Florida Senate - 2021                                     SB 974
       
       
        
       By Senator Taddeo
       
       
       
       
       
       40-00094-21                                            2021974__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to release from confinement during an
    3         epidemic or a pandemic; creating s. 944.614, F.S.;
    4         authorizing the Secretary of Corrections to release
    5         prisoners from the correctional system during an
    6         epidemic or a pandemic if they meet specified
    7         criteria; creating s. 951.30, F.S.; authorizing each
    8         sheriff to release from detention county and municipal
    9         prisoners during an epidemic or a pandemic if they
   10         meet specified criteria; creating s. 985.261, F.S.;
   11         authorizing the secretary of the Department of
   12         Juvenile Justice to release persons it is detaining
   13         during an epidemic or a pandemic if they meet
   14         specified criteria; providing an effective date.
   15          
   16  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   17  
   18         Section 1. Section 944.614, Florida Statutes, is created to
   19  read:
   20         944.614 Release from incarceration during an epidemic or a
   21  pandemic.—The secretary may release a prisoner from the
   22  correctional system during an epidemic or a pandemic if the
   23  prisoner meets all of the following criteria:
   24         (1) Is nonviolent.
   25         (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition that
   26  makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness, permanent
   27  disability, or death.
   28         (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to
   29  the public.
   30         Section 2. Section 951.30, Florida Statutes, is created to
   31  read:
   32         951.30 Release from detention during an epidemic or a
   33  pandemic.—Each sheriff may release from detention any county
   34  prisoner or municipal prisoner, as those terms are defined in s.
   35  951.23, during an epidemic or a pandemic if the prisoner meets
   36  all of the following criteria:
   37         (1) Is nonviolent.
   38         (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition that
   39  makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness, permanent
   40  disability, or death.
   41         (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to
   42  the public.
   43         Section 3. Section 985.261, Florida Statutes, is created to
   44  read:
   45         985.261 Release from detention during an epidemic or a
   46  pandemic.—The secretary of the department may release any person
   47  detained by the department during an epidemic or a pandemic if
   48  the person meets all of the following criteria:
   49         (1) Is nonviolent.
   50         (2) Is of an age or has a preexisting health condition that
   51  makes him or her more susceptible to serious illness, permanent
   52  disability, or death.
   53         (3) Poses no risk or a low risk to himself or herself or to
   54  the public.
   55         Section 4. This act shall take effect July 1, 2021.