Florida Senate - 2008 SENATOR AMENDMENT
Bill No. CS for CS for CS for SB 1978
938382
Senate
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House
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Senator Crist moved the following amendment:
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Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
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Between lines 3372 and 3373,
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insert:
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Section 69. Section 775.083, Florida Statutes, is amended
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to read:
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775.083 Fines.--
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(1) A person who has been convicted of an offense other
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than a capital felony may be sentenced to pay a fine in addition
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to any punishment described in s. 775.082; when specifically
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authorized by statute, he or she may be sentenced to pay a fine
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in lieu of any punishment described in s. 775.082. A person who
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has been convicted of a noncriminal violation may be sentenced to
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pay a fine. Fines for designated crimes and for noncriminal
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violations shall not exceed:
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(a) $15,000, when the conviction is of a life felony.
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(b) $10,000, when the conviction is of a felony of the
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first or second degree.
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(c) $5,000, when the conviction is of a felony of the third
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degree.
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(d) $1,000, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the
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first degree.
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(e) $500, when the conviction is of a misdemeanor of the
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second degree or a noncriminal violation.
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(f) Any higher amount equal to double the pecuniary gain
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derived from the offense by the offender or double the pecuniary
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loss suffered by the victim.
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(g) Any higher amount specifically authorized by statute.
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Fines imposed in this subsection shall be deposited by the clerk
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of the court in the fine and forfeiture fund established pursuant
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to s. 142.01. If a defendant is unable to pay a fine, the court
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may defer payment of the fine to a date certain.
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(2) In addition to the fines set forth in subsection (1),
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court costs shall be assessed and collected in each instance a
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defendant pleads nolo contendere to, or is convicted of, or
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adjudicated delinquent for, a felony, a misdemeanor, or a
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criminal traffic offense under state law, or a violation of any
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municipal or county ordinance if the violation constitutes a
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misdemeanor under state law. The court costs imposed by this
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section shall be $50 for a felony and $20 for any other offense
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and shall be deposited by the clerk of the court into an
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appropriate county account for disbursement for the purposes
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provided in this subsection. A county shall account for the funds
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separately from other county funds as crime prevention funds. The
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county, in consultation with the sheriff, must expend such funds
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for crime prevention programs in the county, including safe
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neighborhood programs under ss. 163.501-163.523. Any person who
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commits a criminal traffic offense may not pay a fine in lieu of
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community service if community service would otherwise be
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required in addition to financial restitution. A court may order
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a defendant to pay a fine in lieu of required community service
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only if the court finds that the defendant's residence, location,
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or employment obligations would create an undue hardship for the
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defendant.
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(3) The purpose of this section is to provide uniform
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penalty authorization for criminal offenses and, to this end, a
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reference to this section constitutes a general reference under
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the doctrine of incorporation by reference.
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================ T I T L E A M E N D M E N T ================
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And the title is amended as follows:
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On line 298, after the semicolon,
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insert:
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amending s. 775.083, F.S.; prohibiting any person who
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commits a criminal traffic offense from paying a fine in
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lieu of community service if community service is required
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in addition to financial restitution; creating an
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exception if imposing such community service would create
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an undue hardship for the defendant;
5/1/2008 11:29:00 AM 12-09419-08
CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.