Florida Senate - 2019                        COMMITTEE AMENDMENT
       Bill No. SB 168
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                Ì384212tÎ384212                         
       
                              LEGISLATIVE ACTION                        
                    Senate             .             House              
                   Comm: WD            .                                
                  02/21/2019           .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
                                       .                                
       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————




       —————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————————
       The Committee on Judiciary (Rodriguez) recommended the
       following:
       
    1         Senate Amendment (with title amendment)
    2  
    3         Delete everything after the enacting clause
    4  and insert:
    5         Section 1. Short title.—This act may be cited as the “Rule
    6  of Law Adherence Act.”
    7         Section 2. Chapter 908, Florida Statutes, consisting of
    8  sections 908.101-908.402, is created to read:
    9                             CHAPTER 908                           
   10                   FEDERAL IMMIGRATION ENFORCEMENT                 
   11                               PART I                              
   12                 FINDINGS AND INTENT AND DEFINITIONS               
   13         908.101Legislative findings and intent.—The Legislature
   14  finds that it is an important state interest that state entities
   15  and their officials have an affirmative duty to all citizens and
   16  other persons lawfully present in the United States to assist
   17  the Federal Government in the enforcement of federal immigration
   18  laws within this state, including their compliance with federal
   19  immigration detainers. The Legislature further finds that it is
   20  an important state interest that, in the interest of public
   21  safety and adherence to federal law, this state support federal
   22  immigration enforcement efforts and ensure that such efforts are
   23  not impeded or thwarted by state laws, policies, practices,
   24  procedures, or customs. State entities and their officials who
   25  encourage persons unlawfully present in the United States to
   26  locate within this state or who shield such persons from
   27  personal responsibility for their unlawful actions breach this
   28  duty and should be held accountable.
   29         908.102Definitions.—As used in this chapter, the term:
   30         (1)“Federal immigration agency” means the United States
   31  Department of Justice and the United States Department of
   32  Homeland Security, a division within such an agency, including
   33  United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement and United
   34  States Customs and Border Protection, any successor agency, and
   35  any other federal agency charged with the enforcement of
   36  immigration law. The term includes an official or employee of
   37  such an agency.
   38         (2)“Immigration detainer” means a facially sufficient
   39  written or electronic request issued by a federal immigration
   40  agency using that agency’s official form to request that another
   41  law enforcement agency detain a person based on probable cause
   42  to believe that the person to be detained is a removable alien
   43  under federal immigration law, including detainers issued
   44  pursuant to 8 U.S.C. ss. 1226 and 1357. For purposes of this
   45  subsection, an immigration detainer is deemed facially
   46  sufficient if:
   47         (a)The federal immigration agency’s official form is
   48  complete and indicates on its face that the federal immigration
   49  official has probable cause to believe that the person to be
   50  detained is a removable alien under federal immigration law; or
   51         (b)The federal immigration agency’s official form is
   52  incomplete and fails to indicate on its face that the federal
   53  immigration official has probable cause to believe that the
   54  person to be detained is a removable alien under federal
   55  immigration law, but is supported by an affidavit, order, or
   56  other official documentation that indicates that the federal
   57  immigration agency has probable cause to believe that the person
   58  to be detained is a removable alien under federal immigration
   59  law.
   60         (3)“Inmate” means a person in the custody of a law
   61  enforcement agency.
   62         (4)“Law enforcement agency” means an agency in this state
   63  charged with enforcement of state or federal laws or with
   64  managing custody of detained persons in the state and includes
   65  state police departments and the Department of Corrections. The
   66  term includes an official or employee of such an agency.
   67         (5)“Sanctuary policy” means a law, policy, practice,
   68  procedure, or custom adopted or permitted by a state entity or
   69  law enforcement agency which contravenes 8 U.S.C. s. 1373(a) or
   70  (b) or which knowingly prohibits or impedes a law enforcement
   71  agency from communicating or cooperating with a federal
   72  immigration agency with respect to federal immigration
   73  enforcement, including, but not limited to, limiting a state
   74  entity or law enforcement agency in, or prohibiting such an
   75  entity or agency from:
   76         (a)Complying with an immigration detainer;
   77         (b)Complying with a request from a federal immigration
   78  agency to notify the agency before the release of an inmate or
   79  detainee in the custody of the state entity or law enforcement
   80  agency;
   81         (c)Providing a federal immigration agency access to an
   82  inmate for interview;
   83         (d)Initiating an immigration status investigation; or
   84         (e)Providing a federal immigration agency with an inmate’s
   85  incarceration status or release date.
