard to whether the outcome of the trial was other than an |
673 | adjudication of guilt. The requirement for the record to have |
674 | previously been sealed for a minimum of 10 years does not apply |
675 | when a plea was not entered or all charges related to the arrest |
676 | or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to expunge |
677 | pertains were dismissed prior to trial. Is not required to wait |
678 | a minimum of 10 years prior to being eligible for an expunction |
679 | of such records because all charges related to the arrest or |
680 | criminal activity to which the petition to expunge pertains were |
681 | dismissed prior to trial, adjudication, or the withholding of |
682 | adjudication. Otherwise, such criminal history record must be |
683 | sealed under this section, former s. 893.14, former s. 901.33, |
684 | or former s. 943.058 for at least 10 years before such record is |
685 | eligible for expunction. |
686 | (3) PROCESSING OF A PETITION OR ORDER TO EXPUNGE.-- |
687 | (a) In judicial proceedings under this section, a copy of |
688 | the completed petition to expunge shall be served upon the |
689 | appropriate state attorney or the statewide prosecutor and upon |
690 | the arresting agency; however, it is not necessary to make any |
691 | agency other than the state a party. The appropriate state |
692 | attorney or the statewide prosecutor and the arresting agency |
693 | may respond to the court regarding the completed petition to |
694 | expunge. |
695 | (b) If relief is granted by the court, the clerk of the |
696 | court shall certify copies of the order to the appropriate state |
697 | attorney or the statewide prosecutor and the arresting agency. |
698 | The arresting agency is responsible for forwarding the order to |
699 | any other agency to which the arresting agency disseminated the |
700 | criminal history record information to which the order pertains. |
701 | The department shall forward the order to expunge to the Federal |
702 | Bureau of Investigation. The clerk of the court shall certify a |
703 | copy of the order to any other agency which the records of the |
704 | court reflect has received the criminal history record from the |
705 | court. |
706 | (c) For an order to expunge entered by a court prior to |
707 | July 1, 1992, the department shall notify the appropriate state |
708 | attorney or statewide prosecutor of an order to expunge which is |
709 | contrary to law because the person who is the subject of the |
710 | record has previously been convicted of a crime or comparable |
711 | ordinance violation or has had a prior criminal history record |
712 | sealed or expunged. Upon receipt of such notice, the appropriate |
713 | state attorney or statewide prosecutor shall take action, within |
714 | 60 days, to correct the record and petition the court to void |
715 | the order to expunge. The department shall seal the record until |
716 | such time as the order is voided by the court. |
717 | (d) On or after July 1, 1992, the department or any other |
718 | criminal justice agency is not required to act on an order to |
719 | expunge entered by a court when such order does not comply with |
720 | the requirements of this section. Upon receipt of such an order, |
721 | the department must notify the issuing court, the appropriate |
722 | state attorney or statewide prosecutor, the petitioner or the |
723 | petitioner's attorney, and the arresting agency of the reason |
724 | for noncompliance. The appropriate state attorney or statewide |
725 | prosecutor shall take action within 60 days to correct the |
726 | record and petition the court to void the order. No cause of |
727 | action, including contempt of court, shall arise against any |
728 | criminal justice agency for failure to comply with an order to |
729 | expunge when the petitioner for such order failed to obtain the |
730 | certificate of eligibility as required by this section or such |
731 | order does not otherwise comply with the requirements of this |
732 | section. |
733 | (4) EFFECT OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD EXPUNCTION.--Any |
734 | criminal history record of a minor or an adult which is ordered |
735 | expunged by a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to this |
736 | section must be physically destroyed or obliterated by any |
737 | criminal justice agency having custody of such record; except |
738 | that any criminal history record in the custody of the |
739 | department must be retained in all cases. A criminal history |
740 | record ordered expunged that is retained by the department is |
741 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and |
742 | s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and not available to |
743 | any person or entity except upon order of a court of competent |
744 | jurisdiction. A criminal justice agency may retain a notation |
