HB 811

1
A bill to be entitled
2An act relating to faith- and character-based correctional
3institution programs; amending s. 944.803, F.S.; revising
4legislative findings; providing requirements for faith-
5and character-based programs; deleting provisions relating
6to funding; revising requirements for participation;
7deleting provisions relating to assignment of chaplains;
8providing an effective date.
9
10Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
11
12     Section 1.  Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
13to read:
14     944.803  Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs
15for inmates.-
16     (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and
17character-based faith-based programs offered in state and
18private correctional institutions and facilities have the
19potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help
20inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism.
21     (2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
22department of Corrections and the private vendors operating
23private correctional facilities shall continuously:
24     (a)  Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have
25participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.;
26     (b)  Increase the number of volunteers who minister to
27inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the
28community.;
29     (c)  Develop community linkages with secular institutions
30as well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based
31institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the
32community.; and
33     (d)  Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in
34department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds
35pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate
36number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based
37programs in correctional institutions.
38     (3)(a)  The department must have at least six new programs
39fully operational. These six programs shall be similar to and in
40addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The six new
41programs shall be a joint effort with the department and faith-
42based service groups within the community. The department shall
43ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack thereof, will
44not be considered in determining admission to a faith- and
45character-based faith-based program and that the program does
46not attempt to convert an inmate toward a particular faith or
47religious preference.
48     (b)  The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the
49existing correctional facilities and. The programs must
50emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful
51work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
52     (c)  Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program
53shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
54participating in this program must be within 36 months of
55release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based
56on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to
57be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an
58inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who
59have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to
60substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or
61otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not
62remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the
63purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may
64subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-
65time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or
66safety concerns. To support the programming component, the
67department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical
68support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and
69monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation
70and support.
71     (4)  The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains
72to community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
73945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer
74participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to
75assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate,
76placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance
77abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a
78contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the
79institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to
80successfully place the released inmate.
81     (4)(5)  The department shall ensure that any faith
82component of any program authorized in this chapter is offered
83on a voluntary basis and, an offender's faith orientation, or
84lack thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to
85such a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt
86to convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious
87preference.
88     (5)(6)  The department shall ensure that state funds are
89not expended for the purpose of furthering religious
90indoctrination, but rather, that state funds are expended for
91purposes of furthering the secular goals of criminal
92rehabilitation, the successful reintegration of offenders into
93the community, and the reduction of recidivism.
94     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


CODING: Words stricken are deletions; words underlined are additions.