ENROLLED
       2023 Legislature                   CS for SB 1478, 2nd Engrossed
       
       
       
       
       
       
                                                             20231478er
    1  
    2         An act relating to criminal sentencing; amending s.
    3         921.0024, F.S.; prohibiting points from being assessed
    4         for violations of community sanctions which are
    5         resolved under an alternative sanctioning program for
    6         purposes of calculations under the Criminal Punishment
    7         Code; amending s. 948.06, F.S.; providing for the
    8         resolution of low-risk violations of probation through
    9         an alternative sanctioning program in certain
   10         circumstances; requiring the court to give a
   11         probationer or offender an opportunity to be fully
   12         heard on his or her behalf in person or by counsel
   13         within specified timeframes; requiring the court to
   14         release the probationer or offender without bail under
   15         certain conditions; authorizing the court to impose
   16         nonmonetary conditions of release under certain
   17         conditions; providing that an alternative sanction is
   18         the required method for resolving certain low-risk
   19         violations; requiring a court to impose the
   20         recommended sanction for certain low-risk violations;
   21         providing an exception; providing an effective date.
   22          
   23  Be It Enacted by the Legislature of the State of Florida:
   24  
   25         Section 1. Paragraph (b) of subsection (1) of section
   26  921.0024, Florida Statutes, is amended to read:
   27         921.0024 Criminal Punishment Code; worksheet computations;
   28  scoresheets.—
   29         (1)
   30         (b) WORKSHEET KEY:
   31  
   32  Legal status points are assessed when any form of legal status
   33  existed at the time the offender committed an offense before the
   34  court for sentencing. Four (4) sentence points are assessed for
   35  an offender’s legal status.
   36  
   37  Community sanction violation points are assessed when a
   38  community sanction violation is before the court for sentencing.
   39  Six (6) sentence points are assessed for each community sanction
   40  violation and each successive community sanction violation,
   41  unless any of the following apply:
   42         1. If the community sanction violation includes a new
   43  felony conviction before the sentencing court, twelve (12)
   44  community sanction violation points are assessed for the
   45  violation, and for each successive community sanction violation
   46  involving a new felony conviction.
   47         2. If the community sanction violation is committed by a
   48  violent felony offender of special concern as defined in s.
   49  948.06:
   50         a. Twelve (12) community sanction violation points are
   51  assessed for the violation and for each successive violation of
   52  felony probation or community control where:
   53         I. The violation does not include a new felony conviction;
   54  and
   55         II. The community sanction violation is not based solely on
   56  the probationer or offender’s failure to pay costs or fines or
   57  make restitution payments.
   58         b. Twenty-four (24) community sanction violation points are
   59  assessed for the violation and for each successive violation of
   60  felony probation or community control where the violation
   61  includes a new felony conviction.
   62  
   63  Multiple counts of community sanction violations before the
   64  sentencing court shall not be a basis for multiplying the
   65  assessment of community sanction violation points.
   66  
   67  If the community sanction violation is resolved through the
   68  alternative sanctioning program under s. 948.06(9), no points
   69  are assessed. If a community sanction violation not resolved
   70  through the alternative sanctioning program is before the court,
   71  no points are assessed for prior violations that were resolved
   72  through the alternative sanctioning program.
   73  
   74  Prior serious felony points: If the offender has a primary
   75  offense or any additional offense ranked in level 8, level 9, or
   76  level 10, and one or more prior serious felonies, a single
   77  assessment of thirty (30) points shall be added. For purposes of
   78  this section, a prior serious felony is an offense in the
   79  offender’s prior record that is ranked in level 8, level 9, or
   80  level 10 under s. 921.0022 or s. 921.0023 and for which the
   81  offender is serving a sentence of confinement, supervision, or
   82  other sanction or for which the offender’s date of release from
   83  confinement, supervision, or other sanction, whichever is later,
   84  is within 3 years before the date the primary offense or any
   85  additional offense was committed.
   86  
   87  Prior capital felony points: If the offender has one or more
   88  prior capital felonies in the offender’s criminal record, points
   89  shall be added to the subtotal sentence points of the offender
   90  equal to twice the number of points the offender receives for
   91  the primary offense and any additional offense. A prior capital
   92  felony in the offender’s criminal record is a previous capital
   93  felony offense for which the offender has entered a plea of nolo
   94  contendere or guilty or has been found guilty; or a felony in
   95  another jurisdiction which is a capital felony in that
   96  jurisdiction, or would be a capital felony if the offense were
   97  committed in this state.
   98  
   99  Possession of a firearm, semiautomatic firearm, or machine gun:
  100  If the offender is convicted of committing or attempting to
  101  commit any felony other than those enumerated in s. 775.087(2)
  102  while having in his or her possession: a firearm as defined in
  103  s. 790.001(6), an additional eighteen (18) sentence points are
  104  assessed; or if the offender is convicted of committing or
  105  attempting to commit any felony other than those enumerated in
  106  s. 775.087(3) while having in his or her possession a
  107  semiautomatic firearm as defined in s. 775.087(3) or a machine
  108  gun as defined in s. 790.001(9), an additional twenty-five (25)
  109  sentence points are assessed.
