| 1 | The Conference Committee on HB 5021 offered the following: |
| 2 |
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| 3 | Conference Committee Amendment (with title amendment) |
| 4 | Remove everything after the enacting clause and insert: |
| 5 | Section 1. Subsection (2) of section 394.916, Florida |
| 6 | Statutes, is amended to read: |
| 7 | 394.916 Trial; counsel and experts; indigent persons; |
| 8 | jury.-- |
| 9 | (2) The trial may be continued once upon the request of |
| 10 | either party for not more than 120 days upon and a showing of |
| 11 | good cause, or by the court on its own motion in the interests |
| 12 | of justice, when the person will not be substantially |
| 13 | prejudiced. No additional continuances may be granted unless the |
| 14 | court finds that a manifest injustice would otherwise occur. |
| 15 | Section 2. Section 394.932, Florida Statutes, is created |
| 16 | to read: |
| 17 | 394.932 Registry of experts.--The Justice Administrative |
| 18 | Commission shall maintain a registry of mental health and other |
| 19 | experts who are available and willing to provide examinations |
| 20 | and expert testimony in proceedings held under this part. The |
| 21 | commission shall advertise the registry in professional trade |
| 22 | publications on a periodic basis and shall list the name and |
| 23 | contact information for all persons holding themselves out to be |
| 24 | qualified to provide examinations and expert testimony pursuant |
| 25 | to this part upon request. It shall be the sole responsibility |
| 26 | of parties using the services of a person listed on the registry |
| 27 | to verify the qualifications of that person. The commission |
| 28 | shall advise all parties that use the registry that it has not |
| 29 | verified the professional qualifications of the persons listed |
| 30 | on the registry and that it is the party's responsibility to |
| 31 | verify the person's professional qualifications. The commission |
| 32 | may electronically publish the names and contact information of |
| 33 | persons requesting to be listed on the registry. |
| 34 | Section 3. This act shall take effect July 1, 2006. |
| 35 |
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| 36 | ======= T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ======== |
| 37 | Remove the entire title and insert: |
| 38 | A bill to be entitled |
| 39 | An act relating to sexually violent predators; amending s. |
| 40 | 394.916, F.S.; providing that a trial in a proceeding to |
| 41 | commit a sexually violent predator may be continued once |
| 42 | if specified conditions are met; providing that no |
| 43 | additional continuances may be granted unless a court |
| 44 | finds that a manifest injustice would occur; creating s. |
| 45 | 394.932, F.S.; requiring the Justice Administrative |
| 46 | Commission to maintain a registry of mental health and |
| 47 | other experts; providing for advertising of the registry; |
| 48 | requiring the commission to advise registry users that it |
| 49 | is their responsibility to verify a listed person's |
| 50 | qualifications; providing for electronic publication; |
| 51 | providing an effective date. |