Florida Senate - 2020                                     SB 346
       
       
        
       By Senator Bradley
       
       
       
       
       
       5-00220B-20                                            2020346__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to controlled substances; amending s.
    3         893.13, F.S.; prohibiting the purchase or possession
    4         of less than a certain amount of specified substances;
    5         providing criminal penalties; amending s. 893.135,
    6         F.S.; authorizing a court to impose a sentence other
    7         than a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and
    8         mandatory fine for a person convicted of trafficking
    9         if the court makes certain findings on the record;
   10         creating s. 900.06, F.S.; defining terms and
   11         specifying covered offenses; requiring that a
   12         custodial interrogation conducted at a place of
   13         detention in connection with certain offenses be
   14         electronically recorded in its entirety; requiring law
   15         enforcement officers who do not comply with the
   16         electronic recording requirement or who conduct
   17         custodial interrogations at a location other than a
   18         place of detention to prepare a specified report;
   19         providing exceptions to the electronic recording
   20         requirement; requiring a court to consider a law
   21         enforcement officer’s failure to comply with the
   22         electronic recording requirement in determining the
   23         admissibility of a statement, unless an exception
   24         applies; requiring a court, upon the request of a
   25         defendant, to give certain cautionary instructions to
   26         a jury under certain circumstances; providing immunity
   27         from civil liability to law enforcement agencies that
   28         enforce certain rules; providing that a cause of
   29         action is not created against a law enforcement
   30         officer; amending s. 961.04, F.S.; revising the
   31         circumstances under which a wrongfully incarcerated
   32         person is eligible for compensation; amending s.
   33         893.03, F.S.; conforming a cross-reference; reenacting
   34         ss. 961.02(4) and 961.03(1)(a), (2), (3), and (4),
   35         F.S., all relating to eligibility for compensation for
   36         wrongfully incarcerated persons; providing an
   37         effective date.
   38          
   39  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   40  
   41         Section 1. Present subsection (10) of section 893.13,
   42  Florida Statutes, is redesignated as subsection (11), and a new
   43  subsection (10) is added to that section, to read:
   44         893.13 Prohibited acts; penalties.—
   45         (10) Notwithstanding any provision of this section or any
   46  other law relating to the punishment for purchasing or
   47  possessing a controlled substance, a person who purchases or
   48  possesses less than 2 grams of a controlled substance, other
   49  than fentanyl, may not be imprisoned for a term longer than 12
   50  months.
   51         Section 2. Present subsections (6) and (7) of section
   52  893.135, Florida Statutes, are redesignated as subsections (7)
   53  and (8), respectively, and a new subsection (6) is added to that
   54  section, to read:
   55         893.135 Trafficking; mandatory sentences; suspension or
   56  reduction of sentences; conspiracy to engage in trafficking.—
   57         (6) Notwithstanding any provision of this section, a court
   58  may impose a sentence for a violation of this section other than
   59  the mandatory minimum term of imprisonment and mandatory fine if
   60  the court finds on the record that all of the following
   61  circumstances exist:
   62         (a)The defendant has no prior conviction for a forcible
   63  felony as defined in s. 776.08.
   64         (b)The defendant did not use violence or credible threats
   65  of violence, or possess a firearm or other dangerous weapon, or
   66  induce another participant to use violence or credible threats
   67  of violence, in connection with the offense.
   68         (c)The offense did not result in the death of or serious
   69  bodily injury to any person.
   70         (d)The defendant was not an organizer, leader, manager, or
   71  supervisor of others in the offense and was not engaged in a
   72  continuing criminal enterprise as defined in s. 893.20.
   73         (e)At the time of the sentencing hearing or earlier, the
   74  defendant has truthfully provided to the state all information
   75  and evidence that he or she possesses concerning the offense or
   76  offenses that were part of the same course of conduct or of a
   77  common scheme or plan.
   78         (f)The defendant has not previously benefited from the
   79  application of this subsection.
   80  
   81  A court may not apply this subsection to an offense under this
   82  section which carries a mandatory minimum term of imprisonment
   83  of 25 years.
   84         Section 3. Section 900.06, Florida Statutes, is created to
   85  read:
   86         900.06Recording of custodial interrogations for certain
   87  offenses.—
   88         (1) As used in this section, the term:
   89         (a) “Custodial interrogation” means questioning or other
   90  conduct by a law enforcement officer which is reasonably likely
   91  to elicit an incriminating response from an individual and which
   92  occurs under circumstances in which a reasonable individual in
   93  the same circumstances would consider himself or herself to be
   94  in the custody of a law enforcement agency.