   86         (6)“Sanctuary policymaker” means a state official who has
   87  voted for, allowed to be implemented, or voted against repeal or
   88  prohibition of a sanctuary policy.
   89         (7)“State entity” means the state or any office, board,
   90  bureau, commission, department, branch, division, or institution
   91  thereof. The term includes a person holding public office or
   92  having official duties as a representative, agent, or employee
   93  of such entity.
   94                               PART II                             
   95                               DUTIES                              
   96         908.201Sanctuary policies prohibited.—A state entity or
   97  law enforcement agency may not adopt or have in effect a
   98  sanctuary policy.
   99         908.202Cooperation with federal immigration authorities.—
  100         (1)A state entity or law enforcement agency shall fully
  101  comply with and, to the full extent permitted by law, support
  102  the enforcement of federal immigration law. This subsection
  103  applies to an official, representative, agent, or employee of
  104  such entity or agency only when he or she is acting within the
  105  scope of his or her official duties or within the scope of his
  106  or her employment.
  107         (2)Except as otherwise expressly prohibited by federal
  108  law, a state entity or law enforcement agency may not prohibit
  109  or in any way restrict another state entity or law enforcement
  110  agency from taking any of the following actions with respect to
  111  information regarding a person’s immigration status:
  112         (a)Sending such information to or requesting, receiving,
  113  or reviewing such information from a federal immigration agency
  114  for purposes of this chapter.
  115         (b)Recording and maintaining such information for purposes
  116  of this chapter.
  117         (c)Exchanging such information with a federal immigration
  118  agency or another state entity or law enforcement agency for
  119  purposes of this chapter.
  120         (d)Using such information to determine eligibility for a
  121  public benefit, service, or license pursuant to federal or state
  122  law.
  123         (e)Using such information to verify a claim of residence
  124  or domicile if a determination of residence or domicile is
  125  required under federal or state law or a judicial order issued
  126  pursuant to a civil or criminal proceeding in this state.
  127         (f)Using such information to comply with an immigration
  128  detainer.
  129         (g)Using such information to confirm the identity of a
  130  person who is detained by a law enforcement agency.
  131         (3)(a)For purposes of this subsection the term “applicable
  132  criminal case” means a criminal case in which:
  133         1.The judgment requires the defendant to be confined in a
  134  secure correctional facility; and
  135         2.The judge:
  136         a.Indicates in the record under s. 908.204 that the
  137  defendant is subject to an immigration detainer; or
  138         b.Otherwise indicates in the record that the defendant is
  139  subject to a transfer into federal custody.
  140         (b)In an applicable criminal case, at the time of
  141  pronouncement of a sentence of confinement, the judge shall
  142  issue an order requiring the secure correctional facility in
  143  which the defendant is to be confined to reduce the defendant’s
  144  sentence by a period of not more than 7 days on the facility’s
  145  determination that the reduction in sentence will facilitate the
  146  seamless transfer of the defendant into federal custody. For
  147  purposes of this paragraph, the term “secure correctional
  148  facility” means a state correctional institution as defined in
  149  s. 944.02.
  150         (c)If the information specified in sub-subparagraph
  151  (a)2.a. or sub-subparagraph (a)2.b. is not available at the time
  152  the sentence is pronounced in the case, the judge shall issue
  153  the order described by paragraph (b) as soon as the information
  154  becomes available.
  155         (4)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, if a law
  156  enforcement agency has received verification from a federal
  157  immigration agency that an alien in the law enforcement agency’s
  158  custody is unlawfully present in the United States, the law
  159  enforcement agency may securely transport such alien to a
  160  federal facility in this state or to another point of transfer
  161  to federal custody outside the jurisdiction of the law
  162  enforcement agency. A law enforcement agency shall obtain
  163  judicial authorization before securely transporting such alien
  164  to a point of transfer outside of this state.
