CS/HB 369

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 legislative intent;
5providing requirements for faith- and character-based
6programs; deleting provisions relating to funding;
7revising requirements for participation; deleting
8provisions relating to assignment of chaplains; providing
9an effective date.
10
11Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13     Section 1.  Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
14to read:
15     944.803  Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs
16for inmates.-
17     (1)  The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and
18character-based faith-based programs offered in state and
19private correctional institutions and facilities have the
20potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help
21inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism.
22     (2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
23department expand the faith- and character-based initiative
24through the use of faith- and character-based institutions. The
25department is encouraged to phase out the faith-based and self
26improvement dormitory programs and move toward the goal of only
27implementing faith- and character-based institutions.
28     (3)(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
29department of Corrections and the private vendors operating
30private correctional facilities shall continuously:
31     (a)  Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have
32participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.;
33     (b)  Increase the number of volunteers who minister to
34inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the
35community.;
36     (c)  Develop community linkages with secular institutions
37as well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based
38institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the
39community.; and
40     (d)  Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in
41department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds
42pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate
43number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based
44programs in correctional institutions.
45     (4)(a)(3)  The department must have at least six new
46programs fully operational. These six programs shall be similar
47to and in addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The
48six new programs shall be a joint effort with the department and
49faith-based service groups within the community. The department
50shall ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack
51thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to a
52faith- and character-based faith-based program and that the
53program does not attempt to convert an inmate toward a
54particular faith or religious preference.
55     (b)  The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the
56existing correctional facilities and. The programs must
57emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful
58work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
59     (c)  Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program
60shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
61participating in this program must be within 36 months of
62release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based
63on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to
64be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an
65inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who
66have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to
67substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or
68otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not
69remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the
70purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may
71subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-
72time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or
73safety concerns. To support the programming component, the
74department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical
75support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and
76monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation
77and support.
78     (4)  The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains
79to community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
80945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer
81participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to
82assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate,
83placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance
84abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a
85contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the
86institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to
87successfully place the released inmate.
88     (5)  The department shall ensure that any faith component
89of any program authorized in this chapter is offered on a
90voluntary basis and, an offender's faith orientation, or lack
91thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to such
92a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt to
93convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious
94preference.
95     (6)  The department shall ensure that state funds are not
96expended for the purpose of furthering religious indoctrination,
97but rather, that state funds are expended for purposes of
98furthering the secular goals of criminal rehabilitation, the
99successful reintegration of offenders into the community, and
100the reduction of recidivism.
101     Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.


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