   95         (b) “Electronic recording” means an audio recording or an
   96  audio and video recording that accurately records a custodial
   97  interrogation.
   98         (c)“Covered offense” includes:
   99         1. Arson.
  100         2. Sexual battery.
  101         3. Robbery.
  102         4. Kidnapping.
  103         5. Aggravated child abuse.
  104         6. Aggravated abuse of an elderly person or disabled adult.
  105         7. Aggravated assault with a deadly weapon.
  106         8. Murder.
  107         9. Manslaughter.
  108         10. Aggravated manslaughter of an elderly person or
  109  disabled adult.
  110         11. Aggravated manslaughter of a child.
  111         12. The unlawful throwing, placing, or discharging of a
  112  destructive device or bomb.
  113         13. Armed burglary.
  114         14. Aggravated battery.
  115         15. Aggravated stalking.
  116         16. Home-invasion robbery.
  117         17. Carjacking.
  118         (d) “Place of detention” means a police station, sheriff’s
  119  office, correctional facility, prisoner holding facility, county
  120  detention facility, or other governmental facility where an
  121  individual may be held in connection with a criminal charge that
  122  has been or may be filed against the individual.
  123         (e) “Statement” means a communication that is oral,
  124  written, electronic, nonverbal, or in sign language.
  125         (2)(a) A custodial interrogation at a place of detention,
  126  including the giving of a required warning, the advisement of
  127  the rights of the individual being questioned, and the waiver of
  128  any rights by the individual, must be electronically recorded in
  129  its entirety if the interrogation is related to a covered
  130  offense.
  131         (b) If a law enforcement officer conducts a custodial
  132  interrogation at a place of detention without electronically
  133  recording the interrogation, the officer must prepare a written
  134  report explaining why he or she did not record the
  135  interrogation.
  136         (c) As soon as practicable, a law enforcement officer who
  137  conducts a custodial interrogation at a location other than a
  138  place of detention shall prepare a written report explaining the
  139  circumstances of the interrogation and summarizing the custodial
  140  interrogation process and the individual’s statements.
  141         (d) Paragraph (a) does not apply:
  142         1. If an unforeseen equipment malfunction prevents
  143  recording the custodial interrogation in its entirety;
  144         2. If a suspect refuses to participate in a custodial
  145  interrogation if his or her statements are to be electronically
  146  recorded;
  147         3. If an equipment operator error prevents recording the
  148  custodial interrogation in its entirety;
  149         4. If the statement is made spontaneously and not in
  150  response to a custodial interrogation question;
  151         5. If the statement is made during the processing of the
  152  arrest of a suspect;
  153         6. If the custodial interrogation occurs when the law
  154  enforcement officer participating in the interrogation does not
  155  have any knowledge of facts and circumstances that would lead an
  156  officer to reasonably believe that the individual being
  157  interrogated may have committed a covered offense;
  158         7. If the law enforcement officer conducting the custodial
  159  interrogation reasonably believes that making an electronic
  160  recording would jeopardize the safety of the officer, the
  161  individual being interrogated, or others; or
  162         8. If the custodial interrogation is conducted outside of
  163  this state.
  164         (3) Unless a court finds that one or more of the
  165  circumstances specified in paragraph (2)(d) apply, the court
  166  must consider the circumstances of an interrogation conducted by
  167  a law enforcement officer in which he or she did not
  168  electronically record all or part of a custodial interrogation
  169  in determining whether a statement made during the interrogation
  170  is admissible. If the court admits into evidence a statement
  171  made during a custodial interrogation that was not
  172  electronically recorded as required under paragraph (2)(a), the
  173  court must, upon request of the defendant, give cautionary
  174  instructions to the jury regarding the law enforcement officer’s
  175  failure to comply with that requirement.
  176         (4) A law enforcement agency in this state which has
  177  enforced rules adopted pursuant to this section which are
  178  reasonably designed to ensure compliance with the requirements
  179  of this section is not subject to civil liability for damages
  180  arising from a violation of this section. This section does not
  181  create a cause of action against a law enforcement officer.