745 | indicating compliance with an order to expunge. |
746 | (a) The person who is the subject of a criminal history |
747 | record that is expunged under this section or under other |
748 | provisions of law, including former s. 893.14, former s. 901.33, |
749 | and former s. 943.058, may lawfully deny or fail to acknowledge |
750 | the arrests covered by the expunged record, except when the |
751 | subject of the record: |
752 | 1. Is a candidate for employment with a criminal justice |
753 | agency; |
754 | 2. Is a defendant in a criminal prosecution; |
755 | 3. Concurrently or subsequently petitions for relief under |
756 | this section or s. 943.059; |
757 | 4. Is a candidate for admission to The Florida Bar; |
758 | 5. Is seeking to be employed or licensed by or to contract |
759 | with the Department of Children and Family Services or the |
760 | Department of Juvenile Justice or to be employed or used by such |
761 | contractor or licensee in a sensitive position having direct |
762 | contact with children, the developmentally disabled, the aged, |
763 | or the elderly as provided in s. 110.1127(3), s. 393.063, s. |
764 | 394.4572(1), s. 397.451, s. 402.302(3), s. 402.313(3), s. |
765 | 409.175(2)(i), s. 415.102(4), s. 916.106(10) and (13), s. |
766 | 985.407, or chapter 400; or |
767 | 6. Is seeking to be employed or licensed by the Department |
768 | of Education, any district school board, any university |
769 | laboratory school, any charter school, any private or parochial |
770 | school, or any local governmental entity that licenses child |
771 | care facilities; or |
772 | 7. Is seeking authorization from a Florida seaport |
773 | identified in s. 311.09 for employment within or access to one |
774 | or more of such seaports pursuant to s. 311.12 or s. 311.125. |
775 | (b) Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (a), a person |
776 | who has been granted an expunction under this section, former s. |
777 | 893.14, former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058 may not be held |
778 | under any provision of law of this state to commit perjury or to |
779 | be otherwise liable for giving a false statement by reason of |
780 | such person's failure to recite or acknowledge an expunged |
781 | criminal history record. |
782 | (c) Information relating to the existence of an expunged |
783 | criminal history record which is provided in accordance with |
784 | paragraph (a) is confidential and exempt from the provisions of |
785 | s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, |
786 | except that the department shall disclose the existence of a |
787 | criminal history record ordered expunged to the entities set |
788 | forth in subparagraphs (a)1., 4., 5., and 6., and 7. for their |
789 | respective licensing, access authorization, and employment |
790 | purposes, and to criminal justice agencies for their respective |
791 | criminal justice purposes. It is unlawful for any employee of an |
792 | entity set forth in subparagraph (a)1., subparagraph (a)4., |
793 | subparagraph (a)5., or subparagraph (a)6., or subparagraph(a)7. |
794 | to disclose information relating to the existence of an expunged |
795 | criminal history record of a person seeking employment, access |
796 | authorization, or licensure with such entity or contractor, |
797 | except to the person to whom the criminal history record relates |
798 | or to persons having direct responsibility for employment, |
799 | access authorization, or licensure decisions. Any person who |
800 | violates this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first |
801 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
802 | (5) STATUTORY REFERENCES.--Any reference to any other |
803 | chapter, section, or subdivision of the Florida Statutes in this |
804 | section constitutes a general reference under the doctrine of |
805 | incorporation by reference. |
806 | Section 11. Section 943.059, Florida Statutes, is amended |
807 | to read: |
808 | 943.059 Court-ordered sealing of criminal history |
809 | records.--The courts of this state shall continue to have |
810 | jurisdiction over their own procedures, including the |
811 | maintenance, sealing, and correction of judicial records |
812 | containing criminal history information to the extent such |
813 | procedures are not inconsistent with the conditions, |
814 | responsibilities, and duties established by this section. Any |
815 | court of competent jurisdiction may order a criminal justice |
816 | agency to seal the criminal history record of a minor or an |
817 | adult who complies with the requirements of this section. The |
818 | court shall not order a criminal justice agency to seal a |
819 | criminal history record until the person seeking to seal a |
820 | criminal history record has applied for and received a |
821 | certificate of eligibility for sealing pursuant to subsection |
