CS/HB 369

1	A bill to be entitled
2	An act relating to faith- and character-based correctional
3	institution programs; amending s. 944.803, F.S.; revising
4	legislative findings; providing legislative intent;
5	providing requirements for faith- and character-based
6	programs; deleting provisions relating to funding;
7	revising requirements for participation; deleting
8	provisions relating to assignment of chaplains; providing
9	an effective date.
10
11	Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
12
13	Section 1.  Section 944.803, Florida Statutes, is amended
14	to read:
15	944.803  Faith- and character-based Faith-based programs
16	for inmates.-
17	(1)  The Legislature finds and declares that faith- and
18	character-based faith-based programs offered in state and
19	private correctional institutions and facilities have the
20	potential to facilitate inmate institutional adjustment, help
21	inmates assume personal responsibility, and reduce recidivism.
22	(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
23	department expand the faith- and character-based initiative
24	through the use of faith- and character-based institutions. The
25	department is encouraged to phase out the faith-based and self
26	improvement dormitory programs and move toward the goal of only
27	implementing faith- and character-based institutions.
28	(3)(2)  It is the intent of the Legislature that the
29	department of Corrections and the private vendors operating
30	private correctional facilities shall continuously:
31	(a)  Measure recidivism rates for inmates who have
32	participated in faith- and character-based religious programs.;
33	(b)  Increase the number of volunteers who minister to
34	inmates from various faith-based and secular institutions in the
35	community.;
36	(c)  Develop community linkages with secular institutions
37	as well as churches, synagogues, mosques, and other faith-based
38	institutions to assist inmates in their release back into the
39	community.; and
40	(d)  Fund through the use of annual appropriations, in
41	department facilities, and through inmate welfare trust funds
42	pursuant to s. 945.215, in private facilities, an adequate
43	number of chaplains and support staff to operate faith-based
44	programs in correctional institutions.
45	(4)(a)(3)  The department must have at least six new
46	programs fully operational. These six programs shall be similar
47	to and in addition to the current faith-based pilot program. The
48	six new programs shall be a joint effort with the department and
49	faith-based service groups within the community. The department
50	shall ensure that an inmate's faith orientation, or lack
51	thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to a
52	faith- and character-based faith-based program and that the
53	program does not attempt to convert an inmate toward a
54	particular faith or religious preference.
55	(b)  The programs shall operate 24 hours a day within the
56	existing correctional facilities and. The programs must
57	emphasize the importance of personal responsibility, meaningful
58	work, education, substance abuse treatment, and peer support.
59	(c)  Participation in a the faith-based dormitory program
60	shall be voluntary. However, at least 80 percent of the inmates
61	participating in this program must be within 36 months of
62	release. Assignment to a program these programs shall be based
63	on evaluation and the length of time the inmate is projected to
64	be assigned to that particular institution. In evaluating an
65	inmate for this program, priority shall be given to inmates who
66	have shown an indication for substance abuse. A right to
67	substance abuse program services is not stated, intended, or
68	otherwise implied by this subsection. The department may not
69	remove an inmate once assigned to a the program except for the
70	purposes of population management, for inmate conduct that may
71	subject the inmate to disciplinary confinement or loss of gain-
72	time, for physical or mental health concerns, or for security or
73	safety concerns. To support the programming component, the
74	department shall assign a chaplain and a full-time clerical
75	support person dedicated to each dormitory to implement and
76	monitor the program and to strengthen volunteer participation
77	and support.
78	(4)  The Department of Corrections shall assign chaplains
79	to community correctional centers authorized pursuant to s.
80	945.091(1)(b). These chaplains shall strengthen volunteer
81	participation by recruiting volunteers in the community to
82	assist inmates in transition, and, if requested by the inmate,
83	placement in a mentoring program or at a contracted substance
84	abuse transition housing program. When placing an inmate in a
85	contracted program, the chaplain shall work with the
86	institutional transition assistance specialist in an effort to
87	successfully place the released inmate.
88	(5)  The department shall ensure that any faith component
89	of any program authorized in this chapter is offered on a
90	voluntary basis and, an offender's faith orientation, or lack
91	thereof, will not be considered in determining admission to such
92	a faith-based program and that the program does not attempt to
93	convert an offender toward a particular faith or religious
94	preference.
95	(6)  The department shall ensure that state funds are not
96	expended for the purpose of furthering religious indoctrination,
97	but rather, that state funds are expended for purposes of
98	furthering the secular goals of criminal rehabilitation, the
99	successful reintegration of offenders into the community, and
100	the reduction of recidivism.
101	Section 2.  This act shall take effect upon becoming a law.

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