Florida Senate - 2023                                    SB 1012
       
       
        
       By Senator Rouson
       
       
       
       
       
       16-00595A-23                                          20231012__
    1                        A bill to be entitled                      
    2         An act relating to the Certified Peer Specialist Pilot
    3         Program; creating the pilot program within the
    4         Department of Corrections; providing purposes of the
    5         pilot program; authorizing inmates at participating
    6         facilities to apply to participate in the pilot
    7         program; requiring the department to develop criteria
    8         for selecting applicants; exempting persons who
    9         complete the pilot program’s requirements from a
   10         specified background screening for peer specialists;
   11         requiring the pilot program to assist potential
   12         employers with acquiring specified bonds; authorizing
   13         the pilot program to offer funding to potential
   14         employers to cover specified costs under certain
   15         circumstances; requiring the department to adopt
   16         rules; providing for the expiration of the pilot
   17         program; providing an effective date.
   18          
   19  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   20  
   21         Section 1. The Certified Peer Specialist Pilot Program is
   22  created within the Department of Corrections.
   23         (1)(a) The purpose of the pilot program is to provide
   24  participating inmates with a path to becoming certified peer
   25  specialists under s. 397.417, Florida Statutes, upon release by
   26  offering such inmates while incarcerated the necessary training
   27  hours and experience needed for certification and to assist
   28  inmates who complete the pilot program’s requirements with post
   29  incarceration employment.
   30         (b) The pilot program will be used to recruit and enroll
   31  graduates of the pilot program into certified peer specialist
   32  training programs approved under s. 397.417, Florida Statutes;
   33  provide core educational training and on-the-job work experience
   34  during each participant’s incarceration which meets all of the
   35  requirements for peer specialist certification; assist with
   36  completing the national certification exam before each
   37  participant’s release; and assist in placing participants in
   38  employment as certified peer specialist professionals upon their
   39  release.
   40         (2) Inmates at participating facilities may apply to
   41  participate in the pilot program. The Department of Corrections
   42  shall develop criteria for selecting qualified applicants for
   43  the pilot program, which may include, but is not limited to,
   44  requiring that participants:
   45         (a) Have the appropriate custody classification.
   46         (b) Meet certain discipline criteria.
   47         (c) Have an expected release date within a specified
   48  timeframe.
   49         (d) Be housed at the institution providing training.
   50         (e) Have served as a positive role model during their
   51  incarceration.
   52         (f) Express a desire to work in the behavioral health
   53  treatment field after release.
   54         (g) Not have any offenses that would prohibit them from
   55  becoming a certified peer specialist.
   56         (3) A person who completes the pilot program’s requirements
   57  is exempt from the background screening requirements for peer
   58  specialists under s. 397.417, Florida Statutes.
   59         (4) In assisting persons who have completed the pilot
   60  program’s requirements with post-incarceration employment, the
   61  pilot program:
   62         (a) Shall assist potential employers with acquiring bonds
   63  from the United States Department of Labor’s Federal Bonding
   64  Program, if applicable.
   65         (b) May offer funding to potential employers to cover the
   66  initial costs of hiring and retaining such persons, dependent
   67  upon the pilot program securing applicable grant funds for such
   68  purpose.
   69         (5) The Department of Corrections shall adopt rules to
   70  implement this act.
   71         (6) The pilot program expires June 30, 2029.
   72         Section 2. This act shall take effect July 1, 2023.