822 | (2). A criminal history record that relates to a violation of s. |
823 | 393.135, s. 394.4593, s. 787.025, chapter 794, s. 796.03, s. |
824 | 800.04, s. 810.14, s. 817.034, s. 825.1025, s. 827.071, chapter |
825 | 839, s. 847.0133, s. 847.0135, s. 847.0145, s. 893.135, s. |
826 | 916.1075, or a violation enumerated in s. 907.041, or any |
827 | violation specified as a predicate offense for registration as a |
828 | sexual predator pursuant to s. 775.21, without regard to whether |
829 | that offense alone is sufficient to require such registration, |
830 | or for registration as a sexual offender pursuant to s. |
831 | 943.0435, may not be sealed, without regard to whether |
832 | adjudication was withheld, if the defendant was found guilty of |
833 | or pled guilty or nolo contendere to the offense, or if the |
834 | defendant, as a minor, was found to have committed or pled |
835 | guilty or nolo contendere to committing the offense as a |
836 | delinquent act. The court may only order sealing of a criminal |
837 | history record pertaining to one arrest or one incident of |
838 | alleged criminal activity, except as provided in this section. |
839 | The court may, at its sole discretion, order the sealing of a |
840 | criminal history record pertaining to more than one arrest if |
841 | the additional arrests directly relate to the original arrest. |
842 | If the court intends to order the sealing of records pertaining |
843 | to such additional arrests, such intent must be specified in the |
844 | order. A criminal justice agency may not seal any record |
845 | pertaining to such additional arrests if the order to seal does |
846 | not articulate the intention of the court to seal records |
847 | pertaining to more than one arrest. This section does not |
848 | prevent the court from ordering the sealing of only a portion of |
849 | a criminal history record pertaining to one arrest or one |
850 | incident of alleged criminal activity. Notwithstanding any law |
851 | to the contrary, a criminal justice agency may comply with laws, |
852 | court orders, and official requests of other jurisdictions |
853 | relating to sealing, correction, or confidential handling of |
854 | criminal history records or information derived therefrom. This |
855 | section does not confer any right to the sealing of any criminal |
856 | history record, and any request for sealing a criminal history |
857 | record may be denied at the sole discretion of the court. |
858 | (1) PETITION TO SEAL A CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD.--Each |
859 | petition to a court to seal a criminal history record is |
860 | complete only when accompanied by: |
861 | (a) A valid certificate of eligibility for sealing issued |
862 | by the department pursuant to subsection (2). |
863 | (b) The petitioner's sworn statement attesting that the |
864 | petitioner: |
865 | 1. Has never, prior to the date on which the petition is |
866 | filed, been adjudicated guilty of a criminal offense or |
867 | comparable ordinance violation, or been adjudicated delinquent |
868 | for committing any a felony or a misdemeanor specified in s. |
869 | 943.051(3)(b). |
870 | 2. Has not been adjudicated guilty of or adjudicated |
871 | delinquent for committing any of the acts stemming from the |
872 | arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to |
873 | seal pertains. |
874 | 3. Has never secured a prior sealing or expunction of a |
875 | criminal history record under this section, former s. 893.14, |
876 | former s. 901.33, former s. 943.058, or from any jurisdiction |
877 | outside the state. |
878 | 4. Is eligible for such a sealing to the best of his or |
879 | her knowledge or belief and does not have any other petition to |
880 | seal or any petition to expunge pending before any court. |
881 |
|
882 | Any person who knowingly provides false information on such |
883 | sworn statement to the court commits a felony of the third |
884 | degree, punishable as provided in s. 775.082, s. 775.083, or s. |
885 | 775.084. |
886 | (2) CERTIFICATE OF ELIGIBILITY FOR SEALING.--Prior to |
887 | petitioning the court to seal a criminal history record, a |
888 | person seeking to seal a criminal history record shall apply to |
889 | the department for a certificate of eligibility for sealing. The |
890 | department shall, by rule adopted pursuant to chapter 120, |
891 | establish procedures pertaining to the application for and |
892 | issuance of certificates of eligibility for sealing. A |
893 | certificate of eligibility for sealing is valid for 12 months |
894 | after the date stamped on the certificate when issued by the |
895 | department. After that time, the petitioner must reapply to the |
896 | department for a new certificate of eligibility. Eligibility for |
897 | a renewed certification of eligibility must be based on the |
898 | status of the applicant and the law in effect at the time of the |