  182         Section 4. Section 961.04, Florida Statutes, is amended to
  183  read:
  184         961.04 Eligibility for compensation for wrongful
  185  incarceration.—A wrongfully incarcerated person is not eligible
  186  for compensation under the act if any of the following apply:
  187         (1) Before the person’s wrongful conviction and
  188  incarceration, the person was convicted of, or pled guilty or
  189  nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, any violent
  190  felony, or a crime committed in another jurisdiction the
  191  elements of which would constitute a violent felony in this
  192  state, or a crime committed against the United States which is
  193  designated a violent felony, excluding any delinquency
  194  disposition;
  195         (2) Before the person’s wrongful conviction and
  196  incarceration, the person was convicted of, or pled guilty or
  197  nolo contendere to, regardless of adjudication, more than one
  198  felony that is not a violent felony, or more than one crime
  199  committed in another jurisdiction, the elements of which would
  200  constitute a felony in this state, or more than one crime
  201  committed against the United States which is designated a
  202  felony, excluding any delinquency disposition;
  203         (1)(3) During the person’s wrongful incarceration, the
  204  person was convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to,
  205  regardless of adjudication, any violent felony.;
  206         (2)(4) During the person’s wrongful incarceration, the
  207  person was convicted of, or pled guilty or nolo contendere to,
  208  regardless of adjudication, more than one felony that is not a
  209  violent felony.; or
  210         (3)(5) During the person’s wrongful incarceration, the
  211  person was also serving a concurrent sentence for another felony
  212  for which the person was not wrongfully convicted.
  213         Section 5. Paragraph (c) of subsection (3) of section
  214  893.03, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
  215         893.03 Standards and schedules.—The substances enumerated
  216  in this section are controlled by this chapter. The controlled
  217  substances listed or to be listed in Schedules I, II, III, IV,
  218  and V are included by whatever official, common, usual,
  219  chemical, trade name, or class designated. The provisions of
  220  this section shall not be construed to include within any of the
  221  schedules contained in this section any excluded drugs listed
  222  within the purview of 21 C.F.R. s. 1308.22, styled “Excluded
  223  Substances”; 21 C.F.R. s. 1308.24, styled “Exempt Chemical
  224  Preparations”; 21 C.F.R. s. 1308.32, styled “Exempted
  225  Prescription Products”; or 21 C.F.R. s. 1308.34, styled “Exempt
  226  Anabolic Steroid Products.”
  227         (3) SCHEDULE III.—A substance in Schedule III has a
  228  potential for abuse less than the substances contained in
  229  Schedules I and II and has a currently accepted medical use in
  230  treatment in the United States, and abuse of the substance may
  231  lead to moderate or low physical dependence or high
  232  psychological dependence or, in the case of anabolic steroids,
  233  may lead to physical damage. The following substances are
  234  controlled in Schedule III:
  235         (c) Unless specifically excepted or unless listed in
  236  another schedule, any material, compound, mixture, or
  237  preparation containing limited quantities of any of the
  238  following controlled substances or any salts thereof:
  239         1. Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters
  240  or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with an equal or
  241  greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of opium.
  242         2. Not more than 1.8 grams of codeine per 100 milliliters
  243  or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with recognized
  244  therapeutic amounts of one or more active ingredients which are
  245  not controlled substances.
  246         3. Not more than 300 milligrams of hydrocodone per 100
  247  milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
  248  a fourfold or greater quantity of an isoquinoline alkaloid of
  249  opium.
  250         4. Not more than 300 milligrams of hydrocodone per 100
  251  milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
  252  recognized therapeutic amounts of one or more active ingredients
  253  that are not controlled substances.
  254         5. Not more than 1.8 grams of dihydrocodeine per 100
  255  milliliters or not more than 90 milligrams per dosage unit, with
  256  recognized therapeutic amounts of one or more active ingredients
  257  which are not controlled substances.
  258         6. Not more than 300 milligrams of ethylmorphine per 100
  259  milliliters or not more than 15 milligrams per dosage unit, with
  260  one or more active, nonnarcotic ingredients in recognized
  261  therapeutic amounts.
  262         7. Not more than 50 milligrams of morphine per 100
  263  milliliters or per 100 grams, with recognized therapeutic
  264  amounts of one or more active ingredients which are not
  265  controlled substances.
  266  
  267  For purposes of charging a person with a violation of s. 893.135
  268  involving any controlled substance described in subparagraph 3.
  269  or subparagraph 4., the controlled substance is a Schedule III
  270  controlled substance pursuant to this paragraph but the weight
  271  of the controlled substance per milliliters or per dosage unit
  272  is not relevant to the charging of a violation of s. 893.135.
  273  The weight of the controlled substance shall be determined
  274  pursuant to s. 893.135(7) s. 893.135(6).
