Florida Senate - 2018                             CS for SB 1004
       
       
        
       By the Committee on Criminal Justice; and Senator Brandes
       
       
       
       
       
       591-02128A-18                                         20181004c1
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to persons authorized to visit
    3         juvenile facilities; creating s. 985.6885, F.S.;
    4         authorizing specified persons to visit, during certain
    5         hours, all facilities housing juveniles which are
    6         operated or overseen by the Department of Juvenile
    7         Justice or a county; authorizing such persons to visit
    8         the juvenile facilities outside of certain hours
    9         pursuant to department rules; prohibiting the
   10         department from unreasonably withholding permission
   11         for visits to such facilities by certain persons;
   12         requiring the department to adopt rules; providing an
   13         effective date.
   14          
   15  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   16  
   17         Section 1. Section 985.6885, Florida Statutes, is created
   18  to read:
   19         985.6885 Persons authorized to visit juvenile facilities.—
   20         (1) The following persons may visit at their pleasure
   21  between the hours of 6 a.m. and 11 p.m. all facilities housing
   22  juveniles which are operated or overseen by the department or a
   23  county:
   24         (a) The Governor.
   25         (b) A Cabinet member.
   26         (c) A member of the Legislature.
   27         (d) A judge of a state court.
   28         (e) A state attorney.
   29         (f) A public defender.
   30         (g) A person authorized by the secretary of the department.
   31         (2) A person specified in subsection (1) may visit a
   32  facility subject to this section before 6 a.m. or after 11 p.m.
   33  pursuant to rules adopted by the department.
   34         (3) The department may not unreasonably withhold permission
   35  to visit a facility subject to this section from a person who
   36  gives sufficient evidence that he or she is a bona fide reporter
   37  or writer.
   38         (4) The department shall adopt rules to implement this
   39  section.
   40         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2018.