899 | most recent application. The department shall issue a |
900 | certificate of eligibility for sealing to a person who is the |
901 | subject of a criminal history record provided that such person: |
902 | (a) Has submitted to the department a certified copy of |
903 | the disposition of the charge to which the petition to seal |
904 | pertains. |
905 | (b) Remits a $75 processing fee to the department for |
906 | placement in the Department of Law Enforcement Operating Trust |
907 | Fund, unless such fee is waived by the executive director. |
908 | (c) Has never, prior to the date on which the application |
909 | for a certificate of eligibility is filed, been adjudicated |
910 | guilty of a criminal offense or comparable ordinance violation, |
911 | or been adjudicated delinquent for committing any a felony or a |
912 | misdemeanor specified in s. 943.051(3)(b). |
913 | (d) Has not been adjudicated guilty of or adjudicated |
914 | delinquent for committing any of the acts stemming from the |
915 | arrest or alleged criminal activity to which the petition to |
916 | seal pertains. |
917 | (e) Has never secured a prior sealing or expunction of a |
918 | criminal history record under this section, former s. 893.14, |
919 | former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058. |
920 | (f) Is no longer under court supervision applicable to the |
921 | disposition of the arrest or alleged criminal activity to which |
922 | the petition to seal pertains. |
923 | (3) PROCESSING OF A PETITION OR ORDER TO SEAL.-- |
924 | (a) In judicial proceedings under this section, a copy of |
925 | the completed petition to seal shall be served upon the |
926 | appropriate state attorney or the statewide prosecutor and upon |
927 | the arresting agency; however, it is not necessary to make any |
928 | agency other than the state a party. The appropriate state |
929 | attorney or the statewide prosecutor and the arresting agency |
930 | may respond to the court regarding the completed petition to |
931 | seal. |
932 | (b) If relief is granted by the court, the clerk of the |
933 | court shall certify copies of the order to the appropriate state |
934 | attorney or the statewide prosecutor and to the arresting |
935 | agency. The arresting agency is responsible for forwarding the |
936 | order to any other agency to which the arresting agency |
937 | disseminated the criminal history record information to which |
938 | the order pertains. The department shall forward the order to |
939 | seal to the Federal Bureau of Investigation. The clerk of the |
940 | court shall certify a copy of the order to any other agency |
941 | which the records of the court reflect has received the criminal |
942 | history record from the court. |
943 | (c) For an order to seal entered by a court prior to July |
944 | 1, 1992, the department shall notify the appropriate state |
945 | attorney or statewide prosecutor of any order to seal which is |
946 | contrary to law because the person who is the subject of the |
947 | record has previously been convicted of a crime or comparable |
948 | ordinance violation or has had a prior criminal history record |
949 | sealed or expunged. Upon receipt of such notice, the appropriate |
950 | state attorney or statewide prosecutor shall take action, within |
951 | 60 days, to correct the record and petition the court to void |
952 | the order to seal. The department shall seal the record until |
953 | such time as the order is voided by the court. |
954 | (d) On or after July 1, 1992, the department or any other |
955 | criminal justice agency is not required to act on an order to |
956 | seal entered by a court when such order does not comply with the |
957 | requirements of this section. Upon receipt of such an order, the |
958 | department must notify the issuing court, the appropriate state |
959 | attorney or statewide prosecutor, the petitioner or the |
960 | petitioner's attorney, and the arresting agency of the reason |
961 | for noncompliance. The appropriate state attorney or statewide |
962 | prosecutor shall take action within 60 days to correct the |
963 | record and petition the court to void the order. No cause of |
964 | action, including contempt of court, shall arise against any |
965 | criminal justice agency for failure to comply with an order to |
966 | seal when the petitioner for such order failed to obtain the |
967 | certificate of eligibility as required by this section or when |
968 | such order does not comply with the requirements of this |
969 | section. |
970 | (e) An order sealing a criminal history record pursuant to |
971 | this section does not require that such record be surrendered to |
972 | the court, and such record shall continue to be maintained by |
973 | the department and other criminal justice agencies. |
974 | (4) EFFECT OF CRIMINAL HISTORY RECORD SEALING.--A criminal |