  165         (5)This section does not require a state entity or law
  166  enforcement agency to provide a federal immigration agency with
  167  information related to a victim of or a witness to a criminal
  168  offense if such victim or witness timely and in good faith
  169  responds to the entity’s or agency’s request for information and
  170  cooperation in the investigation or prosecution of such offense.
  171         (6)A state entity or law enforcement agency that, pursuant
  172  to subsection (5), withholds information regarding the
  173  immigration information of a victim of or witness to a criminal
  174  offense shall document such victim’s or witness’s cooperation in
  175  the entity’s or agency’s investigative records related to the
  176  offense and shall retain such records for at least 10 years for
  177  the purpose of audit, verification, or inspection by the Auditor
  178  General.
  179         908.203Duties related to certain arrested persons.—
  180         (1)If a person is arrested and is unable to provide proof
  181  of his or her lawful presence in the United States, not later
  182  than 48 hours after the person is arrested, and before the
  183  person is released on bond, a law enforcement agency performing
  184  the booking process:
  185         (a)Shall review any information available from a federal
  186  immigration agency.
  187         (b)If information obtained under paragraph (a) reveals
  188  that the person is not a citizen of the United States and is
  189  unlawfully present in the United States according to the terms
  190  of the federal Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. ss.
  191  1101 et seq., must:
  192         1.Provide immediate notice of the person’s arrest and
  193  charges to a federal immigration agency.
  194         2.Provide notice of that fact to the judge authorized to
  195  grant or deny the person’s release on bail under chapter 903.
  196         3.Record the person’s arrest and charges in the person’s
  197  case file.
  198         (2)A law enforcement agency is not required to perform the
  199  duty imposed by subsection (1) with respect to a person who is
  200  transferred to the custody of the agency by another law
  201  enforcement agency if the transferring agency performed that
  202  duty before the transfer.
  203         (3)A judge who receives notice of a person’s immigration
  204  status under this section shall ensure that such status is
  205  recorded in the court record.
  206         908.204Duties related to immigration detainers.—
  207         (1)A law enforcement agency that has custody of a person
  208  subject to an immigration detainer issued by a federal
  209  immigration agency shall:
  210         (a)Provide to the judge authorized to grant or deny the
  211  person’s release on bail under chapter 903 notice that the
  212  person is subject to an immigration detainer.
  213         (b)Record in the person’s case file that the person is
  214  subject to an immigration detainer.
  215         (c)Comply with, honor, and fulfill the requests made in
  216  the immigration detainer.
  217         (2)A law enforcement agency is not required to perform a
  218  duty imposed by paragraph (1)(a) or paragraph (1)(b) with
  219  respect to a person who is transferred to the custody of the
  220  agency by another law enforcement agency if the transferring
  221  agency performed that duty before the transfer.
  222         (3)A judge who receives notice that a person is subject to
  223  an immigration detainer shall ensure that such fact is recorded
  224  in the court record, regardless of whether the notice is
  225  received before or after a judgment in the case.
  226         908.205Reimbursement of costs.—A state entity or law
  227  enforcement agency may petition the Federal Government for
  228  reimbursement of the entity’s or agency’s detention costs and
  229  the costs of compliance with federal requests when such costs
  230  are incurred in support of the enforcement of federal
  231  immigration law.
  232         908.206Duty to report.—
  233         (1)An official, representative, agent, or employee of a
  234  state entity or law enforcement agency shall promptly report a
  235  known or probable violation of this chapter to the Attorney
  236  General or the state attorney having jurisdiction over the
  237  entity or agency.
  238         (2)An official, representative, agent, or employee of a
  239  state entity or law enforcement agency who willfully and
  240  knowingly fails to report a known or probable violation of this
  241  chapter may be suspended or removed from office pursuant to
  242  general law and s. 7, Art. IV of the State Constitution.