  275         Section 6. For the purpose of incorporating the amendment
  276  made by this act to section 961.04, Florida Statutes, in a
  277  reference thereto, subsection (4) of section 961.02, Florida
  278  Statutes, is reenacted to read:
  279         961.02 Definitions.—As used in ss. 961.01-961.07, the term:
  280         (4) “Eligible for compensation” means that a person meets
  281  the definition of the term “wrongfully incarcerated person” and
  282  is not disqualified from seeking compensation under the criteria
  283  prescribed in s. 961.04.
  284         Section 7. For the purpose of incorporating the amendments
  285  made by this act to section 961.04, Florida Statutes, in
  286  references thereto, paragraph (a) of subsection (1) and
  287  subsections (2), (3), and (4) of section 961.03, Florida
  288  Statutes, are reenacted to read:
  289         961.03 Determination of status as a wrongfully incarcerated
  290  person; determination of eligibility for compensation.—
  291         (1)(a) In order to meet the definition of a “wrongfully
  292  incarcerated person” and “eligible for compensation,” upon entry
  293  of an order, based upon exonerating evidence, vacating a
  294  conviction and sentence, a person must set forth the claim of
  295  wrongful incarceration under oath and with particularity by
  296  filing a petition with the original sentencing court, with a
  297  copy of the petition and proper notice to the prosecuting
  298  authority in the underlying felony for which the person was
  299  incarcerated. At a minimum, the petition must:
  300         1. State that verifiable and substantial evidence of actual
  301  innocence exists and state with particularity the nature and
  302  significance of the verifiable and substantial evidence of
  303  actual innocence; and
  304         2. State that the person is not disqualified, under the
  305  provisions of s. 961.04, from seeking compensation under this
  306  act.
  307         (2) The prosecuting authority must respond to the petition
  308  within 30 days. The prosecuting authority may respond:
  309         (a) By certifying to the court that, based upon the
  310  petition and verifiable and substantial evidence of actual
  311  innocence, no further criminal proceedings in the case at bar
  312  can or will be initiated by the prosecuting authority, that no
  313  questions of fact remain as to the petitioner’s wrongful
  314  incarceration, and that the petitioner is not ineligible from
  315  seeking compensation under the provisions of s. 961.04; or
  316         (b) By contesting the nature, significance, or effect of
  317  the evidence of actual innocence, the facts related to the
  318  petitioner’s alleged wrongful incarceration, or whether the
  319  petitioner is ineligible from seeking compensation under the
  320  provisions of s. 961.04.
  321         (3) If the prosecuting authority responds as set forth in
  322  paragraph (2)(a), the original sentencing court, based upon the
  323  evidence of actual innocence, the prosecuting authority’s
  324  certification, and upon the court’s finding that the petitioner
  325  has presented clear and convincing evidence that the petitioner
  326  committed neither the act nor the offense that served as the
  327  basis for the conviction and incarceration, and that the
  328  petitioner did not aid, abet, or act as an accomplice to a
  329  person who committed the act or offense, shall certify to the
  330  department that the petitioner is a wrongfully incarcerated
  331  person as defined by this act. Based upon the prosecuting
  332  authority’s certification, the court shall also certify to the
  333  department that the petitioner is eligible for compensation
  334  under the provisions of s. 961.04.
  335         (4)(a) If the prosecuting authority responds as set forth
  336  in paragraph (2)(b), the original sentencing court shall make a
  337  determination from the pleadings and supporting documentation
  338  whether, by a preponderance of the evidence, the petitioner is
  339  ineligible for compensation under the provisions of s. 961.04,
  340  regardless of his or her claim of wrongful incarceration. If the
  341  court finds the petitioner ineligible under the provisions of s.
  342  961.04, it shall dismiss the petition.
  343         (b) If the prosecuting authority responds as set forth in
  344  paragraph (2)(b), and the court determines that the petitioner
  345  is eligible under the provisions of s. 961.04, but the
  346  prosecuting authority contests the nature, significance or
  347  effect of the evidence of actual innocence, or the facts related
  348  to the petitioner’s alleged wrongful incarceration, the court
  349  shall set forth its findings and transfer the petition by
  350  electronic means through the division’s website to the division
  351  for findings of fact and a recommended determination of whether
  352  the petitioner has established that he or she is a wrongfully
  353  incarcerated person who is eligible for compensation under this
  354  act.
  355         Section 8. This act shall take effect July 1, 2020.