975 | history record of a minor or an adult which is ordered sealed by |
976 | a court of competent jurisdiction pursuant to this section is |
977 | confidential and exempt from the provisions of s. 119.07(1) and |
978 | s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution and is available only |
979 | to the person who is the subject of the record, to the subject's |
980 | attorney, to criminal justice agencies for their respective |
981 | criminal justice purposes, which include conducting a criminal |
982 | history background check for approval of firearms purchases or |
983 | transfers as authorized by state or federal law, or to those |
984 | entities set forth in subparagraphs (a)1., 4., 5., and 6., and |
985 | 8. for their respective licensing, access authorization, and |
986 | employment purposes. |
987 | (a) The subject of a criminal history record sealed under |
988 | this section or under other provisions of law, including former |
989 | s. 893.14, former s. 901.33, and former s. 943.058, may lawfully |
990 | deny or fail to acknowledge the arrests covered by the sealed |
991 | record, except when the subject of the record: |
992 | 1. Is a candidate for employment with a criminal justice |
993 | agency; |
994 | 2. Is a defendant in a criminal prosecution; |
995 | 3. Concurrently or subsequently petitions for relief under |
996 | this section or s. 943.0585; |
997 | 4. Is a candidate for admission to The Florida Bar; |
998 | 5. Is seeking to be employed or licensed by or to contract |
999 | with the Department of Children and Family Services or the |
1000 | Department of Juvenile Justice or to be employed or used by such |
1001 | contractor or licensee in a sensitive position having direct |
1002 | contact with children, the developmentally disabled, the aged, |
1003 | or the elderly as provided in s. 110.1127(3), s. 393.063, s. |
1004 | 394.4572(1), s. 397.451, s. 402.302(3), s. 402.313(3), s. |
1005 | 409.175(2)(i), s. 415.102(4), s. 415.103, s. 916.106(10) and |
1006 | (13), s. 985.407, or chapter 400; or |
1007 | 6. Is seeking to be employed or licensed by the Department |
1008 | of Education, any district school board, any university |
1009 | laboratory school, any charter school, any private or parochial |
1010 | school, or any local governmental entity that licenses child |
1011 | care facilities;. |
1012 | 7. Is attempting to purchase a firearm from a licensed |
1013 | importer, licensed manufacturer, or licensed dealer and is |
1014 | subject to a criminal history background check under state or |
1015 | federal law; or |
1016 | 8. Is seeking authorization from a Florida seaport |
1017 | identified in s. 311.09 for employment within or access to one |
1018 | or more of such seaports pursuant to s. 311.12 or s. 311.125. |
1019 | (b) Subject to the exceptions in paragraph (a), a person |
1020 | who has been granted a sealing under this section, former s. |
1021 | 893.14, former s. 901.33, or former s. 943.058 may not be held |
1022 | under any provision of law of this state to commit perjury or to |
1023 | be otherwise liable for giving a false statement by reason of |
1024 | such person's failure to recite or acknowledge a sealed criminal |
1025 | history record. |
1026 | (c) Information relating to the existence of a sealed |
1027 | criminal record provided in accordance with the provisions of |
1028 | paragraph (a) is confidential and exempt from the provisions of |
1029 | s. 119.07(1) and s. 24(a), Art. I of the State Constitution, |
1030 | except that the department shall disclose the sealed criminal |
1031 | history record to the entities set forth in subparagraphs (a)1., |
1032 | 4., 5., and 6., and 8. for their respective licensing, access |
1033 | authorization, and employment purposes. It is unlawful for any |
1034 | employee of an entity set forth in subparagraph (a)1., |
1035 | subparagraph (a)4., subparagraph (a)5., or subparagraph (a)6., |
1036 | or subparagraph (a)8. to disclose information relating to the |
1037 | existence of a sealed criminal history record of a person |
1038 | seeking employment, access authorization, or licensure with such |
1039 | entity or contractor, except to the person to whom the criminal |
1040 | history record relates or to persons having direct |
1041 | responsibility for employment, access authorization, or |
1042 | licensure decisions. Any person who violates the provisions of |
1043 | this paragraph commits a misdemeanor of the first degree, |
1044 | punishable as provided in s. 775.082 or s. 775.083. |
1045 | (5) STATUTORY REFERENCES.--Any reference to any other |
1046 | chapter, section, or subdivision of the Florida Statutes in this |
1047 | section constitutes a general reference under the doctrine of |
1048 | incorporation by reference. |
1049 | Section 12. Subsection (5) of section 943.13, Florida |
1050 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