  243         (3)A state entity or law enforcement agency may not
  244  dismiss, discipline, take any adverse personnel action as
  245  defined in s. 112.3187(3) against, or take any adverse action
  246  described in s. 112.3187(4)(b) against, an official,
  247  representative, agent, or employee for complying with subsection
  248  (1).
  249         (4)Section 112.3187 of the Whistle-blower’s Act applies to
  250  an official, representative, agent, or employee of a state
  251  entity or law enforcement agency who is dismissed, disciplined,
  252  subject to any adverse personnel action as defined in s.
  253  112.3187(3) or any adverse action described in s.
  254  112.3187(4)(b), or denied employment because he or she complied
  255  with subsection (1).
  256         908.207Implementation.—This chapter shall be implemented
  257  to the fullest extent permitted by federal law regulating
  258  immigration and the legislative findings and intent declared in
  259  s. 908.101.
  260                              PART III                             
  261                             ENFORCEMENT                           
  262         908.301Complaints.—The Attorney General shall prescribe
  263  and provide through the Department of Legal Affairs’ website the
  264  format for a person to submit a complaint alleging a violation
  265  of this chapter. This section does not prohibit the filing of an
  266  anonymous complaint or a complaint not submitted in the
  267  prescribed format. Any person has standing to submit a complaint
  268  under this chapter.
  269         908.302Enforcement; penalties.—
  270         (1)The state attorney for the county in which a state
  271  entity is headquartered or a law enforcement agency is located
  272  has primary responsibility and authority for investigating
  273  credible complaints of a violation of this chapter. The results
  274  of an investigation by a state attorney shall be provided to the
  275  Attorney General in a timely manner.
  276         (2)(a)A state entity or law enforcement agency about which
  277  the state attorney has received a complaint shall comply with a
  278  document request from the state attorney related to the
  279  complaint.
  280         (b)If the state attorney determines that a complaint filed
  281  against a state entity or law enforcement agency is valid, the
  282  state attorney shall, not later than the 10th day after the date
  283  of the determination, provide written notification to the entity
  284  or agency that:
  285         1.The complaint has been filed.
  286         2.The state attorney has determined that the complaint is
  287  valid.
  288         3.The state attorney is authorized to file an action to
  289  enjoin the violation if the entity or agency does not come into
  290  compliance with the requirements of this chapter on or before
  291  the 60th day after the notification is provided.
  292         (c)Not later than the 30th day after the day a state
  293  entity or law enforcement agency receives written notification
  294  under paragraph (b), the entity or the agency shall provide the
  295  state attorney with a copy of:
  296         1.The entity’s or agency’s written policies and procedures
  297  with respect to federal immigration agency enforcement actions,
  298  including the entity’s or agency’s policies and procedures with
  299  respect to immigration detainers.
  300         2.Each immigration detainer received by the entity or
  301  agency from a federal immigration agency in the current calendar
  302  year-to-date and the 2 prior calendar years.
  303         3.Each response sent by the entity or agency for an
  304  immigration detainer described by subparagraph 2.
  305         (3)The Attorney General, the state attorney who conducted
  306  the investigation, or a state attorney so ordered by the
  307  Governor pursuant to s. 27.14 may institute proceedings in
  308  circuit court to enjoin a state entity or law enforcement agency
  309  found to be in violation of this chapter. Venue of an action
  310  brought by the Attorney General may be in Leon County. The court
  311  shall expedite an action under this section, including setting a
  312  hearing at the earliest practicable date.
  313         (4)Upon adjudication by the court or as provided in a
  314  consent decree declaring that a state entity or law enforcement
  315  agency has violated this chapter, the court shall enjoin the
  316  unlawful sanctuary policy and order that such entity or agency
  317  pay a civil penalty to the state of at least $1,000 but not more
  318  than $5,000 for each day that the sanctuary policy was in effect
  319  commencing on October 1, 2019, or the date the sanctuary policy
  320  was first enacted, whichever is later, until the date the
  321  injunction was granted. The court has continuing jurisdiction
  322  over the parties and subject matter and may enforce its orders
  323  with the imposition of additional civil penalties as provided
  324  for in this section and the initiation of contempt proceedings
  325  as provided by law.