  110  
  111  Sentencing multipliers:
  112  
  113  Drug trafficking: If the primary offense is drug trafficking
  114  under s. 893.135, the subtotal sentence points are multiplied,
  115  at the discretion of the court, for a level 7 or level 8
  116  offense, by 1.5. The state attorney may move the sentencing
  117  court to reduce or suspend the sentence of a person convicted of
  118  a level 7 or level 8 offense, if the offender provides
  119  substantial assistance as described in s. 893.135(4).
  120  
  121  Law enforcement protection: If the primary offense is a
  122  violation of the Law Enforcement Protection Act under s.
  123  775.0823(2), (3), or (4), the subtotal sentence points are
  124  multiplied by 2.5. If the primary offense is a violation of s.
  125  775.0823(5), (6), (7), (8), or (9), the subtotal sentence points
  126  are multiplied by 2.0. If the primary offense is a violation of
  127  s. 784.07(3) or s. 775.0875(1), or of the Law Enforcement
  128  Protection Act under s. 775.0823(10) or (11), the subtotal
  129  sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
  130  
  131  Grand theft of a motor vehicle: If the primary offense is grand
  132  theft of the third degree involving a motor vehicle and in the
  133  offender’s prior record, there are three or more grand thefts of
  134  the third degree involving a motor vehicle, the subtotal
  135  sentence points are multiplied by 1.5.
  136  
  137  Offense related to a criminal gang: If the offender is convicted
  138  of the primary offense and committed that offense for the
  139  purpose of benefiting, promoting, or furthering the interests of
  140  a criminal gang as defined in s. 874.03, the subtotal sentence
  141  points are multiplied by 1.5. If applying the multiplier results
  142  in the lowest permissible sentence exceeding the statutory
  143  maximum sentence for the primary offense under chapter 775, the
  144  court may not apply the multiplier and must sentence the
  145  defendant to the statutory maximum sentence.
  146  
  147  Domestic violence in the presence of a child: If the offender is
  148  convicted of the primary offense and the primary offense is a
  149  crime of domestic violence, as defined in s. 741.28, which was
  150  committed in the presence of a child under 16 years of age who
  151  is a family or household member as defined in s. 741.28(3) with
  152  the victim or perpetrator, the subtotal sentence points are
  153  multiplied by 1.5.
  154  
  155  Adult-on-minor sex offense: If the offender was 18 years of age
  156  or older and the victim was younger than 18 years of age at the
  157  time the offender committed the primary offense, and if the
  158  primary offense was an offense committed on or after October 1,
  159  2014, and is a violation of s. 787.01(2) or s. 787.02(2), if the
  160  violation involved a victim who was a minor and, in the course
  161  of committing that violation, the defendant committed a sexual
  162  battery under chapter 794 or a lewd act under s. 800.04 or s.
  163  847.0135(5) against the minor; s. 787.01(3)(a)2. or 3.; s.
  164  787.02(3)(a)2. or 3.; s. 794.011, excluding s. 794.011(10); s.
  165  800.04; or s. 847.0135(5), the subtotal sentence points are
  166  multiplied by 2.0. If applying the multiplier results in the
  167  lowest permissible sentence exceeding the statutory maximum
  168  sentence for the primary offense under chapter 775, the court
  169  may not apply the multiplier and must sentence the defendant to
  170  the statutory maximum sentence.
  171         Section 2. Paragraph (c) of subsection (1), subsection (4),
  172  and paragraphs (e) and (i) of subsection (9) of section 948.06,
  173  Florida Statutes, are amended to read:
  174         948.06 Violation of probation or community control;
  175  revocation; modification; continuance; failure to pay
  176  restitution or cost of supervision.—
  177         (1)
  178         (c) If a probationer or offender on community control
  179  commits a technical violation, the probation officer shall
  180  determine whether the probationer or offender on community
  181  control is eligible for the alternative sanctioning program
  182  under subsection (9). If the probation officer determines that
  183  the probationer or offender on community control is eligible,
  184  the probation officer may proceed with the alternative
  185  sanctioning program in lieu of filing an affidavit of violation
  186  with the court. If the probationer or offender on community
  187  control is eligible for the alternative sanctioning program and
  188  the violation is a low-risk violation as defined in paragraph
  189  (9)(b), the probation officer must proceed with the alternative
  190  sanctioning program in lieu of filing an affidavit of violation
  191  with the court unless directed by the court to submit or file an
  192  affidavit of violation pursuant to paragraph (9)(i). For
  193  purposes of this section, the term “technical violation” means
  194  an alleged violation of supervision that is not a new felony
  195  offense, misdemeanor offense, or criminal traffic offense.