1051 | 943.13 Officers' minimum qualifications for employment or |
1052 | appointment.--On or after October 1, 1984, any person employed |
1053 | or appointed as a full-time, part-time, or auxiliary law |
1054 | enforcement officer or correctional officer; on or after October |
1055 | 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time, part-time, or |
1056 | auxiliary correctional probation officer; and on or after |
1057 | October 1, 1986, any person employed as a full-time, part-time, |
1058 | or auxiliary correctional officer by a private entity under |
1059 | contract to the Department of Corrections, to a county |
1060 | commission, or to the Department of Management Services shall: |
1061 | (5) Have documentation of his or her processed |
1062 | fingerprints on file with the employing agency or, if a private |
1063 | correctional officer, have documentation of his or her processed |
1064 | fingerprints on file with the Department of Corrections or the |
1065 | Criminal Justice Standards and Training Commission. If |
1066 | administrative delays are caused by the department or the |
1067 | Federal Bureau of Investigation and the person has complied with |
1068 | subsections (1)-(4) and (6)-(9), he or she may be employed or |
1069 | appointed for a period not to exceed 1 calendar year from the |
1070 | date he or she was employed or appointed or until return of the |
1071 | processed fingerprints documenting noncompliance with |
1072 | subsections (1)-(4) or subsection (7), whichever occurs first. |
1073 | Beginning January 15, 2007, the department shall retain and |
1074 | enter into the statewide automated fingerprint identification |
1075 | system authorized by s. 943.05 all fingerprints submitted to the |
1076 | department as required by this section. Thereafter, the |
1077 | fingerprints shall be available for all purposes and uses |
1078 | authorized for arrest fingerprint cards entered in the statewide |
1079 | automated fingerprint identification system pursuant to s. |
1080 | 943.051. The department shall search all arrest fingerprint |
1081 | cards received pursuant to s. 943.051 against the fingerprints |
1082 | retained in the statewide automated fingerprint identification |
1083 | system pursuant to this section and report to the employing |
1084 | agency any arrest records that are identified with the retained |
1085 | employee's fingerprints. By January 1, 2008, a person who must |
1086 | meet minimum qualifications as provided in this section and |
1087 | whose fingerprints are not retained by the department pursuant |
1088 | to this section must be refingerprinted. These fingerprints must |
1089 | be forwarded to the department for processing and retention. |
1090 | Section 13. Section 943.1715, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1091 | to read: |
1092 | 943.1715 Basic skills training relating to diverse |
1093 | populations.--The commission shall establish and maintain |
1094 | standards for instruction of officers in the subject of |
1095 | interpersonal skills relating to diverse populations, with an |
1096 | emphasis on the awareness of cultural differences. Every basic |
1097 | skills course required in order for officers to obtain initial |
1098 | certification must include a minimum of 8 hours training in |
1099 | interpersonal skills with diverse populations. |
1100 | Section 14. Section 943.1716, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1101 | to read: |
1102 | 943.1716 Continued employment training relating to diverse |
1103 | populations.--The commission shall by rule require that each |
1104 | officer receive, as part of the 40 hours of required instruction |
1105 | for continued employment or appointment as an officer, 8 hours |
1106 | of instruction in the subject of interpersonal skills relating |
1107 | to diverse populations, with an emphasis on the awareness of |
1108 | cultural differences. |
1109 | Section 15. Section 943.2569, Florida Statutes, is |
1110 | repealed. |
1111 | Section 16. Section 943.257, Florida Statutes, is amended |
1112 | to read: |
1113 | 943.257 Independent audit documentation subject to |
1114 | inspection.--The Criminal Justice Standards and Training |
1115 | Commission or a center's advisory board may inspect and copy any |
1116 | documents from the center as required to carry out the |
1117 | commission's or the respective board's oversight |
1118 | responsibilities, including information and documents related to |
1119 | applicant evaluations and center expenditures. In addition, the |
1120 | commission or board may inspect and copy the documentation of |
1121 | any internal or independent audits conducted by or on behalf of |
1122 | the centers to ensure that candidate and inservice officer |
1123 | assessments have been made and that expenditures are in |
1124 | conformance with the requirements of this act and with other |
1125 | applicable procedures. |