  326         (5)An order approving a consent decree or granting an
  327  injunction or imposing civil penalties pursuant to subsection
  328  (4) must include written findings of fact that describe with
  329  specificity the existence and nature of the sanctuary policy
  330  that is in violation of s. 908.201 and identify each sanctuary
  331  policymaker who voted for, allowed to be implemented, or voted
  332  against repeal or prohibition of the sanctuary policy. The court
  333  shall provide to the Governor a copy of the consent decree or
  334  order granting an injunction or imposing civil penalties which
  335  contains the written findings required by this subsection within
  336  30 days after the date of rendition. A sanctuary policymaker
  337  identified in an order approving a consent decree or granting an
  338  injunction or imposing civil penalties may be suspended or
  339  removed from office pursuant to general law and s. 7, Art. IV of
  340  the State Constitution.
  341         (6)A state entity or law enforcement agency ordered to pay
  342  a civil penalty pursuant to subsection (4) shall remit such
  343  payment to the Chief Financial Officer, who shall deposit it
  344  into the General Revenue Fund.
  345         (7)Except as required by law, public funds may not be used
  346  to defend or reimburse a sanctuary policymaker or an official,
  347  representative, agent, or employee of a state entity or law
  348  enforcement agency who knowingly and willfully violates this
  349  chapter.
  350         908.303Civil cause of action for personal injury or
  351  wrongful death attributed to a sanctuary policy; trial by jury;
  352  required written findings.—
  353         (1)A person injured in this state by the tortious acts or
  354  omissions of an alien unlawfully present in the United States,
  355  or the personal representative of a person killed in this state
  356  by the tortious acts or omissions of an alien unlawfully present
  357  in the United States, has a cause of action for damages against
  358  a state entity or law enforcement agency in violation of ss.
  359  908.201 and 908.202 upon proof by the greater weight of the
  360  evidence of:
  361         (a)The existence of a sanctuary policy in violation of s.
  362  908.201; and
  363         (b)1.A failure to comply with s. 908.202 which results in
  364  such alien’s having access to the person injured or killed when
  365  the tortious acts or omissions occurred; or
  366         2.A failure to comply with s. 908.204(1)(c) which results
  367  in such alien’s having access to the person injured or killed
  368  when the tortious acts or omissions occurred.
  369         (2)A cause of action brought pursuant to subsection (1)
  370  may not be brought against a person who holds public office or
  371  who has official duties as a representative, agent, or employee
  372  of a state entity or law enforcement agency, including a
  373  sanctuary policymaker.
  374         (3)Trial by jury is a matter of right in an action brought
  375  under this section.
  376         (4)A final judgment entered in favor of a plaintiff in a
  377  cause of action brought pursuant to this section must include
  378  written findings of fact that describe with specificity the
  379  existence and nature of the sanctuary policy that is in
  380  violation of s. 908.201 and that identify each sanctuary
  381  policymaker who voted for, allowed to be implemented, or voted
  382  against repeal or prohibition of the sanctuary policy. The court
  383  shall provide a copy of the final judgment containing the
  384  written findings required by this subsection to the Governor
  385  within 30 days after the date of rendition. A sanctuary
  386  policymaker identified in a final judgment may be suspended or
  387  removed from office pursuant to general law and s. 7, Art. IV of
  388  the State Constitution.
  389         (5)Except as provided in this section, this chapter does
  390  not create a private cause of action against a state entity or
  391  law enforcement agency that complies with this chapter.
  392         908.304Ineligibility for state grant funding.—
  393         (1)Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a state
  394  entity or law enforcement agency is ineligible to receive
  395  funding from nonfederal grant programs administered by state
  396  agencies that receive funding from the General Appropriations
  397  Act for a period of 5 years after the date of adjudication that
  398  such state entity or law enforcement agency had in effect a
  399  sanctuary policy in violation of this chapter.
  400         (2)The applicable state attorney shall notify the Chief
  401  Financial Officer of an adjudicated violation of this chapter by
  402  a state entity or law enforcement agency and shall provide him
  403  or her a copy of the final court injunction, order, or judgment.
  404  Upon receiving such notice, the Chief Financial Officer shall
  405  timely inform all state agencies that administer nonfederal
  406  grant funding of the adjudicated violation by the state entity
  407  or law enforcement agency and direct such agencies to cancel all
  408  pending grant applications and enforce the ineligibility of such
  409  entity for the prescribed period.
  410         (3)This subsection does not apply to:
  411         (a)Funding that is received as a result of an
  412  appropriation to a specifically named state entity or law
  413  enforcement agency in the General Appropriations Act or other
  414  law.
  415         (b)Grants awarded prior to the date of adjudication that
  416  such state entity or law enforcement agency had in effect a
  417  sanctuary policy in violation of this chapter.
  418                               PART IV                             
  419                            MISCELLANEOUS                          
  420         908.401Education records.—This chapter does not apply to
  421  the release of information contained in education records of an
  422  educational agency or institution, except in conformity with the
  423  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act of 1974, 20 U.S.C. s.
  424  1232g.
  425         908.402Discrimination prohibited.—A state entity or a law
  426  enforcement agency, or a person employed by or otherwise under
  427  the direction or control of such an entity or agency, may not
  428  base its actions under this chapter on the gender, race,
  429  religion, national origin, or physical disability of a person
  430  except to the extent authorized by the United States
  431  Constitution or the State Constitution.
  432         Section 3. A sanctuary policy, as defined in s. 908.102,
  433  Florida Statutes, as created by this act, that is in effect on
  434  the effective date of this act must be repealed within 90 days
  435  after that date.
  436         Section 4. Sections 908.302 and 908.303, Florida Statutes,
  437  as created by this act, shall take effect October 1, 2019, and,
  438  except as otherwise expressly provided in this act, this act
  439  shall take effect July 1, 2019.
  440  
  441  ================= T I T L E  A M E N D M E N T ================
  442  And the title is amended as follows:
  443         Delete everything before the enacting clause
  444  and insert:
  445                        A bill to be entitled                      
  446         An act relating to federal immigration enforcement;
  447         providing a short title; creating chapter 908, F.S.,
  448         relating to federal immigration enforcement; providing
  449         legislative findings and intent; providing
  450         definitions; prohibiting sanctuary policies; requiring
  451         state entities and law enforcement agencies to comply
  452         with and support the enforcement of federal
  453         immigration law; prohibiting restrictions by such
  454         entities and agencies on taking certain actions with
  455         respect to information regarding a person’s
  456         immigration status; providing requirements concerning
  457         certain criminal defendants subject to immigration
  458         detainers or otherwise subject to transfer to federal
  459         custody; authorizing a law enforcement agency to
  460         transport an alien unlawfully present in the United
  461         States under certain circumstances; providing an
  462         exception to reporting requirements for crime victims
  463         or witnesses; requiring recordkeeping relating to
  464         crime victim and witness cooperation in certain
  465         investigations; specifying duties concerning certain
  466         arrested persons; specifying duties concerning
  467         immigration detainers; authorizing state entities or
  468         law enforcement agencies to petition the Federal
  469         Government for reimbursement of certain costs;
  470         requiring reports of violations; providing penalties
  471         for failure to report violations; providing whistle
  472         blower protections for persons who report violations;
  473         requiring the Attorney General to prescribe and
  474         provide the format for submitting complaints;
  475         providing requirements for entities to comply with
  476         document requests from state attorneys concerning
  477         violations; providing for investigation of possible
  478         violations; providing for injunctive relief and civil
  479         penalties; providing for venue; requiring written
  480         findings; prohibiting the expenditure of public funds
  481         for specified purposes; providing a civil cause of
  482         action for personal injury or wrongful death
  483         attributed to a sanctuary policy; providing that a
  484         trial by jury is a matter of right; requiring written
  485         findings; providing for ineligibility to receive
  486         certain funding for a specified period of time;
  487         providing for applicability to certain education
  488         records; prohibiting discrimination on specified
  489         grounds; providing for implementation; requiring
  490         repeal of existing sanctuary policies within a
  491         specified period; providing effective dates.