  196         (4) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, a
  197  felony probationer or an offender in community control who is
  198  arrested for violating his or her probation or community control
  199  in a material respect may be taken before the court in the
  200  county or circuit in which the probationer or offender was
  201  arrested. That court shall advise him or her of the charge of a
  202  violation and, if such charge is admitted, shall cause him or
  203  her to be brought before the court that granted the probation or
  204  community control. If the violation is not admitted by the
  205  probationer or offender, the court may commit him or her or
  206  release him or her with or without bail to await further
  207  hearing. However, if the probationer or offender is under
  208  supervision for any criminal offense proscribed in chapter 794,
  209  s. 800.04(4), (5), (6), s. 827.071, or s. 847.0145, or is a
  210  registered sexual predator or a registered sexual offender, or
  211  is under supervision for a criminal offense for which he or she
  212  would meet the registration criteria in s. 775.21, s. 943.0435,
  213  or s. 944.607 but for the effective date of those sections, the
  214  court must make a finding that the probationer or offender is
  215  not a danger to the public prior to release with or without
  216  bail. In determining the danger posed by the offender’s or
  217  probationer’s release, the court may consider the nature and
  218  circumstances of the violation and any new offenses charged; the
  219  offender’s or probationer’s past and present conduct, including
  220  convictions of crimes; any record of arrests without conviction
  221  for crimes involving violence or sexual crimes; any other
  222  evidence of allegations of unlawful sexual conduct or the use of
  223  violence by the offender or probationer; the offender’s or
  224  probationer’s family ties, length of residence in the community,
  225  employment history, and mental condition; his or her history and
  226  conduct during the probation or community control supervision
  227  from which the violation arises and any other previous
  228  supervisions, including disciplinary records of previous
  229  incarcerations; the likelihood that the offender or probationer
  230  will engage again in a criminal course of conduct; the weight of
  231  the evidence against the offender or probationer; and any other
  232  facts the court considers relevant. The court, as soon as is
  233  practicable, shall give the probationer or offender an
  234  opportunity to be fully heard on his or her behalf in person or
  235  by counsel. If the alleged violation is a low-risk violation as
  236  defined in paragraph (9)(b), the court must, within 30 days
  237  after arrest or after counsel appears for the probationer or
  238  offender, whichever occurs later, give the probationer or
  239  offender an opportunity to be fully heard on his or her behalf
  240  in person or by counsel. If no hearing is held within 30 days
  241  after arrest or after counsel appears for the probationer or
  242  offender, whichever occurs later, the court must release the
  243  probationer or offender without bail unless the court finds that
  244  a hearing was not held in the applicable timeframe due to
  245  circumstances attributable to the probationer or offender. If
  246  the probationer or offender is released, the court may impose
  247  nonmonetary conditions of release. After the hearing, the court
  248  shall make findings of fact and forward the findings to the
  249  court that granted the probation or community control and to the
  250  probationer or offender or his or her attorney. The findings of
  251  fact by the hearing court are binding on the court that granted
  252  the probation or community control. Upon the probationer or
  253  offender being brought before it, the court that granted the
  254  probation or community control may revoke, modify, or continue
  255  the probation or community control or may place the probationer
  256  into community control as provided in this section. However, the
  257  probationer or offender shall not be released and shall not be
  258  admitted to bail, but shall be brought before the court that
  259  granted the probation or community control if any violation of
  260  felony probation or community control other than a failure to
  261  pay costs or fines or make restitution payments is alleged to
  262  have been committed by:
  263         (a) A violent felony offender of special concern, as
  264  defined in this section;
  265         (b) A person who is on felony probation or community
  266  control for any offense committed on or after the effective date
  267  of this act and who is arrested for a qualifying offense as
  268  defined in this section; or
  269         (c) A person who is on felony probation or community
  270  control and has previously been found by a court to be a
  271  habitual violent felony offender as defined in s. 775.084(1)(b),
  272  a three-time violent felony offender as defined in s.
  273  775.084(1)(c), or a sexual predator under s. 775.21, and who is
  274  arrested for committing a qualifying offense as defined in this
  275  section on or after the effective date of this act.
  276         (9)
  277         (e) For a first or second low-risk violation, as defined in
  278  paragraph (b), within the current term of supervision, a
  279  probation officer shall may offer an eligible probationer one or
  280  more of the following as an alternative sanction:
  281         1. Up to 5 days in the county jail.
  282         2. Up to 50 additional community service hours.
  283         3. Counseling or treatment.
  284         4. Support group attendance.
  285         5. Drug testing.
  286         6. Loss of travel or other privileges.
  287         7. Curfew for up to 30 days.
  288         8. House arrest for up to 30 days.
  289         9.a. Any other sanction as determined by administrative
  290  order of the chief judge of the circuit.
  291         b. However, in no circumstance shall participation in an
  292  alternative sanctioning program convert a withheld adjudication
  293  to an adjudication of guilt.
  294         (i) If the violation is a low-risk violation under
  295  paragraph (b), the court must impose the recommended sanction
  296  unless it records a finding of specific, identified risk to
  297  public safety, in which case it may direct the department to
  298  submit a violation report, affidavit, and warrant to the court.
  299  In all other cases, the court may impose the recommended
  300  sanction or direct the department to submit a violation report,
  301  affidavit, and warrant to the court.
  302         Section 3. This act shall take effect October 1, 2023.