1126 | Section 17. Subsections (1) and (3) of section 943.401, |
1127 | Florida Statutes, are amended to read: |
1128 | 943.401 Public assistance fraud.-- |
1129 | (1)(a) The Department of Law Enforcement shall investigate |
1130 | all public assistance provided to residents of the state or |
1131 | provided to others by the state made under the provisions of |
1132 | chapter 409 or chapter 414. In the course of such investigation |
1133 | the Department of Law Enforcement shall examine all records, |
1134 | including electronic benefits transfer records and make inquiry |
1135 | of all persons who may have knowledge as to any irregularity |
1136 | incidental to the disbursement of public moneys, food stamps, or |
1137 | other items or benefits authorizations to recipients. |
1138 | (b) All public assistance recipients, as a condition |
1139 | precedent to qualification for public assistance under the |
1140 | provisions of chapter 409 or chapter 414, shall first give in |
1141 | writing, to the Agency for Health Care Administration, the |
1142 | Department of Health, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and |
1143 | the Department of Children and Family Services, as appropriate, |
1144 | and to the Department of Law Enforcement, consent to make |
1145 | inquiry of past or present employers and records, financial or |
1146 | otherwise. |
1147 | (3) The results of such investigation shall be reported by |
1148 | the Department of Law Enforcement to the appropriate legislative |
1149 | committees, the Agency for Health Care Administration, the |
1150 | Department of Health, the Agency for Workforce Innovation, and |
1151 | the Department of Children and Family Services, and to such |
1152 | others as the Department of Law Enforcement may determine. |
1153 | Section 18. Authority to purchase goodwill and promotional |
1154 | materials.-- |
1155 | (1) The Legislature recognizes that the Department of Law |
1156 | Enforcement functions as one of the state's primary law |
1157 | enforcement representatives in national and international |
1158 | meetings, conferences, and cooperative efforts. The department |
1159 | often hosts delegates from other federal, state, local, and |
1160 | international agencies and is in a position to function as a |
1161 | representative of the state fostering goodwill and effective |
1162 | interagency working relationships. It is the intent of the |
1163 | Legislature that the department be allowed, consistent with the |
1164 | dignity and integrity of the state, to purchase and distribute |
1165 | material and items of collection to those with whom the |
1166 | department has contact in meetings, conferences, and cooperative |
1167 | efforts. |
1168 | (2) In addition to expenditures separately authorized by |
1169 | law, the department may expend not more than $5,000 annually to |
1170 | purchase and distribute promotional materials or items that |
1171 | serve to advance with dignity and integrity the goodwill of this |
1172 | state and the department and to provide basic refreshments at |
1173 | official functions, seminars, or meetings of the department in |
1174 | which dignitaries or representatives from the Federal |
1175 | Government, other states or nationalities, or other agencies are |
1176 | in attendance. |
1177 | Section 19. Unauthorized use of Department of Law |
1178 | Enforcement emblems or names prohibited.-- |
1179 | (1) Whoever, except with the written permission of the |
1180 | executive director of the Department of Law Enforcement or as |
1181 | otherwise expressly authorized by the department, knowingly uses |
1182 | the words "Florida Department of Law Enforcement," the initials |
1183 | "F.D.L.E." or "FDLE," or the words "Florida Capitol Police," or |
1184 | any colorable imitation of such words or initials, or who uses a |
1185 | logo or emblem used by the department in connection with any |
1186 | advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, or other publication, |
1187 | play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, |
1188 | in any Internet web page or upon any product in a manner |
1189 | reasonably calculated to convey the impression that such |
1190 | advertisement, circular, book, pamphlet, or other publication, |
1191 | play, motion picture, broadcast, telecast, or other production, |
1192 | Internet web page, or product is approved, endorsed, or |
1193 | authorized by the Department of Law Enforcement commits a |
1194 | misdemeanor of the first degree, punishable as provided in s. |
1195 | 775.082 or s. 775.083, Florida Statutes. |
1196 | (2) A violation of this section may be enjoined upon suit |
1197 | by the department or the Department of Legal Affairs upon |
1198 | complaint filed in any court of competent jurisdiction. |
1199 | Section 20. Except as otherwise expressly provided in this |
1200 | act, this act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |