Florida Senate - 2018                                    SB 1004
       
       
        
       By Senator Brandes
       
       
       
       
       
       24-00868B-18                                          20181004__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to persons authorized to visit state
    3         juvenile facilities; creating s. 985.6885, F.S.;
    4         authorizing specified persons to visit, during certain
    5         hours, all state facilities housing juveniles which
    6         are operated or overseen by the Department of Juvenile
    7         Justice; authorizing such persons to visit the state
    8         juvenile facilities outside of certain hours according
    9         to department rules; prohibiting other persons from
   10         visiting such facilities except according to
   11         department rules; prohibiting the department from
   12         unreasonably withholding permission for visits to such
   13         facilities by certain persons; providing an effective
   14         date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 985.6885, Florida Statutes, is created
   19  to read:
   20         985.6885 Persons authorized to visit state juvenile
   21  facilities.—
   22         (1) The following persons may visit at their pleasure
   23  between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. all state facilities
   24  housing juveniles which are operated or overseen by the
   25  department:
   26         (a) The Governor.
   27         (b) A Cabinet member.
   28         (c) A member of the Legislature.
   29         (d) A judge of a state court.
   30         (e) A state attorney.
   31         (f) A public defender.
   32         (g) An authorized representative of the Florida Commission
   33  on Offender Review.
   34         (h) A person authorized by the secretary of the department.
   35         (2) A person specified in subsection (1) may visit a
   36  facility subject to this section before 6 a.m. or after 11 p.m.
   37  under rules that the department may prescribe.
   38         (3) A person not otherwise authorized by law may not visit
   39  a facility subject to this section except under rules that the
   40  department may prescribe.
   41         (4) The department may not unreasonably withhold permission
   42  to visit a facility subject to this section from a person who
   43  gives sufficient evidence that he or she is a bona fide reporter
   44  or writer.
   45         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.